Water damage checks for each Georgia season

January is the coldest stretch, with 12.8 freezing nights in the 1991-2020 normals, ahead of December (9.1) and February (7.7). Gwinnett's water department says the temperature does not drop below freezing often in Georgia, yet tiny cracks can release hundreds of gallons a day. Its list: cover spigots below 32 F, wrap exposed pipes in basements and crawl spaces, buy a water heater blanket, drain irrigation, open cabinet doors and drip a faucet overnight.

Rain adds up to 12.05 inches over the three months, with March the heaviest at 4.68 inches and 1.6 days of an inch or more. UGA Extension's checklist turns outdoors: downspouts reaching 6 to 10 feet from the foundation, ground that falls roughly 6 inches over 6 to 10 feet, soffits that are not blocked, and a sump pump and floor drain that work.

Heat and humidity take over. The normals count 9.9 days at 90 F or higher in June, 16.4 in July and 13.7 in August, with rain of 4.54, 4.75 and 4.30 inches. UGA Extension flags indoor humidity over 50 percent and lists the toilet-paper test for exhaust fans, fans that vent outside, a dryer vent that leaves the house, and the lines to the water heater and washer.

The airport's driest month is October, at 3.28 inches, and the first freezing nights arrive: 0.1 in October and 2.9 in November. UGA Extension suggests heating and cooling service twice a year. Gwinnett's winter list is easier to finish before the cold shows up than during it.

UGA Extension's checklist puts missing or curling shingles on its list of ways rain gets in, and says a professional may be needed for a roof inspection. The checks on this page stay at ground level or indoors. If a ceiling sags, an outlet is wet or gas is in the air, get out of the room and dial 911 rather than investigating.

Once a year, run the two-hour meter test and the toilet dye test from the leak-finding guide. The county says a changed meter reading means a probable leak, and a toilet that runs constantly can waste 200 gallons or more a day.