There’s nothing like watching the afternoon clouds pile up over the Sandias — until the water finds its way somewhere it shouldn’t. Monsoon season (roughly July through September) drops a lot of rain in a short time, and a high-desert home handles it best with a little prep. Here’s what I tell my clients to check.
Clear your canales and gutters
Those carved canales and any gutters are your roof’s drainage system — and they clog with dust, leaves, and gravel fast. Take ten minutes to clear them so water sheets off cleanly instead of backing up and pooling against the roof or walls.
Move water away from the foundation
Walk your yard and make sure the ground slopes away from the house. Extend downspouts a few feet out, clear any low spots where water sits, and keep splash blocks in place. Getting water moving away from the foundation is the single most important thing you can do.
Check your roof and stucco
Before the heavy rains, look for hairline cracks in stucco and seal them — monsoon moisture loves to find its way in. On the flat roofs common here, make sure drains and scuppers are clear so water has somewhere to go instead of ponding.
Mind the swamp cooler
Humid monsoon days are exactly when a swamp cooler struggles. Crack a few windows so air keeps moving, and if the house feels sticky, give the cooler a rest during the wettest stretches. (Not sure whether to keep yours? Our swamp cooler vs. refrigerated air guide breaks it down.)
None of this takes long, and it saves the expensive headaches later. For the full year-round rhythm, see our season-by-season maintenance guide — or reach out with any home question, anytime.
