What a Summer Storm Leaves Behind at an Empty Verrado House

Monsoon season officially runs from mid June through the end of September, and Verrado sits at the foot of the White Tank Mountains. A storm that lasts twenty minutes can leave a week of problems behind, and an empty house has no one to notice them.

What does wind do to a roof and a yard?

Strong gusts can lift a roof tile, tear a screen and send patio cushions into a window. They also knock branches into the pool and loosen drip lines in the landscaping. After a storm we study the roof from the street, then check the windows, the yard and the pool. Inside, we examine the ceilings for fresh stains.

What does a dust storm leave in the A/C unit and the pool?

A dust storm packs fine grit into the outdoor A/C unit and clogs the pool skimmer. A dirty unit works harder in the hottest weeks of the year, and a clogged skimmer can starve the pump. We look at both, and we sweep the entry so a pile of debris does not tell the street that no one is home.

What happens when the power flickers?

Short outages are common in monsoon weather. Most A/C systems restart on their own, but a thermostat can reset and a tripped breaker can leave the whole system off. A closed Buckeye house can climb above one hundred degrees in a day or two, so on every visit we check the thermostat and the breaker panel first. That is also why many owners add a storm check the following day for the summer.

Why do storms send scorpions indoors?

Heavy rain pushes bark scorpions and other insects toward dry ground, and a quiet house makes a good shelter. Homes that back onto open desert or a wash see the most of it. Every visit includes a look along the baseboards, in the bathrooms and around the garage. You can read the full list of visit checks or see how home watch works in Verrado if you are still deciding.