The short answer: Clean your gutters and point downspouts away from the house, re-seal the gaps around windows and doors, fix any soft or peeling wood, and sign up for LA County emergency alerts. The best time to do it is now, October through December, before the wettest months of January through March.
What is El Niño expected to bring to LA this winter?
Forecasters are watching one of the strongest El Niños on record. NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center expects a very strong event that peaks this winter, and on September 23 LA County declared a local emergency to get ready for the storm season. For a sense of scale, during the big 1997–98 El Niño, Los Angeles got about 30 inches of rain, more than double its normal 14.
For South Bay homes, the biggest risk isn’t one dramatic storm. It’s weeks of repeated rain finding the weak spots in a house: a clogged gutter, a cracked bead of caulk, a piece of trim that’s already soft. Our coastal salt air wears down caulk and paint faster than inland, so beach-city homes in Redondo, Hermosa and Manhattan Beach often have more of those weak spots than owners realize.
Keep water moving away from your house
Most rain damage starts with water that has nowhere to go.
- Clean your gutters and flush the downspouts. A clogged gutter overflows right down your walls, windows and foundation.
- Check for sagging or leaking sections. Gutters that have pulled loose or have open seams dump water in the wrong place.
- Point downspouts at least a few feet away from the house. Add extensions or splash blocks so water doesn’t pool against the foundation.
- Consider gutter guards if trees hang over your roof, so you aren’t climbing a ladder in the middle of a storm.
Need a hand? Our craftsmen handle gutter cleaning and repair every week.
Seal the gaps where rain gets in
Wind-driven rain finds every gap. Walk around your house and look closely at:
- Caulk around windows and doors. If it’s cracked, shrinking or missing, rain can get behind the frame.
- Weatherstripping and door sweeps. Try the daylight test: if you can see light under or around a closed door, water can get in too.
- Sticking doors and sliders. Swelling and stuck sliding doors are often a sign moisture is already getting in.
These are quick fixes now and expensive ones later. See our door repair services.
Protect the wood
Wood that’s already soft or bare soaks up water all winter, and the damage spreads.
- Press on trim, fascia and the bottom of door frames. Soft or dark spots mean rot. Repair it before the rain makes it worse.
- Touch up peeling exterior paint. Paint is your wood’s raincoat. Bare spots let water in. Learn about our exterior painting.
- Check your deck for soft boards and reseal it if water no longer beads up.
- Shore up loose fence posts. Wet soil plus wind is how fences come down. We do fence and gate repair too.
Be storm-smart
A few steps that aren’t handyman work but are worth doing now:
- Sign up for emergency alerts at alert.lacounty.gov.
- Get sandbags early. LA County Public Works lists distribution sites on its sandbag page.
- Know the high-tide dates. Coastal flooding is worst when storms line up with the highest tides, around Oct 25–30, Nov 23–27 and Dec 21–26. Many of those fall near holidays when people are away.
- Check your flood coverage. Standard homeowners policies usually don’t cover flooding, and new flood policies typically take 30 days to kick in.
- Look at your roof. Roofing isn’t something we do, but if we spot trouble while we’re up there, we’ll point you to a roofer we trust.
Which jobs can you DIY, and when should you call a pro?
Plenty of El Niño prep is doable on a weekend: clearing a single-story gutter, adding downspout extensions, replacing a door sweep or picking up sandbags.
It’s worth calling a pro when:
- The job means working on a ladder at second-story height
- You find soft or rotted wood (it’s usually more than what you can see)
- Caulking or weatherstripping is needed on many windows and doors
- You have a list of several small jobs and want them handled in one visit
That last one is what we do best. One of our multi-trade craftsmen can work through most of this list in a single visit.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does El Niño rain usually start in Los Angeles?
Storms can begin in late fall, but in a strong El Niño year the heaviest rain in LA usually falls January through March. That makes October through December the best window to get your home ready.
How often should I clean my gutters in Southern California?
At least once a year, ideally in the fall before the rainy season. If trees hang over your roof, plan on twice a year, and check again after the first big storm.
How do I stop rain from coming in under my front door?
Start with the door sweep and weatherstripping. If you can see daylight under or around the closed door, replace them. If water still gets in, the threshold may need adjusting or the door may need sealing where it meets the frame.
Should I caulk windows before the rainy season?
Yes. Exterior caulk dries out and cracks over time, especially near the coast. Re-caulking before the rain is one of the cheapest ways to prevent water damage around windows and doors.
Does homeowners insurance cover flood damage from El Niño storms?
Usually not. Standard homeowners policies typically exclude flooding, and flood insurance generally has a 30-day waiting period. Talk to your insurance agent now, before the storms arrive.
Where can I get sandbags in LA County?
LA County Public Works keeps an up-to-date list of sandbag distribution sites on its sandbag page. Pick them up early, before the first big storm.
Get your home ready before the first big storm
We’re your neighbors here in the South Bay, and we’d rather help you fix a few small things now than water damage later. Our craftsmen are our own employees, background-checked, and skilled across multiple trades. We’re licensed, insured and bonded, and every job comes with a one-year warranty. Seniors and veterans save 10% (restrictions may apply).
Call Ace Handyman Services South Bay at (424) 279-3543 or tap Get Started below to schedule your visit.