Indiana homeowner guide

Main water shutoff

In basement homes, typically near the front wall closest to the street. In slab homes (more common in southern Indiana), it may be in a utility closet, crawl space, or near the water heater. Locate it now and label it.

Electrical panel

Label every breaker. Indiana utilities (Duke Energy, AES Indiana, NIPSCO, Vectren) all use standard panel configurations. The sump pump circuit matters most. Identify and label it before spring rain season.

Sump pump

Indiana's flat terrain means water doesn't drain away naturally from foundations. Sump pumps are standard in most Indiana basements. Know where yours is, how to test it, and where the discharge exits.

Tornado shelter

Before anything else: identify the safest interior room in your home. Indiana sits squarely in the tornado corridor, not tornado alley's western edge like Ohio, but the active zone. Know your shelter before May.

Furnace filter schedule

Indiana shares Ohio's heavy pollen season (ragweed, oak, grass). Replace MERV-8 or higher filters every 30-45 days during May through October. In winter, every 60-90 days is adequate. Low-MERV filters reduce dust but don't significantly help allergy sufferers.

Humidity control

Indiana summers routinely reach 75-85% relative humidity. Run basement dehumidifiers at 50% RH set point. In winter, indoor air becomes very dry (10-20% RH) which cracks wood floors and trim. A whole-home humidifier on the furnace maintains 30-40% RH in winter without over-humidifying.

Agricultural air quality

Indiana's extensive farmland means spring planting (April-May) and fall harvest (September-October) generate significant dust. During field operations in rural areas, change HVAC filters more frequently and keep windows closed during dusty days.

Monthly: sump pump test

Pour water in the pit and confirm the pump cycles. April and May are peak risk months in Indiana; spring snowmelt plus rain events overwhelm unprepared drainage systems.

Quarterly: gutter inspection

Indiana's heavy deciduous tree coverage requires thorough fall cleaning (late October to November). Spring cleaning in April removes winter debris before heavy rain season.

Annually: water heater drain

Flush sediment annually. Indiana municipal water systems vary in hardness; harder water (Indianapolis, Fort Wayne) deposits sediment faster. Sediment shortens water heater life.

Test sump pump before April

Indiana's wettest period is April through June. Test the pump and backup before the season. The Wabash River basin and White River drainage can back up municipal storm systems during major rain events, putting pressure on residential drainage.

Inspect foundation for freeze-thaw damage

Indiana gets 30-40 freeze-thaw cycles per winter. Walk the exterior perimeter in March looking for new cracks, lifted walks, and settled areas against the foundation that could direct water inward.

Grade soil away from foundation

Indiana's flat terrain reduces natural drainage. The first 6 feet around your foundation should slope away at 1 inch per foot minimum. Add topsoil to low spots each spring.

Service A/C in April

Clean condenser coils, replace air filter, check refrigerant levels. Indiana heat builds fast in June; a May breakdown during the first heat wave means a 2-week wait for service.

Basement dehumidification

Run continuously during July and August. Indiana's combination of heat and humidity is ideal for mold growth in finished basements. Keep relative humidity below 60%, ideally 50%.

Check drainage around the foundation

Watch during heavy rain events to identify where water pools. Standing water within 5 feet of the foundation is a problem. Add gravel, extend downspouts, or regrade as needed.

Inspect for agricultural pest activity

Boxelder bugs, multicolored Asian lady beetles, and stink bugs begin looking for winter overwintering sites in August. Seal exterior gaps now, before they find them in September.

Furnace service before October

Schedule early; Indiana HVAC techs are fully booked by October. A tune-up, combustion safety check, and filter replacement sets you up for a 7-month heating season.

Winterize outdoor plumbing

Indiana's first hard freeze arrives mid-October to early November statewide. Shut off outdoor hose bibs, drain them, and disconnect all hoses. Insulate any pipes in unheated crawl spaces or garages.

Clean gutters after leaf fall

Clean in late October or early November after full leaf drop. Indiana's sugar maples and oaks drop heavily. Direct downspout extensions 6-10 feet from the foundation on flat lots.

Weatherize entry points

Check door sweeps, window weatherstripping, and attic hatch insulation. Indiana winters are cold; heating bills respond directly to air sealing quality.

Ice melt selection

Use calcium chloride or magnesium chloride, not rock salt. Indiana's concrete driveways and walks suffer the same freeze-thaw concrete spalling as Ohio from sodium chloride application.

Protect crawl space pipes

Southern Indiana has more slab and crawl space homes than the north. Crawl space pipes are vulnerable to freeze during sustained sub-zero events. Insulate pipes with foam and add a crawl space vent cover during extreme cold.

Generator and power outage readiness

Indiana ice storms can knock out power for 3-7 days in rural areas. If using a generator, keep it outside, 20 feet from any window or door. Know your CO detector locations.

French drain systems

On very flat lots, a French drain (perforated pipe in gravel trench) installed along the foundation perimeter routes groundwater to a sump pit or daylight outlet. This is the most effective long-term solution for chronic wet basements on flat Indiana terrain.

Downspout management

Each downspout should discharge at least 4 feet from the foundation; 6-10 feet is better on flat lots. Bury discharge pipes to a dry well or daylighted outlet to ensure water moves away rather than seeping back.

Window well covers

Basement window wells fill rapidly during heavy rain events. Polycarbonate covers prevent this. Clean out leaves and debris each fall so water doesn't pool against the window glass.

Safe room construction

FEMA-rated safe rooms (ICC-500 standard) can be installed in an existing home, in a basement, closet, or garage. Concrete safe rooms and steel units are both available. Indiana's tornado risk makes this a genuine life-safety investment.

Garage door bracing

Garage doors are the most structurally vulnerable point of a home in high wind. A wind-rated garage door or a retrofit bracing kit significantly reduces the risk of the door being pushed in during an event, which pressurizes the house and can lift the roof.

Roof-to-wall connections

Older Indiana homes often lack hurricane straps, metal connectors fastening roof trusses to wall framing. A contractor can retrofit these from the attic, dramatically improving wind uplift resistance.

Termites

Indiana has active Eastern subterranean termite populations, especially in southern Indiana (south of Indianapolis). Inspect for mud tubes at foundation level annually. Keep wood mulch at least 12 inches from the foundation.

Agricultural dust

Homes near Indiana farmland should use MERV-11 or higher filtration to capture fine agricultural particulates. Spring tilling and fall corn/soybean harvest are the heaviest dust periods.

Radon

Northern and eastern Indiana counties have elevated radon risk (EPA Zone 1 in several counties). Test every 2 years. IDEM (Indiana Department of Environmental Management) maintains a radon map of Indiana counties.

Indiana's tornado exposure

Indiana averages 22 tornadoes per year, with the heaviest activity through a corridor from Terre Haute northeast to Fort Wayne. Tornado season peaks April through June. Indiana was impacted by the 1974 Super Outbreak and major events in 2012 and 2013. No part of Indiana is low-risk.

Shelter identification and practice

Interior room, lowest floor, away from windows. Basements are strongly preferred. Conduct a shelter drill with all household members before April each year. Time how long it takes to get to shelter from every room in the house.

Outdoor warning sirens

Indiana's outdoor warning sirens are tested on the first Saturday of each month at 11 a.m. Knowing the test schedule helps you recognize when an activation is real. Sirens are designed for people outdoors; they are not reliable inside a house. Use a weather radio.

Mobile home owners

Mobile homes are not safe shelter in a tornado regardless of anchoring. Identify the nearest permanent building before storm season and have a plan to get there quickly during a warning.

Indiana's ice storm vulnerability

Central and southern Indiana (Indianapolis southward) experiences some of the most frequent and severe ice storms in the US. The geographic position creates a setup where cold air at the surface traps warm moist air aloft, a perfect freezing rain machine. Ice events in 2009 and 2021 left rural areas without power for a week.

Power outage supplies

Stock 5-7 days of: water (1 gallon per person per day), non-perishable food, medications, battery power banks, flashlights, and a battery-powered NOAA weather radio. Have blankets adequate for sleeping in a cold house.

Tree and limb risk

Indiana's ice storms are particularly dangerous for power lines and trees. Have dead or weak overhanging limbs removed in fall. During an ice event, stay inside; falling ice-laden branches can be lethal.

Wabash and White River flooding

Major spring rain events cause the Wabash River and its tributaries to flood significant areas of western and central Indiana. Communities along the Wabash (Terre Haute, Logansport, Wabash) experience periodic flooding. Check NWS river gauges in spring.

Flash flood awareness

Southern Indiana's rolling terrain can produce flash flooding in creek and stream channels with very little warning. Don't drive through flooded roadways; 6 inches of moving water can knock a person down; 12 inches can float a car.

Basement flooding plan

Know how to shut off electricity to lower levels before entering floodwater. Have a submersible pump and extension hose ready before storm season.

Shelter immediately

When a Tornado Warning is issued for your county, move to your shelter NOW. The average warning lead time in Indiana is 13 minutes. Use every minute of it.

Position in shelter

Lowest floor, interior room, away from windows. Cover your head and neck with your arms. Get under a heavy table if one is in the room. A bicycle helmet stored in your shelter kit provides significant head protection.

After the storm

Wait for an NWS all-clear before leaving shelter. Check for gas leaks by smell before re-entering a damaged structure. Photograph all damage before cleanup for insurance purposes.

Shut off the main immediately

Don't search for the break first. Go to the main water shutoff and close it. Then open all faucets to drain the pipes. Locate your main shutoff before any freeze event.

Dry out aggressively

Indiana's humidity means mold follows quickly. Remove wet materials and run dehumidifiers and fans within hours of any water event.

Generator rules

Outside only, 20+ feet from any window or door. CO builds up fatally fast in garages and enclosed spaces. Test your generator before storm season.

Heat and pipe management

If indoor temperature drops toward 40°F with heat out, let faucets drip and open cabinet doors. Fill bathtubs with water for toilet flushing before pressure drops.

Check on neighbors

Indiana's rural areas can lose power for extended periods. Check on elderly neighbors within the first 24 hours of a major outage.

No switches, no phones inside

Smell of rotten eggs means get out. Don't operate any switch. Don't use your phone inside. Leave the door open behind you.

Call from outside

Call 911 and your gas utility (CenterPoint Energy, Vectren, or NIPSCO) from outside the building. Do not re-enter until cleared by emergency personnel.

No electricity + water = stay out

Do not enter a flooded basement if any electrical equipment is submerged. Call your utility (Duke Energy, AES Indiana, or NIPSCO) to disconnect power at the meter before entry.

Remove water with a submersible pump

For more than a few inches of standing water, use or rent a submersible pump. Direct the discharge hose outside and away from the foundation, not toward a neighbor's property or back toward the house.

Dry immediately

Indiana's summer humidity means mold can establish in 24-48 hours. Run a high-capacity dehumidifier and fans the moment water is removed. Document everything before cleanup for insurance.

Find the source

Sewer backup, groundwater through the floor or walls, and window well overflow each require a different fix. Identifying the source before waterproofing prevents expensive mismatched repairs.

Plan two exits from every room now

Walk every room and identify two ways out: the door, and a window or secondary exit. On Indiana's flat terrain, most homes are single-story or have windows at manageable heights. Know which windows open.

Designate a meeting place outside

A specific landmark: the mailbox, the large tree at the street, a neighbor's driveway. Everyone meets there after exiting, no exceptions.

Feel the door before opening

Back of hand on the door and doorknob; hot means use your alternate exit. If you must open a hot door, brace against it and open slowly, ready to close it if fire is on the other side.

Crawl low under smoke

Stay within 12-18 inches of the floor; that's where breathable air stays longest. In Indiana homes with natural gas heating and attached garages, CO from fire and combustion appliances can combine; the window to escape is short. Don't stand up to find the door.

Call 911 from outside

Evacuate first, then call. Give your address and stay on the line. Indiana 911 centers can dispatch fire services while you're on the phone with additional information.

Never re-enter

No possession, pet, or document justifies going back inside. Firefighters with breathing equipment recover pets and valuables. You have seconds of breathable air; they have tanks.

Practice twice a year

Include all household members. Walk the plan in the dark once a year; smoke and fire typically occur at night.