How Much Rain Does it Take to Start Flooding My Home?

When the rainy season kicks in or the snow starts to melt, it’s important to know what to do if your home or commercial property experiences flooding. Water damage can be a serious issue and lead to dangerous mold and mildew, even if you don’t live in a designated flood zone. But how much rain does it really take to start flooding your property? The team at Water Damage Specialists is here to guide you through the process and offer insights on what to do if it floods in order to restore the integrity of your home or business.

Factors That Contribute to Flooding

It’s important to know that flooding isn’t just about how much rain falls, but how the rainfall or snowmelt interacts with the environment around your home. Here are just some of the key factors that play a role:

1. Soil Saturation: Even a small amount of additional rain can overwhelm your property if previous rainfall or snowmelt have already saturated the ground. Your soil no longer has the capacity to absorb water and lead to runoff and potential flooding. 
2. Local Topography: If your Utah home is built in a low-lying area or at the base of foothills, your property is more prone to flooding. Because water naturally flows downhill, you need adequate drainage or risk damaging your foundation. 
3. Urbanization: New construction and overbuilding quickly reduce how much open land water can absorb into the soil. Too many paved surfaces, roofs, and driveways create a high volume of runoff that has nowhere to go but is flowing toward your home.
4. Storm Drains and Infrastructure: Overflowing or clogged storm drains can worsen flooding and water damage by preventing effective draining.

Just How Much Water Does It Take to Cause Flooding

It actually doesn’t take much water to cause a significant amount of damage to your home or business. According to research, one inch of water inside of your home can easily rack up $25,000 worth of damage. That figure also doesn’t account for mold growth, structural damage, or health risks that come with standing water.

Flash floods ushering in several inches of rain in hours are also a common occurrence around Utah. When you combine flash floods with oversaturated soil, your home can absorb the impact and experience water damage.

Protect Your Home from Flooding

You can’t control the weather, but there are steps you can take to protect your home from flooding. Here are a few essential tips:

1. Evaluate Your Risk: You can use this official Flood Hazard Map to double check if your home is in a flood-prone area or not. However, flood insurance is still a valuable investment even if you’re not in a high-risk zone.
2. Maintain Proper Drainage: Make sure your gutters and downspouts are clean and direct water away from your foundation. You can also discuss French drains with your plumber to enhance your landscaping. These drains will also help slope the water away from your home to lower the risk of flooding.
3. Install Sump Pumps: Installing a functional sump pump in your basement can effectively remove water that seeps into your home during heavy rainfall and snowmelt. They should be occasionally tested and properly maintained to ensure they work when you need them the most, including a power outage. 
4. Emergency Planning: Make sure you’re prepared for a flooding emergency by putting together a kit with food, water, and other essentials that will last for at least three days. Tell your family where the kit is and go over your evacuation plan. 

Who to Call When Flooding Happens

If your home or business floods, you need to act as quickly as possible. Standing water pooling up inside of your home can lead to structural damage and create an ideal environment for mold growth. The team at Water Damage Specialists responds quickly to flooding to assess the issue and provide water damage restoration services in Lehi, UT including sewage mitigation, water extraction, and structural drying.

We also understand that floods and water damage are almost always emergencies. That’s why we offer emergency water damage restoration services in Lehi, UT to help when immediate action is needed.

Act Fast After a Flood

Even a minor flood can result in long-term damage to your home’s structure and your family’s health. Mold can begin to grow within 24 to 48 hours of water exposure, making quick action absolutely essential. Give us a call right away to avoid mold from taking hold in your home or business. The team at Water Damage Specialists are here to provide mold testing in Lehi, UT to ensure your home remains safe and healthy.

Call the team at Water Damage Specialists for Flood Remediation Today

After any flooding event, it’s important to have professionals evaluate the situation. Call the team at Water Damage Specialists to help you prevent further damage, minimize repair costs, and restore your home to its pre-flooded condition. Make your appointment today for water damage restoration services in Lehi, UT, emergency services, mold help, and more to get your property back to normal.