Your Guide to Flood Damage
Imagine coming home—and there’s water creeping across your living room. Flooding’s a nightmare scenario for every homeowner, and it happens all too often. Roughly 1 in 67 insured homes files a water-related claim each year. Add to that the fact that a single inch of water in a home can cause $25,000 in damage.
It’s not all doom and gloom, though. Once you know what causes flooding, what to do when it happens, and how to recover from flooding damage, you’ll be able to overcome even the worst watery nightmare.
Key Takeaways
- Flood damage can strike almost any home, whether you live near water or not. Knowing the warning signs of flooding can help you act fast.
- Heavy rains, storm surges, even a single burst pipe can all lead to serious flood damage in your house.
- Acting quickly when your house starts flooding, like shutting off power and moving valuables to higher ground, can limit the damage to your home.
- A professional cleanup service will speed up your recovery after flood damage and help you avoid future problems like mold growth.
- Simple steps like cleaning out your gutters and elevating major appliances can lower your risk of future flood damage.
What Causes Home Flooding?
Water from flooding doesn’t always come from the same place, and where it comes from matters a lot. Some floods bring in fairly clean water you can begin to deal with carefully. Others carry bacteria and contaminants that can harm your health. That’s why it’s important to know what you’re up against before you start your cleanup.
Here’s a look at the three main sources behind flooding damage in most homes.
Severe Weather and Storms
Heavy rain, hurricanes, and rapid snowmelt can overwhelm your yard and foundation faster than you’d expect. And even if you live in an area without regular flooding, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. Every state in the U.S. has dealt with floods or flash floods in the last five years.
Storm water often finds its way in through window wells, cracks in your foundation, or a roof that’s taken a beating. This kind of flooding can escalate quickly, soaking through your drywall, insulation, and flooring before you even realize how much damage has been done.
All but the mildest weather-related flooding damage usually requires a professional storm damage repair team.
Plumbing and Appliance Failures
A burst pipe, a failed water heater, or a washing machine hose that finally gives out can flood a room in minutes. These floods often start with clean water, but that water doesn’t stay clean long. Once it sits for a while or picks up contaminants from your walls and flooring, it quickly becomes a bigger health concern.
Sewer Backups and Groundwater
Sewer backups and rising groundwater bring an altogether different kind of risk. This water almost always carries bacteria and other contaminants, so it should be treated as hazardous from the start. Leave this type of flooding to the professionals!
Common Impacts of Flood Damage
Flood damage rarely stops at what you can see on the surface. Even after the water’s gone, the real damage from flooding can keep spreading for days or weeks.
Structural damage is always a big concern after a flood. Water weakens drywall, warps flooring, and can even compromise the wood framing that holds your home together. The longer water sits, the more it eats away at the materials that make up your home.
Mold is another major risk. Damp conditions inside your walls or under your flooring create the perfect environment for mold to grow, which can affect your indoor air quality and your family’s health long after the flood itself is over.
Your belongings will take a hit, too. Water can ruin your furniture, electronics, photos, and important documents. Unfortunately, some items aren’t salvageable once they’ve been soaked too long.
Your best shot at limiting water damage is to act fast as soon as the flooding begins.
What to Do When Your House Is Flooding
When you notice water spreading through your house, it’s easy to panic. Try to stay as calm as possible and start taking action immediately. What you do now could help save a lot of money and frustration after the water’s gone.
Take a look at this house flood checklist:
- Get everyone in your household away from rising water and to a safe, dry area of the home. That includes your pets.
- Shut off your water source if you know the shutoff valve location and can reach it safely.
- Turn off your electricity at the main panel, but only if you can do so without stepping into water.
- Don’t use any electrical appliances or outlets that may have come into contact with water.
- Move your most valuable items, furniture, and electronics to higher ground if it’s safe to do so.
- Once the flooding has stopped, take photos of the damage for your insurance claim.
After following the steps above, and after everyone in your home is safe, your next priority should be to get professional help as quickly as possible. Standing water in your home will cause more damage with every passing hour. It’s time to call a professional water damage restoration company.
Cleaning Up and Recovering from Flood Damage
Once the immediate danger from the flood has passed, the real work begins. Whether you’re looking at a flooded basement or major attic damage from a roof leak, recovering from flood damage typically involves the same steps.
Try not to skip steps or rush through them, as this can lead to bigger problems down the road.
Step 1: Water Extraction
Professionals will use pumps and vacuums to remove standing water quickly. Every hour water sits in your home increases the damage to your floors, walls, and foundation.
Step 2: Drying and Dehumidifying
This step targets the moisture you can’t see, deep inside walls, subfloors, and insulation. Your professional restoration team will use industrial fans and dehumidifiers to evaporate and pull out any moisture in a flooded house.
Step 3: Cleaning and Sanitizing
This is especially important if the water that flooded your home carried any contaminants. Cleaning and sanitizing your home protects your family’s health and helps prevent any lingering odors.
Step 4: Repairs
The team will repair anything they couldn’t save, such as damaged drywall and ruined flooring. The goal is to restore your home to its pre-flood condition.
How to Prevent Potential Flood Damage
Once you’ve dealt with a home flood, the last thing you want is another one. Here’s how you can lower your risk of a water disaster in your home:
- Clean your gutters and downspouts so rainwater drains away from your foundation instead of pooling around it.
- Check that your yard slopes away from your home and consider adding extensions to downspouts if water tends to collect near your walls.
- Inspect your sump pump regularly and test it before storm season.
- Seal any cracks in your foundation.
- Consider installing a backwater valve to keep sewage from backing up into your home during heavy rain.
These small steps now can save you from facing a flooded house down the road.
Recover Faster with SERVPRO
Flooding damage seems overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to define your home’s story. With fast action and the right help, recovery is absolutely possible. SERVPRO can help.
SERVPRO offers more than 50 years of experience, 24/7 emergency response, and trained professionals who will work to get your home back to normal. Don’t face flooding alone.
Contact your local SERVPRO today.
FAQs
What Damage Does Flooding Cause?
Flooding can cause structural damage, ruin flooring and drywall, destroy your furniture and belongings, and invite mold growth. Even minor flooding can lead to costly repairs if water sits too long without proper extraction and drying.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Home Floods?
Most home floods come from severe weather and storms, plumbing or appliance failures, and sewer backups or rising groundwater. Each source carries different risks, so identifying the cause early helps you respond as effectively as possible.
What Should You Do If Your House Floods?
The most important thing to do is to move your family to safety. Next, shut off the water source and electricity if you can do so safely and avoid contact with standing water. Then call a professional water damage restoration company right away to begin the water extraction process