Things That Can Cause Water Damage After Heavy Rainfall | SERVPRO® of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills

5/8/2020 (Permalink)

Heavy rains can cause serious water damage. SERVPRO of Cedar Mill/Oak Hills have the trained technicians to fully restore your home.

When most of us think about water damage, we think of catastrophic events—but it does not take a flood or other large body of water to cause damages.

Heavy rainfall, which falls over 0.3 inches per hour can easily cause damage to most homes before homeowners even realize it. These are some of the ways we see water damage manifest after heavy rains:

How Heavy Rain Can Lead to Water Damage

Backup of clogged gutters. Gutters that have not been cleaned regularly are often not draining at maximum efficiency and can allow water to pool up when rainfall becomes heavy. This water can seep its way into your roofline and cause the wood and materials to decay.

Leaks around windows and doors. There are always vulnerabilities associated with external openings of a home, especially if you have not recently improved your weatherstripping around doors and windows. Heavy rains can work their way into microscopic cracks and cause damage.

Poor drainage around the foundation. When water builds up around the base of your home, it can lead to damage to your crawlspace or basement area. Landscaping and proper drainage are key to preventing this.

Leaks in and around the roof. Leaking roofs are one of the leading causes of water damage, and they often go unnoticed until they become severe. Regularly inspect your roof for damages so you do not get blindsided by a leak in your roof the next time heavy rains move in.

Malfunctioning of a sump pump system. Caring for your sump pump and regularly checking to be sure it is operational is a wise decision. These useful pumps can still develop many problems that render them unable to pump water away from the home.

Leaks around chimneys and skylights. Having features such as a chimney or skylights is nice, but they do present vulnerabilities where they intersect with the roof. The seals that protect these seams can wear down over time, and heavy rains can expose these vulnerabilities.

If you’ve experienced water damage to your home, we are here to help. You can call us ²⁴⁄₇ to have our trained technicians respond quickly and begin your restoration.