6 Common Causes of Flooding

5/18/2017 (Permalink)

Flooding is not only aggravating but it is also can ruin your possessions, significantly affect your home’s structure, and necessitate extensive repairs. Here are 6 of the most common causes of residential flooding.

1. Broken Pipes

Just one water leak can signal major flooding problems in the future — it only takes minutes for a broken pipe to send water gushing into your home. It’s important to be cautious of even minor leaks and to know where your home’s main valve to shut off the water is located in case of an emergency.                

2. Poor Drainage

Not only are floods caused by improper drainage a huge inconvenience, it’s a hazard that can ruin your flooring, walls, and fixtures.        

3. Clogged Rain Gutters

A house’s rain gutters are meant to divert excess water away from it, but if the gutters are clogged with debris the chances of flooding rise significantly. Heavy rainfall and rain gutters filled with dirt and debris lead to a messy situation that can end up costing you a lot of money in repairs. It’s best to be proactive and regularly clean your gutters.

4. Malfunctioning Appliances

An improperly connected or broken water heater, dishwasher, or washing machine can wreak havoc on your home and flood it with water. Its important to ensure there are no leaks or problems with the water supply to your major appliances.

5. Damaged Foundation

If your home’s foundation is damaged with flaws or cracking, it can allow water to enter through the floors. A house’s foundation is always resting on the ground, even when it becomes over-saturated with water from storms, melted ice and snow, or other precipitation. Homes resting on good, solid foundations aren’t usually affected, but damaged foundations can lead to severe floods. 

6. The Weather

This is the one cause of flooding that you really can’t do much about, aside from having an emergency weather plan, a good foundation, and a functioning pump.

While some causes of flooding are hard to control, most are preventable. Knowing the common causes of home flooding and being proactive can save a great deal of stress and money in the long run.