Water is pervasive. In fact, water covers 71 percent of the earth’s surface. It’s no surprise that water can intrude into residential homes. Flooding of any kind will cause severe water damage if left unrepaired. Here are five different types of flooding that can affect a home.

The oceans contain 96.5 percent of all the water on earth. Rivers and lakes also hold a significant amount of water. In the air, water can be found as water vapor. In cold regions, water remains frozen atop icecaps and in glaciers. Water also flows through properties via indoor plumbing.

Water from any of these sources can enter a home uninvited and lead to water damage. The extent and type of destruction depend on the specific type of flood. Understanding the different types of flooding can help homeowners better prepare for disasters and safeguard their properties.

Types of flooding

• Coastal Flooding

As mentioned, most of the earth’s water are located in the oceans. Coastal flooding has a dire effect on coastal properties, since they are built in close proximity to the ocean. The water from the ocean travels inland via waves, tides, storm surges, or heavy rainfall.

Due to climate change, the risk of coastal flooding is expected to rise. Sea levels are increasing because of the rise in temperatures from climate change. The number of coastal floods is increasing, and their effects are worsening—essentially lasting longer and extending further inland.

• River Flooding

The water levels in rivers, lakes, or streams can rise, sending water over the banks and onto neighboring lands. Excessive rain or snowmelt can trigger river flooding. Several factors determine the severity of river floods, including the intensity and duration of rainfall.

River flooding can potentially lead to dam or dike breaks. A disaster like the rupture of a dam can lead to significant property damage to homes and businesses built in the vicinity. Fortunately, most causes of river flooding are predictable, allowing time for residents to evacuate safely.

• Flash Flooding

Flash floods are preceded by major events, like severe thunderstorms, tropical storms, hurricanes or even mudslides and broken dams or levees. The floods gain momentum within six hours of these events. Several environmental conditions impact the severity of the flash floods.

With less soil to absorb the water from a flash flood, urban areas are more prone to significant damage. Similarly, areas that have been stricken with drought are at risk for flash flooding; the dry soil is unable to quickly absorb the water, which leads to water runoff in low-lying areas.

• Groundwater Flooding

Substantial rainfall can cause groundwater flooding, whereby water flows into streets and buildings in nearby areas. Both rural and urban areas are equally prone to groundwater floods. Unlike river flooding, groundwater flooding is a slow process, occurring days, weeks, or months after heavy rainfall.

Although groundwater flooding happens gradually, the catastrophic effects can last for weeks or months. Fortunately, however, the slow pace at which groundwater flooding occurs gives residential property owners time to remove their belongings to an elevated, safer, and dryer area.

• Sewage Flooding

Sewage systems and treatment plants can be overwhelmed by unexpected heavy rainfall and break down, which leads to untreated sewage water being released into bodies of water. Sewage water can leak through the pipes and come up through the sinks, showers, and toilets.

Basement cracks can allow sewer water inside. Plumbing systems that are left unmaintained can burst and send sewage into the property. Outside the home, tree roots can cause problems with the sewer line, blocking it and preventing wastewater from flowing to its intended destination.

Flooding is a major disaster for property owners in the United States. All it takes is an inch of floodwater to cause $25,000 in damages to the home. Some types of flooding, especially those cause by nature, cannot be prevented. However, property owners can minimize the damage.

Homeowners should know the Base Flood Elevation (BFE), which is how high water is expected to rise in high-risk flood areas. Elevate the appliances, like the water heater, as well as electrical systems, furnaces and other utilities, at least 12 inches above the BFE.

Replace the carpets with tiles, which are a more flood-resistant surface than carpeting. Floodproofing the basement by installing a sump pump and sealing the walls with waterproofing compounds is also advised. Installing flood-resistant insulation and drywall helps limit the flood damage.

Building owners should also consider installing flood vents in enclosed areas, such as the garage and the foundation walls. The vents allow water to flow through and drain out, thereby reducing the extent of damage. Invest in a sewer backflow valve to prevent sewage backup disasters.

Water Damage in the home

Water damage from flooding will adversely affect the structural integrity of the home. Wood rot, swelling, and warping, as well as mold growth, can be the unwanted outcomes of water damage. Avoid extensive water damage issues by consulting a water damage restoration professional.

A local water damage restoration company will return your water damaged home or business to its pre-loss condition fast. Technicians are certified and trained to repair water damaged properties swiftly, so that you can return to daily life as soon as possible.

The cleanup process starts with an assessment of the water damage. Skilled crews extract all the excess moisture using advanced water extraction equipment. An anti-microbial solution is applied to ensure the safety of the building. The property is dried with powerful air movers and dehumidifiers.

Restoration professionals provide comprehensive water damage cleanup services, including drywall replacement, carpet drying, mold removal, and deodorization. Content cleaning and pack out services are options available to property owners. They also offer emergency board up services and debris removal when needed.

About Vince Sandri

Vince Sandri is a content writer and blogger with more than 12 years of experience. His expertise is in creating content related to disaster restoration, including information about preventing and reacting to natural disasters like flooding, water damage, fire and smoke damage, mold growth, storm damage and more.
Vince has been the main contributor to RestorationMasterFinder.com since 2014. Over that time, he has written numerous service pages and blogs for disaster restoration providers featured on RestorationMasterFinder.com. Vince has done extensive research and covered a wide range of topics relating to disaster restoration to help homeowners, business owners, and property managers better protect their property. He understands the problems that disasters like flooding, fire, smoke, and mold can cause as well as the best ways to respond to these issues to limit the damage.
Vince completed his Bachelor of Arts degree at Aurora University and his master’s degree at DePaul University. He has been writing SEO website pages, blogs, and press releases since 2012. Vince is also a musician and can be seen playing in the Chicago, IL area.