If you are concerned about mold, mildew, or water damage in Plano, you may be wondering what risk factors can contribute to flooding in your area. You can help yourself avoid the hassle of needing water damage repair for your home by being aware of the risk factors for home flooding.

Drainage

Heavy rains can mean water damage and mold for your home if it isn’t
protected by an effective drainage system. Your home’s foundation
should sit higher than the land around it, with at least a 6-inch drop
in the height of the ground for the first ten feet going in every direction.
If you notice that your yard remains soggy or puddled after a rainstorm,
you probably aren’t getting enough drainage. Measures such as adding
a mound or ditch to the landscape of your yard can help direct rainwater
away from your house. Installing a sump pump can help prevent flooding
in your home after heavy rains by collecting the water that accumulates
under you home and carrying it away from your house through underground pipes.

Landscape

Wildfires can pose more of a threat to homes than just fire damage. Parts
of the country that have been affected by wildfires are vulnerable to
mudflow and flash floods because the stabilizing vegetation has been destroyed
and the charred land can’t absorb water as quickly. New development
can also pose a threat to homes by increasing the likelihood of flooding.
Leveling the land can alter the direction of water flow in an area, and
the addition of buildings and parking lots means less open ground where
water can be absorbed.

Weather

Many parts of the United States receive heavy rains during the winter season,
and it’s not uncommon for heavy rains to follow after snow. When
the ground is frozen in winter, it can’t absorb the rainwater and
can lead to flooding. This is also a factor in spring when the snow begins
to melt. The ground below is often still frozen solid, causing snowmelt
to flow and potentially flood an area instead of being soaked up by the earth.