What to Do When Heavy Rain Causes Water Damage Inside Your Arizona Home
Heavy rain can cause water damage surprisingly quickly.
A roof leak may be the obvious culprit, but storm water can also enter around windows and doors, through exterior walls, or at low points around the structure. Once inside, water can spread into drywall, insulation, flooring, cabinets, and baseboards before the full extent of the damage is obvious.
If you find water inside your Arizona home after a storm, here’s what to do first.
1. Figure Out Whether Water Is Still Coming In
If it is safe to do so, try to identify where the water is entering.
Common storm-related sources include:
- Roof leaks
- Damaged or missing roofing materials
- Water entering around windows or doors
- Exterior wall leaks
- Overflowing or damaged gutters
- Poor drainage around the home
- Water entering through low areas of the structure
- Wind-driven rain
You do not need to diagnose the entire problem yourself. At this stage, the important question is whether water is still actively entering the home.
If the storm is still underway, do not climb onto the roof or attempt repairs in heavy rain, high winds, or lightning.
2. Be Careful Around Electricity
Water and electricity are a dangerous combination.
Do not enter standing water if there is any possibility it has reached outlets, appliances, wiring, extension cords, or an electrical panel.
If you are unsure whether an affected area is electrically safe, stay out of it until it can be evaluated.
3. Limit Additional Damage If You Can Do It Safely
Once everyone is safe, take reasonable steps to keep the water from spreading.
That might mean:
- Moving furniture and belongings away from the affected area
- Placing a container beneath an active ceiling drip
- Using towels to contain a small amount of surface water
- Moving valuables into a dry room
- Keeping people and pets out of damaged areas
Avoid tearing into walls, pulling up large areas of flooring, or starting demolition unless you know what materials are involved.
For a larger loss, removing materials before the affected areas have been properly evaluated can make the cleanup more complicated.
4. Photograph the Damage Before Cleanup
Take photos and video before the area changes significantly.
Try to capture:
- Where the water appears to have entered
- Standing water
- Wet ceilings and walls
- Damaged flooring
- Wet cabinets and baseboards
- Affected furniture or belongings
- Visible exterior storm damage, if it can be photographed safely
This gives you a record of what happened and may be useful if the loss becomes part of an insurance claim.
5. Remove Standing Water Quickly
Surface water should be removed as soon as it can be done safely.
A very small amount of water may be manageable with towels, a mop, or a wet vacuum.
A larger loss is different.
If water has reached several rooms, soaked carpet and padding, spread underneath flooring, or entered walls and cabinets, professional extraction equipment may be needed.
And getting rid of the visible water does not necessarily mean the structure is dry.
6. Make Sure the Water Did Not Travel Somewhere You Cannot See
This is where storm-related water damage can be deceptive.
A wet ceiling may be the first thing you notice, while moisture has also moved into insulation or a wall cavity. Water on the floor may have already traveled underneath flooring or behind baseboards.
Professional water damage restoration may involve:
- Water extraction
- Moisture testing
- Structural drying
- Air movement and dehumidification
- Removal of materials that cannot be properly dried
- Moisture monitoring while the structure dries
The goal is not simply to make the surface look dry. It is to determine where the water actually traveled and make sure affected building materials are drying appropriately.
7. Pay Attention to Signs of Hidden Moisture
After the obvious water has been removed, continue watching the affected area.
Warning signs can include:
- Water stains that continue to grow
- Bubbling or peeling paint
- Swollen baseboards
- Warped flooring
- Soft drywall
- Damp cabinets
- Musty odors
- Water appearing in another room
- Areas that remain damp after the surface has dried
These can indicate that moisture remains inside the structure.
When Should You Call a Water Damage Restoration Company?
You probably do not need a restoration company for every spilled bucket or tiny isolated leak.
Professional help becomes much more important when:
- Water has spread beyond a small area
- Multiple rooms are affected
- Flooring or drywall is saturated
- Water may have entered wall cavities
- The leak went unnoticed for an extended period
- You came home to an already-flooded house
- There is significant ceiling damage
- You cannot tell how far the moisture traveled
- The loss may require both drying and reconstruction
The longer a significant water loss remains wet, the more building materials may ultimately be affected.
Water Damage Restoration in the Phoenix Area
ATH Restoration helps Phoenix-area homeowners respond to significant water damage, including losses caused or uncovered during heavy Arizona storms.
Depending on the situation, the team can assist with water removal, structural drying, damaged material removal, and reconstruction when repairs are needed.
If heavy rain has caused water to enter your home and you are unsure how far the damage extends, ATH Restoration can help evaluate the affected areas and determine the next steps.