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Home improvement & diy

How to Prevent Garage Flooding With 15 Tips and Tricks

 (modified Jul 31, 2023)

Floods are among the most destructive natural hazards. Learning about the best practices to prevent, clean and restore flood damage in your home is essential in order to minimize accidents, health problems, and the need for costly repairs. In this post, we'll dive into commons causes of garage floods, how to clean up a flooded garage and how to better keep water out of your garage.

water in garage after heavy rain

Common Causes of Garage Flooding

Flooding can be a nightmare for every homeowner. Not only is it difficult to deal with, but repairing flood damage is also a very expensive undertaking. The garage is among the parts of a home that are most prone to flood damage. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to deal with it.

But before we jump into how to keep water out of your garage, let us first talk about the most common causes of garage flooding.

Sewage Flooding

Sewer flooding can happen for a number of reasons. For instance, there could be a failure of the sewerage, too much pressure, or blockage in the drainage pipes. These problems are often triggered by bad weather conditions, such as when too much rainwater enters the sewers from surrounding houses, roads and land.

Sewage leaks can happen from underneath the garage and seep up, causing water damage inside the garage.

Burst Water Pipes

Fresh water pipes (which are located in the yard) that supply water to a house can burst, which causes the water to enter the garage from the ground below. This is something that can easily happen in the winter months if still water in the pipes freeze.

The frozen water will cause your pipes to burst and cause a mess. Old pipes are also susceptible to bursts if the water pressure is too high.

Flooding Caused by Bad Weather

Heavy rainfall, hurricane or storm surges can almost always cause flooding, especially in lowland. Overflowing water from nearby sources, including streams, broken dams, or lakes can cause flooding too.

Red Umbrella in Flooding caused by Bad Weather

Garage Flooding Solutions, Flooding Cleanup and Preventative Measures

Addressing water damage problems in your garage before, during and after flooding is essential.

Below are some of the best practices that every homeowner can follow to protect their garage from structural problems caused by flooding:

Identify Sources of Water Problems

Prevention is better than “repair”. Taking time to determine sources of water that could serve as potential trigger for flooding is important.

Check your drainage pipes and if necessary, divert water from the garage. Burst pipes should be fixed immediately as well.

Install Flood Water Barrier for Your Garage

If you live in a lowland area, consider installing water barrier for your garage on your property. A flood barrier is a good investment especially if your garage contains household items that are hard to replace or too expensive to just be damaged by water.

They can be purchased online or from your local home hardware store and have installation instructions that are easy to follow, making water barrier for your garage an easy preventative measure.

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Weather-Strip Your Garage Door to Stop Garage FLooding

Stop garage flooding and protect your belongings from water damage by prioritizing the installation and maintenance of weather-stripping on your garage door. Heavy rain can pose a significant threat, and a properly sealed garage door can make all the difference.

Regularly inspect the weather-stripping for signs of wear and tear, as it can deteriorate over time. Addressing any issues promptly will ensure that your garage remains dry and secure during the wettest of days. Don't let heavy rain compromise your valuable possessions.

If you already have weather-stripping in your garage door, conduct a routine check to ensure that it hasn’t worn out yet. Observe any wet spots after a rainy day. If you notice water in the garage after heavy rain, you'll likely need to replace this.

Check the Foundation Too

Maintaining a strong foundation is crucial to preventing flooding in your garage. Having poor foundations can quickly cause water damage to your garage, which is something that is easily avoidable.

Have it inspected regularly for cracks or damage which could cause sewage line or sewer water pipes to burst.

Check Plumbing to avoid garage flooding

Clean the Gutters to Avoid Garage Flooding

Your gutters have a very important role in protecting your garage from water damage as they designed to lead water (from rain or melted ice) through a downpipe and out to the drainage system and away from your home.

Make sure to clean your gutters from leaves and other debris and repair any crack or holes. Do the same thing with the rest of your garage roofing system.

Waterproof the Walls

Applying waterproof veneer to the walls will create a seal to ensure that water doesn’t seep in. This will definitely keep your garage wall system intact.

Install Adequate Flood Drainage

Flood drains divert water path away from your home and garage. They are a very helpful addition especially whenever there is a serious flooding in your area.

Additionally, smooth down uneven ground that could direct water to your garage.

Cleaning and restoring garage water damage should be done immediately after flood waters subside. Here are the most important steps to take:

Flood drainage for Garage

Ensure Everyone’s Safety After a Flooded Garage

Before entering your garage, check if there are no major damage that could compromise your safety. Whether it's from natural causes or a faulty pipe, you'll always want to prioritize safety when entering a home or garage that is flooded.

Keep children and pets away from the area until the flooding cleanup is complete.

Take Out Wet Contents

They have to be washed and dried completely under the sun. Items that have been badly damaged or soaked in water and can no longer be disinfected must be discarded.

Drywall and insulation that have been soaked in water are likely to be removed and discarded as well.

Typically, in these scenarios a 20 yard dumpster will best your best option for waste and garbage disposal. Bin There Dump That has national relationships with many of the water restoration franchises across the country, including PuroClean and DKI Property Restoration

Water Damage from Garage Flood

Remove Water Using the Right Tools and Equipment

Make sure that you are also properly geared to avoid exposure to contaminated floodwater. Some of these tools and equipment will be useful to clean up a garage flood:

  • Squeegee
  • Bucket
  • Mop
  • Shovel
  • Heavy Duty Bags
  • Gloves
  • Waterproof Boots

Wash All Surfaces

Once the water has been removed, wash the floors, walls and other surfaces with soapy warm, clean water. Use your squeegee to push the water towards the drain or outdoors.

Sanitize Surfaces Using Specialized Cleaning Solutions, Such as Bleach

If there’s mold, scrub to remove it. You may need to toss and repair surfaces depending on the amount of mold that's developed. If the mold infestation is too large to handle, it is better to call professionals for help.

Use Air Movers Throughout the Cleaning Process

An air mover significantly speed up the drying time by reducing the amount of moisture present in the air.

Dry Everything in Your Garage

Have your garage interiors dried completely before re-organizing or putting items back. Use a mop to help soak up any moisture left behind. Use paper towels for surfaces that are still wet. 

Seek Help from Professionals for Garage Flooding

Call water restoration professionals to ensure that there was no serious structural damage in your garage. Ask about the different options or ways to better waterproof and flood-proof your garage in the future. The garage is an important extension of any home. It’s where you store some of your most valuable belongings; take the precautions to keep water out of your garage at all costs.

These tips and key practices should guide every homeowner in preventing, cleaning and restoring flood damage.


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