What Is Heavy Rain?
Although all types of rain can cause havoc to your property, most insurance claims related to rain damage tend to come from heavy rain downpours.
In fact, according to The Canadian Institute of Actuaries,
“Approximately 40 percent of all home insurance claims result from water damage.”
With this in mind, we’ve put together a guide to help prepare your property against heavy rain.
Also, if you’re ever in the unhappy circumstance of suffering from heavy rain water damage, we’ve got some tips to quickly get your home back to normal.
how to prepare your home for heavy rain in toronto and gta.
What You Should Look For On The Weather Forecast?
Your first line of defense is knowing that heavy rain is on the way. To do this, it’s important to check how much rain is going to fall per hour and what are the types of rainfall predicted. According to The Met Office,
“Rainfall intensity is classified according to the rate of precipitation, which depends on the considered time. The following categories are used to classify rainfall intensity:
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Light rain — when the precipitation rate is < 2.5 mm (0.098 in) per hour
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Moderate rain — when the precipitation rate is between 2.5 mm (0.098 in)–7.6 mm (0.30 in) or 10 mm (0.39 in) per hour
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Heavy rain — when the precipitation rate is > 7.6 mm (0.30 in) per hour, or between 10 mm (0.39 in) and 50 mm (2.0 in) per hour
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Violent rain — when the precipitation rate is > 50 mm (2.0 in) per hour”
If you live in Toronto or The Greater Toronto Area, and they forecast rainfall precipitation above 7.6cm an hour, it’s time to batten down the hatches.
Knowing how to spot this is the first step in protecting your property from water damage, particularly as the rains intensify in Toronto from September onwards.
What Are The Different Types Of Water Damage Related To Heavy Rain?
Now you know what heavy rain is and how to spot if it’s on the way, let’s look at why you need to protect your property from a downfall.
Varying in intensity, water damage is classified, by the water damage restoration industry, into 4 types:
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Class 1: Slow Rate of Evaporation
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Class 2: Fast Rate of Evaporation
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Class 3: Fastest Rate of Evaporation
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Class 4: Specialty Drying Situations
Some factors that determine the class of water damage include:
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The amount of destruction
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The type of water causing the damage, for example black, grey or clean water
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The time to clean, sanitize, and dry out the property
Bottom line, heavy rain can lead to sewage overflows, flooding and structural damage.
If you would like some more information on this, check out our guide on what to do if you have suffered from water damage.
[Insert link to article: How These 5 Water Damage Restoration Tips Will Give You Peace Of Mind In The Clean Up]
5 Critical Ways To Prepare Your House For Heavy Rain?
As we deal with climate change and its unpredictable nature, it’s important to safeguard your home from heavy rain. Including:
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Clearing all your water outlets
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Repairing your properties structure
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Having the right sump pump
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Putting up water defense
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Clearing any environmental hazards
Remember heavy rain can come at any time.
Whether you are in Toronto or The Greater Toronto Area, we’ve put together these easy tips to help you protect against water damage as soon as you know a storm is on the way.
#1 Clear All Your Gutters, Sewer Grates And Downspouts
It may seem obvious, but having clear water outlets is essential to allow the water to flow into public and private sewage systems.
From clearing leaves and blockages to repairing pipes, it’s one of those tedious tasks that has to be done to protect your property from heavy rain.
Also, make sure that your water outlets are positioned properly and fit for purpose.
For example, a downspout needs to move water on average about 2 meters (6 feet), away from your home. Your drain covers have to be the right size to accommodate large influxes of water.
#2 Make Sure Your Roof And Flashings Are in Good Repair And Sealed
Even if your roof looks as if it’s in good condition, check it out, as often it’s small, difficult to see cracks, loose tiles or weather worn damage that can be the source of heavy rain flooding your house.
#3 If You Have A Basement Check Your Sump Pump Is Working
One thing we often hear when looking at heavy rain flooding in a basement is that, “we have a sump pump, but it just did not work.”
Don’t just wait for a weather warning. Periodically test your sump pump out.
Also, make sure that it’s powerful enough for the job. It may be working, but can it draw water at the rate you need?
#4 Inspect Your Storm Doors And Water Defense
If you live in an area that is prone to flooding and storm damage, it’s really important to invest in strong storm doors. If you already have them, make sure they still have integrity and are waterproofed. You don’t want to lose treasured possessions because your storm doors weren’t working.
Also consider if your property is prone to flooding, then you may need to invest in more specific water defenses like sandbags.
#5 Clear Any Environmental Hazards
Of all the things you can do to help protect your house from heavy rain, this is the one that you have least control over. However, there are some essential bits of maintenance that are in your power to manage.
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Make sure that the landscaping around the house can’t cause any damage when hit by heavy rain. For example, cut back any overhanging trees
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Check the condition of your foundations and make sure they are not damaged and can let water in from a heavy rain downfall.
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If the soil next to the property is 10 cm higher that the soil 1.5 meters away, make sure it’s contained and can’t be washed onto the property during the rainfall.
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Take precautions if the slope of the driveway can act as a channel for water flowing back into the house.
What To Do If You’re Already Suffering From Heavy Rain Water Damage?
Sometimes you can take all the precautions, but heavy rain still gets into your property.
If you’re going through that trauma one thing we recommend is to immediately hire professional water damage restoration services.
If you want some tips on the process of water damage restoration and how to choose the right engineer check out this article.
How These 5 Water Damage Restoration Tips Will Give You Peace Of Mind In The Clean Up
Summary Of How You Should Prepare A House For Heavy Rain?
So we’ve looked at some of the main ways you can protect your home from heavy rain., including clearing your water outlets, carrying out necessary repairs, putting up defenses and minimizing environmental hazards.
However, sometimes heavy rain still gets in and causes water damage. In this worst-case scenario, it’s time to look at the process of water damage restoration and how to choose the right technician. We’ve included a link to a guide that covers just that.
If you have water damage in Toronto or the Greater Toronto Area, including Mississauga, Richmond Hill, Scarborough and more, why not call us.
Here at GTA Restoration & Cleanup, we offer a 24/7 emergency water damage restoration service.
You can chat to us by clicking here!
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