Cleaning Up After Monsoon Flooding in Tucson
Tucson's monsoon season runs from mid-June through September, and it brings the kind of storms that drop an inch of rain in under an hour. Desert soil and caliche do not absorb water that fast, so it runs across yards, fills streets and washes, and finds the lowest door, patio slider or garage threshold on the property. Homes near the Rillito, the Santa Cruz and the smaller neighborhood washes see it first, but a storm cell parked over one street can flood homes anywhere in town.
How Storm Water Gets Inside
- Runoff pouring under exterior doors and across tile floors
- Patios and courtyards with clogged drains filling up against the house
- Garages below the grade of the street or driveway
- Water pushing through block walls and weep screeds at the base of stucco
- Roof drainage overflowing at parapets and scuppers (see our roof leak water damage page)
Why Flood Water Gets Extra Care
Water that runs across streets and yards picks up soil, debris, fertilizer and whatever else is on the ground, so it is handled as contaminated water. Carpet and pad it soaks are removed, drywall is cut above the wet line, and every hard surface is cleaned and disinfected before drying begins. Fine desert silt settles into grout lines and corners and has to be washed out, not just swept.
Our Monsoon Cleanup Process
- Safety check: power off to wet areas and a look for structural or electrical hazards.
- Water and mud removal: pumps and extractors for standing water, then mud and debris.
- Tear-out: wet pad, baseboards, lower drywall and insulation removed.
- Cleaning: slab, framing and hard surfaces cleaned and disinfected.
- Drying: dehumidifiers and air movers, with moisture readings until the structure is dry. Our structural drying page explains how.
Dry Air Is Not Enough
Monsoon season is also the most humid stretch of the Tucson year, and an evaporative cooler running through it adds even more moisture indoors. Water trapped behind baseboards and under flooring will not dry on its own fast enough to stop mold, which is why drying is measured rather than assumed.
Insurance and Flood Water
Standard homeowner policies usually treat rising surface water differently from a storm that damages the roof, and flood coverage is often a separate policy. We record where the water came from and how high it reached, and our insurance claim assistance keeps the documentation together.
If storm water has come into your home or business, call Tucson Water Damage Pros at (520) 214-2307.