Living with river flood risk
Sacramento sits where the American River meets the Sacramento River, and much of the city depends on levees. According to the Sacramento Area Flood Control Agency, the Sacramento River East Levee alone protects essentially all of the city south of the American River and west of Highway 99. For homeowners, that means planning for water that comes from outside the house, not just from a burst pipe. Find out whether your home is in a mapped flood zone, review whether you have flood insurance (standard homeowners policies usually don't cover rising floodwater), and know your evacuation route.
If floodwater reaches your home, wait for officials to say it's safe to return. Treat all floodwater as contaminated: it can carry sewage, chemicals and debris. Porous materials it touches, such as carpet, pad, drywall, insulation and upholstered furniture, generally need to be removed. Have an electrician inspect the electrical system before power is restored, and have gas appliances checked before they're used.
Winter storms and sewer backups
Sacramento's rain comes mostly in winter, often in long storms. Heavy rain can overwhelm drainage and push water into low-lying garages, crawlspaces and basements, and in some older neighborhoods it can cause sewer backups through floor drains and low toilets. A backwater valve on the sewer line, installed by a plumber, can prevent sewage from flowing back into the house. Sump pumps should be tested before the rainy season and have a backup power source if the area is prone to outages during storms.
Inside-the-house leaks
Not all water damage is weather-related. Supply line failures under sinks and toilets, washing machine hoses, water heaters and leaking refrigerator lines cause many claims. Sacramento's summer heat waves, which can bring more than a week of triple-digit days, put extra strain on attic water heaters and on the air conditioner's condensate drain. A clogged drain line or cracked drain pan in an attic can soak a ceiling before anyone notices. Check attic drain pans and make sure secondary drains or float switches work.
Drying in Sacramento's climate
Drying conditions in Sacramento change with the seasons. In summer, outdoor air is hot and dry, and drying can move quickly with proper equipment, but closed-up houses in the heat can also grow mold quickly on wet materials. In winter, tule fog and rain keep outdoor humidity high for days, so opening windows doesn't help and can slow drying. Professional dehumidification is what controls the indoor air in either season. Ask the restoration contractor to show you daily moisture readings and explain how they're adjusting the equipment.
Before you hire
Ask Sacramento restoration contractors how they handle flood and sewage losses, whether they'll document the job for your insurer with photos and moisture logs, whether they bill the insurer directly, and whether they also handle rebuilding. Read any contract carefully before signing, and look up the contractor's California license with the CSLB.