Hillside Storm Runoff in Sunnyslope

Desert hillsides have thin soil and lots of rock, so little rain soaks in during a heavy storm. Water collects in washes and on streets and moves quickly downhill. Sunnyslope sits right below North Mountain and Shaw Butte, so some homes are directly in those paths.

Runoff reaches garage doors, patio doors and low thresholds first. It can push mud and debris against walls and into weep screeds. Homes with driveways sloping toward the garage are especially exposed.

Soil should slope away from the house on all sides. Swales, shallow channels in the yard, can steer water around the house. French drains and channel drains across driveways can catch water before it reaches the garage. A drainage contractor can design these.

Natural washes and drainage channels need to stay open. Landscaping, rocks and yard debris dumped in a wash can push water toward homes. Clear debris before monsoon season.

Raised thresholds, good door sweeps and garage door seals keep shallow water out. Keep sandbags or water barriers ready if your home has taken water before.

Do not walk or drive through moving water. Put towels and barriers at doors, move belongings up and stay inside until the water passes.

Photograph where water entered, remove mud and water quickly and call for drying; see emergency water extraction. Treat runoff as dirty water.

Water flowing across the ground from outside is usually treated as flood and excluded from standard homeowner policies. FloodSmart (NFIP) explains flood insurance. Ask your agent if your home has taken water before.

Heavy storms test roofs at the same time. Check ceilings after big storms as well as doors.

Monsoon storms often build over the mountains in the afternoon and move into the valley within an hour. Rain can fall at an inch an hour or more for short periods. On steep, rocky slopes, that water moves downhill in minutes, often carrying sand, gravel and debris. Homes at the base of slopes can go from dry to wet doorsteps very quickly.

Driveways that slope down toward the garage act like channels. A trench drain across the driveway just outside the garage door, connected to a safe outlet, can catch runoff before it reaches the door. A raised lip or threshold seal helps with shallow water.

Many hillside homes have retaining walls. Weep holes at the base of those walls let water drain through. When they clog with soil, water builds up behind the wall and can find its way toward the house. Keep weep holes open.

Walk the property after major storms. Look for erosion, new channels, debris against walls and water stains on stucco. Fix small problems before the next storm makes them bigger.

Runoff does not stop at property lines. Talk with neighbors uphill and downhill about how water moves across lots, especially after landscaping changes. Shared solutions often work better than one house fighting the water alone.

Storm water inside your home? Call (602) 878-3892 for a local provider who can start drying right away.

Before June 15, clear washes, swales and drains, check grading, test door seals, set out barriers if needed and clear roof scuppers. Save (602) 878-3892 in your phone.

Do not pile landscaping debris in washes, do not block drainage paths with walls or planters without a plan and do not wait until a storm to look for sandbags.

Water always wins on a hillside unless you give it a better path. Grade, channel and seal before the season.

Living at the base of North Mountain and Shaw Butte comes with beautiful views and fast storm water. A drainage plan, clear washes and sealed doors let you enjoy one without suffering the other, and quick drying limits damage on the rare night water does get in.

Before every monsoon season, walk your lot with fresh eyes and ask where water will go when it pours. Then clear that path and make sure it leads away from the house.

Save (602) 878-3892 before monsoon season starts. Share it with neighbors. Thanks!

In Sunnyslope, grade away from the house, keep washes and drains clear, seal doors and be ready with barriers. A little preparation keeps hillside runoff outside.

Questions about hillside storm runoff in sunnyslope? Call (602) 878-3892 to reach a local North Central Phoenix provider, 24 hours a day.