ServiceMaster technicians using air movers and dehumidifiers to dry a flooded Chicagoland home after water damage

The 2025 Chicago Water Damage Report: Trends, Risks & How Homeowners Can Protect Their Property

Sam Simon

June 5, 2025

Water damage is on the rise in Chicagoland—and fast. This 2025 report breaks down key trends, flood-prone neighborhoods, and the steps homeowners can take to protect their property. Backed by NOAA, FEMA, and local insights, this guide is essential reading for anyone living in Cook, DuPage, or Lake County, Illinois.

Published by ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

Introduction: A Wake-Up Call for Chicago Homeowners

In 2025, water damage is quickly becoming one of the most urgent threats to homes across the greater Chicago area. With record-breaking rainfalls, outdated sewer infrastructure, and more frequent freeze-thaw cycles, even well-maintained properties are at risk. At ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, we’ve responded to more water damage claims in the first five months of this year than we did in the same period last year—an alarming 17% increase.

This report lays out the facts, trends, and neighborhood-level insights every homeowner should know, plus what you can do right now to protect your most valuable asset.

2025 Water Damage Trends in Chicago

Rainfall Extremes Are Now the Norm

According to the National Weather Service and NOAA, Chicagoland experienced 11% more rainfall in Q1 2025 than the 10-year seasonal average, with many areas seeing two or more "flash flood" events by early May alone.

Source: NOAA Illinois Rainfall Data – 2025

Freeze-Thaw Cycles Continue to Stress Infrastructure

2025 has also seen more than 22 freeze-thaw cycles between January and March, leading to increased burst pipe incidents in both vintage homes and newer properties.

Source: National Centers for Environmental Information

Sewer Overflows Are Rising

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago has reported a 12% uptick in combined sewer overflow events this year, particularly affecting neighborhoods near the North Branch of the Chicago River.

Source: MWRD Sewer Overflow Dashboard

Most At-Risk Chicago Neighborhoods & Suburbs (2025 Data)

Chicago Proper

Albany Park: Near the river, frequent overflows
Uptown: Basement flooding complaints spiked in April
Portage Park: High number of broken pipes reported
West Loop: Sump pump failures in new developments

North Shore Suburbs

Evanston & Wilmette: Aging infrastructure + lakefront saturation
Glencoe & Highland Park: Historic homes with poor drainage
Lake Forest: Multiple pipe bursts reported in early 2025 freeze

DuPage County

Naperville: Detention ponds overwhelmed in March storms
Glen Ellyn & Wheaton: High mold remediation call volume
Downers Grove: Sewer backup activity above seasonal norms

Is Your Home Water-Damage Ready? (Checklist)

Even well-maintained homes can fall victim to water damage, especially with Chicago’s unpredictable weather. Use this quick checklist to identify hidden risks:

Do you test your sump pump twice per year?
Is your yard graded to slope away from your foundation?
Are gutters and downspouts clean and extending at least 6 feet from the home?
Have you installed a backwater valve or flood sensor?
Do you check indoor humidity levels (target: below 55%)?
Are the washing machine and dishwasher hoses current and in good condition?
Have you inspected your basement or crawl space for hidden moisture?
Are valuables stored off the floor or in waterproof containers?

If you answered "no" to any of these, your home may be at risk.

What the Data Doesn’t Show: Hidden Risks Homeowners Miss

Even if your home appears dry on the surface, 2025 has revealed a sharp rise in:

Mold colonies behind drywall after minor leaks
Water intrusion under the flooring caused by ice damming
Delayed damage from minor seepage, especially after spring rains
Insurance claim denials due to a lack of maintenance documentation

Many homeowners are caught off guard by what insurance won’t cover. Be proactive.

Related Read: 5 Things NOT Covered by Homeowners Insurance

How to Protect Your Property in 2025 and Beyond

Get a professional moisture inspection annually
Install a backup sump system with battery power
Document all maintenance efforts (photos, receipts, dates)
Use smart sensors in high-risk areas like laundry rooms and basements
Partner with certified pros like ServiceMaster Simons before small issues grow

About ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons

With over 40 years of local service, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons is Chicago's go-to expert for water, fire, and mold restoration. We are IICRC-certified and have earned national recognition for our rapid response and high-level craftsmanship. We serve Chicago and the surrounding areas, including:

City: West Loop, Bucktown, Albany Park, Portage Park
North Shore: Evanston, Wilmette, Glencoe, Highland Park, Lake Forest, Glenview
DuPage County: Naperville, Glen Ellyn, Wheaton, Downers Grove

Learn more: https://www.servicemaster-restorationbysimons.com/

Sources

NOAA National Rainfall Trends: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/
NCEI Freeze-Thaw Reports: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
MWRD Overflow Tracker: https://mwrd.org/overflow-action-alerts
NRDC Midwest Climate Change Brief: https://www.nrdc.org/resources/climate-change-midwest
FEMA IL Claims Summary: https://www.fema.gov/openfema-data-page/fema-claims

Sam Simon

Sam Simon is the Co-Owner and Managing Director of ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, a certified MBE/WBE disaster restoration and specialty cleaning firm proudly serving Cook, Lake, and DuPage Counties in Illinois. With over 30 years of experience in restoration project management, field operations, and emergency response, Sam plays a vital leadership role in overseeing service execution, technician development, reconstruction, and subcontractor coordination.

He holds the IICRC’s highest technical designation as a Master Fire & Water Restorer, a distinction achieved by fewer than 1% of professionals in the restoration industry. His technical scope includes water and flood damage restoration, fire and smoke recovery, mold remediation, and post-disaster reconstruction across both residential and commercial sectors.

Sam has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to helping communities in crisis. He has participated in large-scale disaster recovery efforts across the U.S., providing boots-on-the-ground leadership during Hurricanes Katrina, Sandy, and Harvey, as well as catastrophic floods, wildfires, and deep freeze events throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, Texas, and beyond. His dedication to serving distressed families and businesses in the wake of national catastrophes reflects both his personal values and ServiceMaster’s mission of restoring peace of mind.

In 2019, Sam was selected for the HACIA Contractor Training Program, a competitive six-month construction management cohort offered by the Hispanic American Construction Industry Association. The program delivers intensive instruction in blueprint reading, estimating, project management, and construction law—skills that support the company’s continued growth in emergency build-back and general contracting services.

Before co-founding ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons, Sam built a successful creative career under the name Sam Zabadneh, contributing to notable film and television productions including Chicago Fire (2012), Juvies (2007), and Image Union (1978). His media and videography background continues to shape ServiceMaster’s marketing strategy, digital training resources, and brand storytelling.
→ IMDb Profile

Sam is also the co-author of RESTORE: A Complete Guide to Protecting Your Home As Your Most Valuable Asset—a practical guidebook for homeowners navigating the challenges of water, fire, and mold damage.

Under the direction of majority owner and President & CEO Nasutsa Mabwa, and with Sam’s operational leadership, ServiceMaster Restoration By Simons has earned numerous regional and national accolades, including:

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