It can start small — maybe you notice a slight sheen in your basement when it rains, or birds pecking at a deep puddle in your backyard. But, if left unaddressed, flooding can quickly turn from a nuisance into a major cost: According to FEMA, 1 inch of water in your home can equate to about $25,000 in damages. Figuring out a fix for flooding can be a journey, but it doesn’t have to be one that you embark on perpetually damp. Utility pumps can mitigate water buildup or, if flooding does happen, clear out wet areas across your property. These unsung heroes of water removal are basically motors with hose hookups that are capable of pumping out gallons of water each minute, even up an incline. They can deal with recurring water intrusion, and in some cases they might even be part of your ultimate flooding fix.