Bell Gardens sits on low ground near the river and the housing is dense and mostly older, which combines the two problems: ageing plumbing indoors and storm water outdoors.
In a wet winter the exterior problem dominates. Ground that cannot absorb any more sends water toward buildings, and properties where the grade slopes the wrong way take it in.
What goes wrong in Bell Gardens homes
Drainage is the recurring issue. Side-yard drains that have silted up, downspouts discharging against a wall, and grade that has settled toward the building over decades.
Indoors it is the usual for the housing age: water heaters, angle stops, and drain lines that have reached the end.
Water is pooling against the side of my house when it rains.
Check the downspouts first and where they discharge, then look at whether the ground falls away from the wall. Both are cheap to correct and both cause real damage if left.
Does standing water outside actually harm the house?
Yes. It saturates the soil against the foundation, finds its way under a slab, and keeps the base of the walls damp long after the rain stops.