When heavy rains create a landscape of puddles, are you prepared to navigate your way home? Knowing your car's wading depth is the first step to making it through safely.

On a recent harrowing commute, I witnessed two compact cars getting stuck in a seemingly shallow pool of standing water. Knowing that I had 12 inches of clearance for my mid-size SUV, I carefully proceeded around them and made it home safe and sound. Here are 3 reasons why you should look up your car's wading depth RIGHT NOW.

1. Driving through deep water can do significant damage to your car's engine.

Seeing other stalled cars in standing water is an easy indication that you should probably turn around. There's a reason why cars can only go so far before flood damage affects their performance.

Simply put, hydrolock is what happens when water gets into your car's engine. Essentially, the engine shuts down immediately because the pistons freeze and you'll be stalled at a dead stop. According to NAPA Auto Parts, once this happens, you should take the car to a mechanic for a diagnosis. There's no getting out of this!

2. If you get stuck in a puddle, a tow truck will have to attempt a water rescue, often happening hours after the rain stops and conditions are clear.

As much as this seems like a mere inconvenience, this is a major factor to consider. While you wait for that tow, you'll be an actual sitting duck until help can arrive. Imagine the 20-60 minutes you usually wait for assistance increasing exponentially due to storm damage. Is it really worth it to try driving through?

A blog post from AAA describes a soggy day in Oklahoma during which several inches of regional rainfall produced over 300 calls for assistance. Think about that when you're faced with a murky puddle next time!

3. Standing water can also lead to catastrophic damage to your interior.

You know that awful wet dog smell you get when things don't get really dry? Imagine that in your car, especially in the heat of summer. A professional detailing is the best way to mask any flood damage to your vehicle, and it's not going to be cheap. The last thing you want is mold, especially if you plan on trading in or selling your car. The water can infiltrate not just your upholstery, but your air vents and hidden compartments as well. 

To find your car's wading depth, just look in your user's manual or Google it. Err on the side of caution if you come up on standing water, and watch other cars drive through if you have any doubts. Internal damage aside, floating away is also something to be aware of during floods. According to Progressive, many cars can get swept away in just about a foot of water, so stay safe out there!

Do you know what your car's wading depth is? Have you ever had any close calls with standing water? Let us know in the comments.