How To Be Proactive With Your Plumbing During Heavy Rains

Many homeowners don’t pay much attention to their household plumbing until something goes drastically wrong — and when that happens, it’s often an expensive fix in more ways than one. Not only is a major plumbing crisis expensive to have repaired, your home may be unlivable until everything is back in working order. If you don’t have accommodating relatives or friends nearby, you may be on the hook for a motel room until your plumbing is up and running again.

Fortunately, proactive strategies exist that make it possible for homeowners to circumvent many plumbing dilemmas. You probably already know that winterizing your pipes provides an excellent way to guard against roken pipes occurring as the result of a cold spell.But you may not be aware of how other weather conditions can affect your plumbing as well. Heavy rains, for instance, can wreak havoc on the average household plumbing system.

Here’s how homeowners can hedge their bets against the potential damage heavy rains can do to their plumbing.

Keep Your Roof and Gutters Clean at All Times

Vegetative debris, such as twigs, fallen leaves and pine needles that have  been allowed to build up over time on the roof or gutters, end up being washed away in heavy downpours.Even fairly light but consistent rainfall can have an effect, resulting in clogged pipes and backed-up sewers.

Homeowners sometimes defer these tasks until all of the autumn leaves are finished falling. However, many locations also experience heavy rains during autumn, so keeping on top of gutter and roof cleaning chores is recommended. Paying close attention to weather forecasts and performing these tasks prior to the onset of rain may help keep the plumber away.

Have a Backwater Check Valve Installed

If you live in a flood zone, or in an area that receives significant amounts of seasonal rainfall, and are on a city water and sewer system, you may want to explore the possibility of having a backwater check valve installed. This device will help prevent sewer backup occurring from your municipal sewer. These require cleaning twice per year to keep them in optimal condition.  Your local plumbing service can do this for you during routine maintenance calls.

Keep Your Trap Plugs Tight

You should also check your trap plugs before the rainy season starts in earnest to help prevent sewage from backing up into your home as a result of clogs and blockages caused by heavy rains.

Keep Your Plumbing in Good Repair

Household plumbing and sewer systems that are well-maintained and in good repair fare far better during rain events than their neglected counterparts. For instance, rainstorms that occur when the ground is very dry may cause the ground to shift enough to break or damage brittle pipes. Pipes that are in good shape have a better chance of coming through the storm intact.

Give us a call. You won’t be disappointed!

When in doubt, give us a call at Terry’s Plumbing! As your reputable plumber in Pittsburgh, we can help you with your plumbing-related issues. Call today at 412-364-9114.