Some people love rain, while others hate it. But are you aware of how it can damage your home plumbing system? Find out here.
Rainfall can be beautiful and much-awaited; it helps flowers and crops bloom, trees get greener, and make the world more gorgeous. However, heavy rain can wreak havoc on your home plumbing system.
Not many homeowners know the high risks of heavy rains to their plumbing systems. This guide will tell you how your home plumbing system might suffer from constant heavy rain.
So, grab an umbrella, and let’s get straight into the rest of this guide!
How Can Heavy Rain Affect Your Plumbing?
There are several different ways heavy rainfall can affect your home plumbing. Due to heavy rains, there can be intense damage, from cracked pipes to backups, to choke the plumbing system and increase pressure on pipes.
Let us discuss the different ways in which heavy rainfall can affect the entire system of your home plumbing.
1. It Can Increase The Pressure On The Piping System Of Your Home
Most of us rely heavily on our home plumbing system for daily domestic tasks. These include cleaning, cooking, bathing, and drinking clean water. However, many of us tend to forget that as innocuous as it may seem, water is also one of nature’s most potent forces.
During heavy rainfall, the excess rainwater is often pushed down the pipes of your home plumbing system. This, in turn, puts intense pressure on them, causing them to clog or even burst. Without proper drainage, such as outdoor drainage, heavy rain makes it more susceptible for you to encounter these clogged drains and increased pressure.
Furthermore, most of the pipes in our homes are typically filled with dirt, dust, and other debris. When these come in contact with heavy rainwater, it creates additional pressure in mud and sludge.
This sludge creates pressure on the pipes and causes heavy damage to them. If you don’t get the pipes cleaned immediately, filth can thicken inside the pipes and cause irreparable damage.
2. It Can Cause A Shifting Of Your Underground Pipes
Heavy rainfall can cause the soil surrounding your home’s underground pipes to soften. Over time, this softening of the earth can cause the pipes to shift their position, leading to dangerous consequences.
Along with the pipes shifting, the pressure of excess rainwater can eventually cause them to crack or break entirely. If this is not fixed as soon as possible and you don’t have a proper drainage system, it can lead to plumbing problems, massive damage, and costly repairs.
Of course, it can be difficult for a layperson to understand when their underground pipes have shifted. So, call a plumber immediately if you notice any cracks in your home’s pipes or dirty, slurry water coming out of the pipes.
3. It Can Lead To Backing Up Of Your Pipes
As you may already imagine, heavy rainfall going down the pipes and plumbing system will inevitably trap rocks, leaves, dirt, and other debris in them. This will, in turn, lead to plumbing problems like significant blockage and backing up of the pipes in your home.
If plumbing problems continue, the dirty water could eventually seep into the crawlspace or basement of your home. Cleaning this up will be a significant task and may require professional help. Plus, you will need to replace the damaged pipes, which will be an additional cost.
Watching for tree roots near your home’s pipes would be best. Tree roots are notorious for cracking and breaking through pipes and damaging them. And, when rainwater gets trapped in your pipes, the tree roots will try and break into them to absorb any nutrients they can find.
This is another reason for the backing up of your pipes. So, keeping a close eye on the tree roots and trimming or cutting them whenever required is essential.
Signs That Your Plumbing System Is At Risk
Are you wondering what signs to look out for to know that your home plumbing system has problems and is at risk of damage? Here are some of the most common ones you should be wary of.
A) Discoloured Water Coming Out Of The Pipes
The water coming out of your home pipes should ideally be clear. However, it is a warning sign if you notice discoloured water coming from them. This can even be a problem in your sewer line. Call a professional plumber immediately, and keep a lookout for the colour of the water. This should tell you what is causing the backup or discolouration.
B) Slow Drain
Another clear sign that your pipes are damaged is when you notice that the drains are not clearing as fast as they usually would. Slow-moving, slow drainage or clogged drains can be caused by lousy venting or cracked, blocked, or damaged pipes.
C) A Change In Water Pressure
If you suddenly notice a change in the water pressure in your home pipes, it is time to call a professional plumber. Begin by checking your home’s water heater system. Often, a malfunctioning water heater can cause a change in the water pressure in your home.
However, if the water heater is working optimally, it could signify a leaking or clogged pipe — which needs to be cleaned immediately.
Heavy Rain And Your Plumbing
It is essential to keep a close eye on the excellent condition of your plumbing, drainage, sewer, and pipes to ensure they function optimally. If you live in an area that experiences heavy rain, it is best to get the plumbing system checked regularly by a professional local plumber to perform a fantastic job.
Here at Fixed Today, our experienced plumbers offer more outstanding plumbing services to fix your severe problems and plumbing issues beyond what a heavy downpour can do to your plumbing system, including gas services, fixing faulty hot water systems, and installing proper drainage.
Look for any warning signs in your outside drain, sewer line, water pooling in your yard or basement, outdoor flooding, or a broken pipe that tells you your home’s pipes may be damaged. It pays well to spot a damaged pipe before it is too late. Otherwise, you must pay for costly repairs or replacements for such a plumbing issue.
Well, that’s all for today. We hope this helps you. Stay safe, and take care!
