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; after all, it helps flowers and crops bloom, trees get greener, and makes the world more gorgeous. However, heavy rainfall can wreak havoc on your home plumbing system.
Not many homeowners are aware of the high risks of heavy rains to their plumbing. In this guide, we will tell you about all the ways in which your home plumbing system might suffer from incessant and hard rainfall.
So, grab an umbrella, and let’s get straight into the rest of this guide!
How Can Heavy Rain Affect Your Plumbing?
There are a number of different ways in which heavy rainfall can affect your home plumbing. From causing backups to choking the plumbing system and increasing pressure on pipes, there can be intense damage due to heavy rains.
Let us discuss the different ways in which heavy rainfall can affect your home plumbing.
1. It Can Increase The Pressure On The Piping System Of Your Home
Most of us are heavily reliant on our home plumbing system for daily domestic tasks. These include cleaning, cooking, bathing, and drinking clean water. However, a lot of us tend to forget that as innocuous as it may seem, water is also one of the most potent forces of nature.
During heavy rainfall, the excess rainwater is often pushed down the pipes of your home plumbing system. This, in turn, puts an intense amount of pressure on them, causing them to clog or even burst.
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 the form of 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, it 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 that surrounds the underground pipes of your home to soften. Over time, this softening of the soil can cause the pipes to shift their position — which can lead to dangerous consequences.
Along with the shifting of the pipes, the pressure of excess rainwater can eventually cause them to crack or break entirely. If this is not fixed at the earliest, it can lead to massive damage and costly repairs.
Of course, it can be difficult for a layperson to understand when their underground pipes have shifted. So, if you notice any cracks in the pipes of your home or dirty, slurry water coming out of the pipes, be sure to call a plumber immediately.
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 into them. This will, in turn, lead to major blockage and backing up of the pipes in your home.
If this continues to occur, the dirty water could eventually seep into the crawlspace or basement of your home. Cleaning this up will be a major task and may require professional help. Plus, you will need to replace the damaged pipes, which will again be an additional cost.
You should also keep an eye out for any tree roots near the pipes of your home. 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, it is essential to keep a close eye on the tree roots and trim or cut them whenever required.
Signs That Your Plumbing System Is At Risk
Are you wondering what kind of signs to look out for to know that your home plumbing system 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 start to notice discoloured water coming out of them. 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 drains can be caused by lousy venting or by 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 the water heater system in your home. 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 condition of your plumbing system and pipes to ensure that they are functioning optimally. If you live in an area that experiences heavy rain, it is best to get the plumbing system checked regularly by a professional.
Keep a lookout for any warning signs that tell you that the pipes of your home may be damaged. It pays well to spot a damaged pipe before it is too late. Otherwise, you will have to pay for costly repairs or replacements.
Well, that’s all for today. We hope this helps you. Stay safe and take care!
