Hurricane season has already begun, and if you live in the area, you know that hurricanes can cause a lot of damage that requires time, money, and energy to repair. Some of the damage is easy to see, but some might go unnoticed for weeks or months. Just like most other problems, the longer you ignore them, the worse they get.
Plumbing problems after a hurricane are always a pain to deal with. They can be messy, frustrating, or downright disgusting. Leaks and clogs can make it tough to be comfortable in your home and can sometimes lead to major damage and disruptions.
After a hurricane, it’s important to look out for common plumbing problems that can fly under the radar. Even if you can’t see any physical damage, sneaky plumbing problems can be lurking under the surface and lead to big problems for you and your family.
If you live in an area affected by hurricanes, you know the seasons are getting longer and the storms are getting stronger. They are more destructive and reach more people’s homes. If your home has been in the path of a hurricane, it’s important you take some time to check for these common plumbing issues to avoid even bigger problems down the road.
The 3 Most Common Plumbing Problems After a Hurricane
Hurricanes come with high winds and long periods of heavy rains. They can be incredibly disruptive and destructive to the exterior of your home or the area around it. Even when you can’t see the damage, the excessive rain and strong winds can shift or disconnect lines and wreak havoc on plumbing systems. This is mostly seen in three areas of the home:
Water Heaters
If the area around the water heater has flooded and it is submerged, it’s likely the unit will need to be replaced. But even if it is not submerged, the changes to the system can result in it not working well--or at all. Using a damaged water heater is dangerous. Damaged units can malfunction or even explode. Call a professional plumber if you suspect your water heater is damaged, or if it is currently submerged in water.
Toilets
When your toilet doesn’t work, you notice it pretty quickly. Shifting lines or damaged sewer systems can mean that your toilet won’t work when you need it to. If your toilets just don’t have the oomph to do their job, it’s time to call in the professionals. Fixing toilet plumbing problems after a hurricane often requires more than just a plunger. Put it down and pick up your phone instead.
Water Problems
This general term can describe just about any other problem you might have related to your post-hurricane plumbing. This can be a leak from broken lines, pooling water around your home, or bad water pressure. It might mean water that looks dirty or smells bad.
Perform Your Own Post-Hurricane Plumbing Problem Check
Regardless of the strength of the hurricane or if you see damage or not, it’s a good idea to do a simple maintenance check to look for potential plumbing problems after a hurricane. First, do a visual check of your home and surrounding property. Look for visible leaks, drips, or pools of water where they shouldn’t be. Look for signs of water damage on walls, floors, and ceilings, even if you do not see standing water.
After you have taken a good look at your home and property, you can ensure that you catch a potential leak by performing a more in-depth assessment. To help determine if you have an invisible leak, turn off all appliances and fixtures that use water, such as the washing machine, dishwasher, shower, hoses, and sinks. Then watch your water meter. If the number begins to rise, you can assume that you have a leak somewhere in your home or on your property. Call a professional plumber immediately to help identify the source of the leak. Doing this can help you avoid serious water damage in the future.
What to Do About Plumbing Problems After a Hurricane
Water where it shouldn’t be? Call a plumber. Water that smells? Call a plumber. Not enough water pressure to rinse the shampoo out of your hair? You got it--call a plumber.
Don’t take a wait-and-see approach to any of these issues, and don’t try to repair things yourself. Post-hurricane plumbing problems can be much more complex than your average plumbing issues, and a DIY solution is likely to make them worse.
One of the best things you can do for the health of your home is to have a plumber do an assessment for plumbing issues after a hurricane. Whether you see signs of a problem or not, you may have significant problems lurking. Don’t take chances. Call a plumber.
Call Sam Jolley Plumbing For All Your Plumbing Problems After a Hurricane (Or Whenever You Have Them)
The professionals at Sam Jolley Plumbing want to be your trusted plumbers. They know what to look for and how to fix the common--and not-so-common--plumbing problems that can happen after a hurricane. Don’t wait until it’s too late. Call one of our professional, friendly plumbers today.
