No homeowner wants to find themselves dealing with plumbing and water issues. Heavy rains are a common cause of flooding, bringing an onslaught of water-related trouble. When water levels rise in the ground, pipes may also become filled, and these back-ups can lead to a range of costly problems for both homeowners and property managers. To prevent these issues from happening on your property, it’s essential to know what causes them and how you can address them quickly.
Can Rain Affect Your Plumbing?
The answer is yes. Plumbing issues are among the top causes of emergency calls to plumbers during and after heavy storms. When raindrops hit the ground, they create water pressure that forces groundwater to rise through the soil toward the surface. Pipes located underneath this rising groundwater are in danger of being filled beyond capacity and flooding the surrounding areas or becoming clogged.
If you live in a flood-prone area, it’s a good idea to buy flood insurance. This coverage can help you pay for repairs and expenses when plumbing issues occur due to heavy rainfall.
Common Plumbing Issues Homeowners are Likely to Experience
Several different leaks and clogs can be caused by heavy rain, and they’re all fairly easy to spot as long as you know what to look for.
Back-up Floods
This problem is most commonly seen when the top of a toilet is covered with water. If the water reaches the top of the toilet bowl, the water pressure in your pipes is strong enough to break through the toilet’s seal.
Clogged Drain Pipes
A few different reasons your basement or foundation could flood: a clogged drain pipe or a broken pipe. If you notice that a pipe has ruptured and there’s water everywhere, you should turn off the main valve for that section of the pipe until you can get it fixed. Don’t try to drain the water yourself. This can cause a hazardous situation.
Leaking Pipes
If you hear water running in your walls, it may be a sign of a leaking pipe somewhere inside that’s causing the problem. If you notice that water seeps through your basement ceiling or foundation, a leak may be coming from inside or under your home’s walls or foundation.
Frozen Pipes
When the pipes in your home freeze, they can be damaged beyond repair. You may have to call a plumbing company to check the pipes and turn off everything connected to them when this happens. A frozen pipe can burst, causing severe flooding in your basement or foundation. This will result in major water damage that no homeowner wants to deal with.
Sewage Back-up
When heavy rainfall causes sewer back-ups on the property, homeowners must deal with many unpleasant issues. The first issue is usually sewage backup in the basement. If your sewer line has broken or become blocked, and you notice a puddle of water under your sink or the toilet is overflowing, you’ll need to call a plumber. This issue is also caused by blocked rain gutters and downspouts, which are both results of heavy rain and can cause extensive damage to your home.
Signs of Sewer Backup When It Rains
There are many signs of a sewer backup, so you must be able to spot them and have them addressed immediately. Some of the signs include the following:
Odor
When a sewer backup occurs, you’re typically able to smell it. Sewage is foul-smelling by nature and will cause unpleasant odors to linger on your property. If you smell sewage coming from your basement, it’s best to call a plumber immediately.
Gurgling Noise
If you hear liquid gurgling in your toilet or shower, your sewer may be blocked, sending water back into your plumbing system. Listen to see if this noise is regularly occurring and if it continues after you’ve flushed the toilet. Calling a plumber to verify if this is normal or not can help detect an issue as well.
Standing Water on the Drain Lines
If you have a basement in your home, be on the lookout for water standing on the drain lines. A sewer backup often causes this water, and it’s a sign that something is wrong with your property’s plumbing.
Water Drainage is Slow
If both your sinks and washing machine are draining slowly, it could signify a clog in the pipe. A slow-draining sink or washing machine in itself is a plumbing issue that should be addressed.
Preventing Plumbing Issues Caused by Heavy Rains
If you want to prevent flooding in your home, it’s necessary to know how to prevent heavy rain from causing plumbing issues. You can do this by installing gutters and downspouts around your property. Make sure that they’re installed correctly and run along the gutter system built into your roof.
Another effective way is to install sump pump systems that collect water in a sump tank and pump it out of your property. Installing a sump pump system is beneficial because it will move water away from your property, especially during heavy rains, without affecting any existing sewer pipes that connect to the ground. If you’d prefer not to install a sump pump system, you may want to look into an under-floor drain system instead.
How do I Stop My Drain Line from Clogging When it Rains?
If you want to stop your drain line from clogging when it rains, you can use a drain cleaner. This may work in some cases, but it’s not guaranteed to clear out all the blockages in your pipes. If you’re using this method of cleaning drains and there’s still an issue with your drains, you should call a plumber immediately.
What to Do After it Rains
After the rainfall has done its damage, you should remember to check for signs of a leak immediately. You should also ensure that your sump pump is running correctly and that nothing prevents it from working properly. It’s important to ensure no clogs in your lines. Finally, check your gutters and downspouts regularly so that you can catch any leaks before they become too severe. If you’re diligent about these tasks, you can prevent basement flooding and other inconvenient plumbing issues from occurring.
Contact Expert Plumbers
When you have a plumbing problem, it’s best to call the expert plumbers from Rite Way Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing. We proudly serve Tucson, AZ and the surrounding areas! Our company specializes in all things plumbing, and we’re more than happy to fix whatever issue you have. Our plumbing services include installation, repair, drain cleaning, and leak detection. We even install touchless faucets and bidets. We are able to fully service your AC/Heat system as well with installation, repair, maintenance, and energy audits. Contact us today to set up a visit, and let us help you take care of any plumbing problem you’re dealing with!
