Your home’s plumbing deserves a careful inspection after every severe storm. You don’t want to risk loose connections, faulty fittings, or cracked pipes. These issues can result in leaks, water damage, and low water pressure.
To ensure your plumbing is in good shape after a storm, we put together a helpful checklist. If you find any problems, give us a call. We’ll send a skilled plumber to find and fix the issue so all your plumbing works efficiently.
Check for Visible Leaks Under Sinks and Fixtures
Start the inspection inside the home by checking the pipes and fittings underneath sinks. Shifts that occur in water pressure during a storm due to the saturated ground can cause connections to become loose. If you see dripping water, you likely have a loose fitting. If you smell a musty odor, the leak is severe, or it may have been occurring for some time. You need to get the leak fixed as quickly as possible, or your sink cabinet may warp. Plus, mold may develop and spread, which can affect indoor air quality.
Look for Water Stains on Walls or Ceilings
Next, do a walkthrough of the home to inspect the walls and ceilings. If you see discoloration, staining, or bubbling paint, this indicates a leak behind the surface. This can happen during storms because of roof damage or plumbing issues. Kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms are often the most vulnerable to these leaks. Catching the problem in the earliest stage and getting it repaired is vital to saving money and protecting the home’s structural integrity.
Listen for Dripping or Running Water
Once the storm passes, you should do a listening test in each room of the home. To perform the test, make sure the main water supply is off. Then, go into each room and listen for running or dripping water. If you hear it, you likely have a leak of some sort. You’ll probably need to hire a plumber to find the leak using cameras or acoustic detection tools.
Test Water Pressure at Faucets and Showers
With the water turned back on, go to all of the faucets and do pressure tests. If certain taps have fluctuating or low pressure, you could have a leak or obstruction in one or more pipes. Low pressure at one faucet usually indicates an isolated blockage. If the issue occurs across the whole home, this could point to a main line problem. Sediment buildup is a frequent cause of blockages, which may increase after a storm because of the disturbed ground.
Inspect Toilets for Loose Bases or Leaks
Hurricanes often produce heavy rainfall that saturates the ground and subsoil. If the slab below your toilet becomes unstable, it can cause the toilet base to shift or become loose. You can check for this problem by gently pushing on the toilet. If it moves around or rocks back and forth, a plumber may need to reset it. Moisture buildup around the base indicates a failing seal, which a plumber can also fix.
Run Drains and Watch for Slow Drainage
The next part of the inspection process entails checking the drainage. Storms sometimes wash debris into pipes, which can lead to slow-draining water and sewage. Signs of these problems include gurgling noises, backups, and foul odors. If the storm caused a stubborn blockage, you may need to schedule hydrojetting.
Check for Sewer Odors Inside or Outside
Don’t ever ignore strange smells after a storm. They are a major clue that something is wrong, especially if they resemble sewage or sulfur. The storm may have caused a broken vent pipe or a cracked sewer line. A dried-out drain trap could also be to blame. The best way to figure out the cause is to let a skilled plumber inspect the system.
Inspect Exposed Pipes for Damage
Do another walkthrough of the home to check all of the exposed plumbing; this includes all pipes, valves, and fittings you can see. If any of them have cracks, dents, or corrosion, you need to contact a plumber. Cracked valves from storm damage may result in leaks. Dented pipes can even cause water pressure problems. A plumber will know whether to repair or replace the damaged components.
Monitor the Water Meter for Unexpected Movement
Lastly, check the water meter for movement when the water is shut off. If it keeps going up, you have a leak somewhere. A plumber can use specialized leak detection equipment to spot the source and choose the best repair method.
Schedule a Professional Plumbing Inspection Today
A DIY plumbing inspection is great for catching obvious issues. However, a professional inspection will provide even greater peace of mind after a storm. We’ll spot hidden problems that the average homeowner tends to miss. Plus, all our work comes with extra peace of mind thanks to our 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Contact Arctic Air Home Services today to book an inspection for your home’s pipes and fixtures. We make it simple to protect your plumbing after storms and hurricanes in Sarasota, FL!
