When its raining heavily outside rest assured it has an impact on your home plumbing system. The team here at Steve Mull Plumbing wants to help our valued clients understand the ways in which heavy rains can affect your home plumbing system.
- Extra Pressure on the Pipes – Heavy rainfall will saturate the ground outdoors which can ultimately cause all the sand and dirt near to your pipes to turn into a heavy mud. When heavy mud is formed it can increase the pressure on your piping system which, over time, can lead to a wide range of other issues.
- Underground Plumbing Pipes That Shift and Even Rupture – When the soil around your home’s underground piping becomes soft the pressure that is added to the pipes can cause them to move or to shift. When shifting occurs the pipes can then be manipulated and forced into positions that can eventually rupture.
- Pipes That Become Blocked – If your plumbing pipes have holes or leaks in them, any ruptures that occurs can cause dirt and debris to get into the pipes and eventually cause a blockage. The blockage can then cause water to back up into the underground space or the basement.
- A Constantly Running Sump Pump – When heavy rains saturate the ground the excess water has to go somewhere. If the ground around your home is typically permeable and very dry, no worries. The excess water will simply drain away. However, if the ground is not permeable and is often already saturated and constantly wet, the newly fallen rain will begin to build around your home’s foundation. As the water continues to build up it will find its way into your crawl space or basement. If you do not have a sump pump, then this water accumulation can contribute to flood like conditions. However, when a sump pump is installed the water is directed to the sump pit and activates the sump pump to then remove the water. The longer it rains, the more water is accumulated, and the longer your sump pump has to work. It is important to ensure that your sump pump is a sufficient size for the overall size of your home and is working at peak levels in anticipation of heavy rains.
- Basement or Crawl Space Flooding – In certain cases, heavy rain can result in flooding in either your crawl space or your basement, especially if you do not have a sump pump installed, have a blockage in a pipe or have experienced a backup. It is imperative you focus on the flooding waters since ignoring it can cause a range of problems and excessive damage to your home’s foundation as well. Further, water that stands for too long a period of time creates mold spores and may even be an invitation to a variety of pests such as mice or termites. Be sure to remove the excess water as soon as possible and use a dehumidifier to dry out the air and help to avoid air quality issues.
We hope you have found this information helpful and remind you all that when you are experiencing any type of problems with your home plumbing system, be sure to reach out to the professionals here at Steve Mull Plumbing. We take tremendous pride in our premier plumbing products and services and look forward to every opportunity to serve you. Whether you have a current water issue, or are just in need of typical plumbing repairs or services, then we are the team for you. Don’t delay. Schedule your home plumbing inspection and/or repairs today!
