The Best Plumbing Practices During California’s Rainy Season
Winter in Whittier means rain. Your kids love splashing around in the puddles, and you love that they aren’t asking to watch TV every 5 seconds while you’re preparing to host for the holidays. Everything is coming along nicely, except for the fact that all your drains are backing up.
There is no escape; it’s every single drain. Your shower is less and less relaxing every time you stand in it. It drains slower and slower. With the guest bedroom about to be full and your plumbing system under heavy use, you can’t have backed-up drains.
So, how can you fix this plumbing mishap before it gets worse? Is it possible that the constant rain has anything to do with creating the problem?
Plumbing Issues to Watch for this Winter
Rainy weather increases the likelihood of plumbing problems. To put it simply, you want the water to stay inside your pipes and appliances.
Be on the lookout for these plumbing dangers this rainy season:
- Tree Root Intrusion – If all of your drains are slow and clogged, it is most likely an issue in your main sewer line. This is often caused by tree roots seeking out water and nutrients, and that leads them right to your pipes! The root fibers can crack and obstruct your pipes, leading you to need a sewer line repair.
- Steel Pipes Rotting in the Ground – As your kids have taught you, rain makes mud. Your kids are somehow worse than the dog when it comes to tracking muddy footprints all over the house. It can be a frustrating experience, but you’re not alone. Mud is problematic for your pipes, too. It increases the pressure on them, and any corrosive minerals from the rain are now right up against your pipes. As the ground dries and shifts, it causes further stress and can lead to leaks.
- Basement and Crawl Space Leaks – During heavy rainfall, water can collect and leak through porous concrete or cracks between blocks. Even if you don’t have full flooding in these areas, water along the walls or bubbling paint (if your basement is finished) is cause for concern.
- Gutter Clogs – Leaves, branches, and other debris in your gutters and downspouts stop rainwater from flowing away from your home. Instead, it can cause leaks and even flooding in your basement. We recommend cleaning your gutters annually.
- Overflowing Sump Pumps – Heavy rainfall means your sump pump has to work harder. If your sump pump isn’t the correct size, is old, or has worn/broken components, it won’t be able to remove water from your basement fast enough, which can lead to flooding.
- Clogged or Overflowing Outdoor Drains – Rainwater moves around leaves, branches, and other obstructions that can clog outdoor drains. This can keep standing water in your yard, create leaks, and even lead to sewage backup.
Rainy Season Plumbing Maintenance
Rain is better than snow, but that doesn’t mean your home doesn’t need maintenance to keep you and your family dry. And when you don’t have to worry about a flood in your basement, you can focus on the fun parts of rainy days, like beating your kids at Mario Kart.
Before you’re caught in a rainstorm, make sure to clean your gutters regularly, especially if you have trees close to your home. Rake and dispose of fallen leaves in your yard to reduce the risk of outdoor clogs.
If you suspect you’ve got a clog, leak, tree root intrusion, or some combination of the three, it’s best to schedule a drain and sewer line video inspection. You spend enough time guessing what trouble your kids will get up to; you don’t need to guess when it comes to your plumbing. This convenient inspection uses a fiber-optic cable with a high-resolution camera to accurately pinpoint what and where the problem is.
Once we know what needs fixing, we can get to fixing it. Clogs are easily washed away with a hydro jet cleaning service. Using nothing but the power of water, we can blast through any pesky obstacles that are stopping the drainage in your system. And if you’ve got a leak or even deteriorating pipes, we’ll get your system back to mint condition.
Barker and Sons Keep Your Plumbing Protected
Don’t let the rainy season, well…rain on your parade. If you and your home are drowning this winter, give us a call. With over 35 years of experience, we’ve seen it all before and have the best solution.
