Hopefully your home wasn’t affected by floodwater from Hurricane Florence. If it was, you should be on the lookout for plumbing problems that indicate pipe damage. If it wasn’t, it’s still good to keep these things in mind in case we have another strong storm in the future.
Possible Pipe Damage Caused by Flooding
Floods and heavy rains can cause the following problems with your pipes:
- Clogged Drains: After flood water recedes, dirt and debris can settle into outdoor pipes. These clogs can cause your plumbing to back up, causing wastewater to overflow from sinks and toilets.
- Cracks and Breaks: When a lot of water sits in one place, it sinks into the ground and saturates the soil. Saturated soil is very heavy and can put a lot of pressure on underground piping, leading to cracks and breaks that leak water and sewage into the ground.
- A Shifted Foundation: This happens with a lot of flooding, but it’s still good to be aware of the possibility. The force of flood waters along with saturated soil can shift your home’s foundation. If that happens, the piping inside of your home will too, causing cracks and breaks.
Warning Signs of Underground Plumbing Damage
Sometimes there are signs of pipe damage right away, but sometimes it doesn’t show up for weeks. If you notice any of these things, be sure to give Putman Plumbing a call.
- Stinky Smells: You’ll definitely notice a foul aroma in your home. This may indicate a backup or a broken pipe — both of which aren’t allowing sewage to flow away from the house.
- Whistling and Bubbling: When air can’t escape the sewer line because the pipe is dented or cracked, you’ll hear a whistling sound or see bubbles in the sink.
- Sink Holes in Your Yard: In areas where the ground became extremely saturated and formed sink holes, piping could definitely be damaged and waste water could be leaking out.
- Damp Drywall: If your ceiling or walls have water spots, a pipe is leaking or broken.
- Slow flushing Toilets: This may indicate damage to piping.
- No Water or Low Pressure: If there’s very little water and no pressure from your faucets or dishwasher, a pipe could be broken and you’re at risk of having contaminated water.
- A High Water Bill: A leak in underground piping will cause your water bill to go up.
Call Your Trusted Middletown Plumber If You Notice Any of These Issues
The longer you wait to fix a leak or break in your plumbing, the worse your water quality will be, not to mention the danger in breathing in sewage gases. We can inspect your pipes to see what the problem is and fix it right away. Just give us a call!
