Four Common Plumbing Issues from Severe Weather and How to Recognize Them

From Five Star Plumbing Services Inc

Severe weather—from thunderstorms to snowstorms—often wreaks havoc on our house. However, while you may have already prepared for a possible leaking roof and slippery garage floors, plumbing issues that may arise from severe weather are often overlooked. With that in mind, we’re going to cover some of the most common plumbing issues from severe weather, and what to do when you encounter them.

1. Leaks

Severe weather, such as storms, freezing, and extreme heat, usually cause certain parts of your plumbing system to leak. 

The leak can appear anywhere—faucets, shower valves, or even worse: pipes. Extreme weather is often at fault here. During particularly stormy summers, you will end up with more rainwater than usual, adding pressure to your plumbing system. 

It’s possible that the leak will go away with the stormy weather, but it’s more likely that the damage from the extra pressure will stay. If you’re the handy type, you can probably fix a leaky faucet on your own. However, if the problem lies in your pipe system, it’s better to get a professional plumber to look at it.

2. Faulty mixing valve

Imagine this. It’s been a horridly hot day out, and you’ve been daydreaming about jumping into the shower and cooling off. But then, when you turn your shower handle, only hot water came out. But you try turning it counter-clockwise anyways, and nope—still hot water.

This situation is not as uncommon as you may think. If you have a mixing shower valve, sometimes, you might end up with a valve that is stuck on hot water; often because you might have frequently used them during winter.

It’s possible that it’s a temporary situation; but if your shower water continues to stay hot within the next 48 hours, you’ll need to get in touch with a plumber.

3. Clogged water pipes

Of the common plumbing issues from severe weather shown in this article, clogged water pipes are one of the most difficult to uncover in the first place. If you suspect that your pipes may be clogged you should check whether any of the following has occurred: 

  • Inconsistent water flow
  • No water flowing (at all)
  • Rapidly changing water pressure.

If you’re wondering how severe weather could cause your water pipes to clog, this is the reason: Heavy storms can carry debris to places it’s not supposed to be like inside your pipes. As the debris continues to build up, it eventually disrupts your water flow.

4. Clogged sewer lines

Clogged sewer lines do not strictly happen only during severe weather, but they can definitely exacerbate existing issues. 

It’s pretty easy to notice when your sewage system is not running as smoothly as usual. First, it usually takes longer for water to go down the drain. Another symptom of this problem is your toilet bowl water rises after you flush. 

If you catch even any of these things happening, be sure to immediately check with a plumber to see whether it’s just a minor issue or if you’re having problems with your sewer lines.

Weather changes are becoming more and more extreme nowadays, and they may take a toll on your plumbing system. It’s better to fix any arising issues, no matter how small, before it becomes a catastrophic issue for your household.

About Five Star Plumbing

Five Star Plumbing Services is locally owned and operated, and we’ve been in business since 1991. Why does that matter? Because it means owner and master plumber Chris Larichiuta and his team are local plumbers who Harford County and Baltimore County homeowners and business owners trust to get the job done right, at affordable pricing. You don’t stay in business as a plumber that long if you don’t know what you’re doing, or you charge exorbitant prices.

It also means when you call the plumber, he answers the phone, or his number one employee does. You don’t get that kind of personal attention from the big franchise companies. We’ll ask you pertinent questions to determine what the job entails. That’s what you want from a plumber. Responsiveness, honesty, and integrity. Our technician will provide you with a flat rate fee up front so you know exactly what to expect. No hidden fees. We’ll explain what we plan to do and why we plan to do it, so you know exactly what’s going on.

And we’re available to help you 7 days a week, with no overtime charges.

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