Think of this guide as a pre-storm checklist for drains, gutters, and every joint in between. If you get stuck, the troubleshooting tips shared by Dan's Plumbing on Reddit might spark an easy fix later.
Clear Interior Drain Lines
Summer rainstorms push municipal sewers past capacity, so your interior drains must flow freely before the clouds burst and water starts backing up indoors.
- Start in the kitchen. Run hot water and dish soap down the sink, then follow with a kettle of boiling water to melt hidden grease deposits.
- Tackle bathroom drains. Remove hair catchers, pull visible gunk with a bent wire, and flush with a cup of baking soda chased by white vinegar.
- Snake the laundry standpipe. A hand auger clears lint mats that cause washing-machine overflows when stormwater hikes sewer pressure.
- Flush floor drains. Pour two gallons of water into seldom-used basement or garage traps so the water seal blocks sewer gases and vermin after heavy rain.
- Finish with an enzyme cleaner. Overnight biological action digests any remaining sludge, leaving lines slick so storm surges sweep through without snagging debris.
By methodically opening every interior path, you prevent a single clog from turning a routine downpour into an ankle-deep indoor wading pool.
Test Yard Plumbing Fixtures
Outdoor spigots, pool autofills, and irrigation valves see the first wave of storm runoff. Confirm they drain properly so water never pools against your foundation walls.
Check hose bibs for backflow
Attach a pressure gauge, open the valve, and ensure flow stops instantly when closed. A slow leak indicates a worn washer that can pressurize lines during storms.
Inspect landscape drains
Pop the grates, pull leaves, and run a garden hose for five minutes. Water should disappear quickly without bubbling back to the surface or wetting nearby soil.
Cycle irrigation zones
Run each zone manually, watching for geysers from broken heads. Replace cracked risers so unexpected storm pressure does not erode topsoil or flood flowerbeds.
Service pool autofill valves
A sticking float keeps adding water while rain pours down, overflowing chlorinated water onto grass. Adjust or replace the mechanism to avoid chemical runoff.
Prep System For Storms
Think of your plumbing like a team facing game day. A preseason workout—visual inspections, flushing, and minor repairs—gets every component ready for storm stress.
Create a storm checklist
List each task: gutters, sump pump, shutoff test, drain clearing. Tape the list inside the utility room so no step slips your mind when thunder rumbles.
Schedule professional camera inspection
A plumber threads a scope through main lines, showing cracks, roots, or bellies. Fixing weaknesses now beats emergency excavation in knee-deep water later.
Stock emergency supplies
Keep pipe caps, plumber’s putty, and sandbags in a labeled bin. Quick access means you can respond immediately instead of driving hardware-store laps in rain.
Clean Gutters And Spouts
Clog-free gutters whisk thousands of gallons away from fascia, siding, and foundations. Neglect them and every downpour becomes an uncontrolled waterfall onto your walls.
- Scoop debris safely. Work from a stable ladder, wearing gloves, and deposit leaves into a bucket rather than letting them smear the siding below.
- Flush with a hose. Start at the high end and watch murky water exit the downspout. A weak trickle signals an internal clog requiring a plumber’s snake.
- Extend downspouts. Add ten-foot extensions or splash blocks so torrent water releases far from footings, preventing capillary seepage through basement slabs.
- Add gutter guards. Mesh covers cut future cleanings in half, a worthwhile investment if surrounding trees shed year-round.
- Document the date. Mark the calendar so the next cleaning happens before hurricane season’s peak, not after gutters resemble compost bins.
A spotless roof drainage system complements interior plumbing work, giving stormwater an express lane away from your home.
Check For Hidden Leaks
Tiny drips become gushing jets when atmospheric pressure drops and pipes flex. Finding and fixing stealth leaks now stops minor moisture from turning catastrophic.
Read the water meter
Shut every fixture, note the reading, wait one hour. Movement means water is escaping somewhere behind walls or under slabs, demanding immediate investigation.
Use thermal imaging
An affordable infrared camera spots cool, damp patches in drywall long before staining appears, cutting drywall replacements after storms soak insulation.
Dye-test toilets
Add food coloring to the tank; color in the bowl without flushing signals a worn flapper. During storms, that leak wastes capacity in septic or sewer systems.
Probe crawl spaces
Carry a flashlight and moisture meter. Wet joists smell earthy and attract pests displaced by floods, so dry the area with fans and sealant right away.
Verify Sump Pump Operation
The sump pump is your basement’s last line of defense. Confirm it fires instantly and evacuates water fast enough to beat rising groundwater levels.
- Unplug and inspect. Remove the grate, clear sludge, and ensure the float moves freely without snagging on power cords or pit walls.
- Pour test water. Dump a ten-gallon bucket into the pit. The pump should start within seconds, empty the pit, and shut off without short-cycling.
- Check the discharge line. Walk outside, verifying the line is angled downward, free of ice plugs, and protected by a critter-proof screen.
- Add battery backup. Storms often kill power. A charged marine battery keeps the pump running for hours until grid service returns.
- Log maintenance. Note amperage draw and decibel levels. Increasing numbers warn of motor wear that could fail under the next deluge.
A healthy sump system turns a potential indoor pond into a non-event, saving flooring, furniture, and precious keepsakes from water damage.
Seal Doors And Windows
Driving rain sneaks through gaps at sill plates and window casings, then travels inside walls to your plumbing penetrations, rusting pipes and shorting outlets.
Inspect weatherstripping
Close a dollar bill in the door. If it slides out easily, replace compressible seals so wind-blown water cannot ride air drafts indoors.
Caulk window perimeters
Use exterior-grade silicone. Tool the bead smoothly for a neat look and uninterrupted barrier that repels sheeting rain against siding.
Add window well covers
Clear polycarbonate lids prevent gutters from dumping into basement egress wells where water can surge through cracks around frames.
Repaint thresholds
Fresh enamel seals porous wood grains, reducing water absorption and swelling that might misalign locks during humid storm weeks.
Assess Sewer Line Health
Municipal mains can’t always cope with tropical downpours. A sturdy, obstacle-free private sewer line keeps wastewater moving in the right direction—out.
Locate the cleanout
Identify the capped standpipe in your yard. Clear vegetation so emergency crews access it quickly if backup threatens during a midnight thunderstorm.
Schedule hydro-jetting
High-pressure water scours grease, scale, and small roots, restoring full diameter. Many pros recommend annual jetting in regions with recurring heavy rain.
Request a root barrier
After jetting, plumbers inject herbicide foam that discourages regrowth, extending the time between service calls and protecting pipe joints.
Research insurance riders
Some carriers offer sewer-backup coverage. Adding it now costs pennies compared to replacing flooring, drywall, and furniture after untreated wastewater floods rooms.
Install Backflow Protection Valves
When city sewers overflow, pressure reverses and pushes contaminated water toward your fixtures. One-way backflow valves slam shut, guarding health and property.
- Choose the right style. Manual gate valves are inexpensive but require you to close them; automatic flapper models work hands-free during surprise storms.
- Pick strategic locations. Install on branch lines serving basement toilets, showers, and floor drains—the lowest openings most likely to reverse flow.
- Hire a licensed plumber. Local codes dictate valve type and orientation; a pro ensures compliance and can pull permits if the main line needs excavation.
- Test annually. Open the cleanout, pour water upstream, and watch for leaks past the valve. Replace worn gaskets that might stick during real events.
- Keep spare parts. Stock extra flappers and O-rings so you can rebuild quickly after repeated activations in an active hurricane season.
With valves in place, wastewater stays where it belongs—even when tropical downpours overwhelm municipal infrastructure.
Stay Flood-Ready
Storm seasons punish careless plumbing. By inspecting, testing, and sealing now, you sidestep frantic midnight emergencies when rain barrels down.
Keep a toolkit handy, memorize your shutoff location, and review concise maintenance checklists at Dan’s Plumbing Info so you react fast, minimize damage, and keep water flowing where it belongs.