During the late summer, hurricanes are an imminent threat to home and business owners here in Florida. These storms can be overwhelming and can have a huge impact on our lives and finances. Taking safety precautions for your home or business might mean that you are in a better position after a storm. While some of you might consider the belongings in your homes or businesses as the important things to protect; it is also necessary that you consider the less visible assets like your plumbing. Keep reading as our expert plumbing technicians share some helpful tips on how to prepare your plumbing for the hurricane season, to help you protect your home and/or business from excessive damage. Be proactive and take the necessary precautions with this helpful checklist.
Check Your Drains/ Gutters
One easy way to prevent water damage to your foundation is to make sure that your gutters are clean and free from dirt and debris. Clogged or cluttered gutters make it difficult to handle the overload from heavy rainfall and can even lead to flooding.
Turn Off Your Water Heater
Using your water heater during a hurricane tends to put unnecessary pressure on your plumbing system. Turn off your water heater and remember, it still stores hot water even after it is turned off.
Turn Off Your Water Valve
Being in the midst of a hurricane is overwhelming enough as it is, so imagine having to struggle to turn off your water valve during one! You want to ensure that your water valve is turned off to prevent your water supply from becoming contaminated from external sources. Everyone should know the location of the main water shut-off valve in their home. A handy tip to keep in mind is to open a tap that’s in the furthest corner away from the main line to allow air inside the plumbing system. You also want to make sure that you have stored enough clean water for use during the hurricane.
Check Your Sump Pump
If you have a sump pump, this is a good time to do a test run to ensure that it is in proper working condition. Because hurricanes often cause power outages, consider getting a battery backup to run with it. Keep in mind that if water gets into your property’s foundation the damage can be overwhelming and force you out of your home or building until it gets repaired.
Consider Getting a Backwater Check Valve
Installing a backwater valve will ensure that any storm-related water will flow away from your home instead of flowing in and contaminating your water supply. If you already have a backwater valve, make sure that it is regularly maintained, in good working condition and able to withstand a hurricane.
Safely Seal
You want to ensure that your service lines, including your water, gas and electrical lines, are properly sealed. All of your lines should be waterproof. A service line that is not properly sealed may allow water to enter through your foundation wall, causing flooding.
It’s true that we have very little control over hurricanes, but with repetition each season it becomes less overwhelming and easier to understand these simple preventative measures that can be put in place to protect our homes and businesses. Ultimately, the goal is to incur the least amount of damage during and after a storm. At Flamingo Plumbing and Backflow Services, we offer these helpful tips and more for your assistance. We hope that this article helps you to be better prepared for hurricane season!