October, 2018 - Blue Ribbon Plumbing

The damage brought about by flooding is not always obvious. Almost, if not all, parts of a house will be greatly affected by massive flooding and that includes your plumbing system. Flooding can cause different kinds of costly and even hazardous problems in your plumbing system. If ever you think that your plumbing system has been profoundly affected by the most recent flood, be sure to contact a professional plumbing contractor right away.

Shifting Ground

Heavy rainfall can lead to flooding if it falls too fast and the ground cannot soak all of the rainwater up. Once this takes place, the soil becomes overly saturated or waterlogged. A soil that is waterlogged is much softer compared to when it is dry. It can lead to shifting underground, sinking into gaps or openings, or drops debris and rocks, which it may have been holding up. A waterlogged soil is unable to support the weight of the pipes buried underneath. It may also press against it until the pipes rupture. Monitor the condition of your lawn after a flood. In case you notice indications of sewer line break and your lawn appears to be wet all the time, it is time to call a Myrtle Beach plumbing contractor.

Pressure Build Up

Plumbing systems are designed to take on more water than it would normally need to, however, flooding is not normal. If too much water goes into the drain too quickly, your plumbing system will struggle to process all of it. So, your water pipes might wind up trying to push water into the sewer line or pipe under more pressure than they would normally see or that they were designed to withstand.

Needless to say that any kind of damage can decrease the useful lifespan of your pipes and may lead to problems. However, flooding damage can cause bigger issues. Whenever too much pressure goes through your pipes, they will be placed under too much strain and eventually burst. Burst pipes are extremely common especially during flooding and heavy rainfall. If you have noticed leaks, your plumbing system may not be able to efficiently process too much water.

Debris Clogs

According to the experts at Blue Ribbon Plumbing LLC Among the greatest hazards that flooding poses is the debris water can take and bring, usually at fast speeds. If you consider flooding debris, you might be thinking about large things like roofs floating downstream. Small debris can also cause major problems, especially on your plumbing.

When an area becomes flooded, the water will pick up everything including grease, plastic, dirt, waste, and garbage. Many different kinds of things are not supposed to go down the drains. They could become lodged in the pipes or they may build up on the inner pipe walls. Clogs that are made up of debris can seriously affect your plumbing system’s capability to process water swiftly and efficiently. It may even develop into a chokepoint that places certain parts of your pipes under great pressure.

Drain Overflow

Your plumbing system can overflow because of flooding. During a flood, plenty of water gets into several drain pipes and it runs out of places to go. The rushing water that flooding brings has more force compared to regular water. It can force typical water out of its way. Whenever rushing water pushes regular water in the plumbing system, it pushes to the direction with the least resistance, which is through the drain pipes. If you are hearing gurgling sounds in your drains during a flood, it might be the sound of displaced water that is moving back up the pipes. In case sufficient water goes into a plumbing system quickly, displaced water may come out of the pipes and into your home.