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When you think of Summer, do you think warm (sometimes hot) days, barmy nights, barbecues with friends and visits to the beach? 

Summer is just around the corner and with it will no doubt come some pretty violent storms. As we’ve seen in the past, Summer storms can wreak havoc on home plumbing if plumbing maintenance has been neglected.  

With longer daylight hours coming, you’ve got a lot of socialising and relaxing to look forward to but first, there’s some simple things you should do to protect your home plumbing from storm damage. Here’s just a few:

#1  Wait up on the Washing Machine

Summer often means extra people in the house, especially with school holidays. With visits to the beach, outdoor activities and swimming, extra laundry can pile up which means your washing machine can get a real workout. No-one wants an ‘indoor flood’ so it’s a good idea to inspect your washing machine’s drainage system, hoses, pipes and joints.  

Heavy laundry loads can cause overflows and blockages so be careful what and how much you’re putting in. After beach visits, hiking or camping, make sure you shake out the sand and rinse muddy clothes with a bucket of water before you throw them in the machine. Sand can scratch the drum and too much sand or mud can cause blockages in your machine and your plumbing.

#2  Declutter your Gutters

It’s also a good idea to check your roof and gutters, even if you don’t have trees close to your home. Leaves, branches and twigs can be transported by birds and wind, and can cause a build-up in your gutters over time. Gutters can often be a breeding ground for pests and birds to nest too.  

Signs of blocked gutters and downpipes include birds and pests hanging around your roof, roof leaks, water spilling over the sides, sagging gutters, stains on the siding, plants growing from your gutters, flooding or pooling of water, rotting fascia boards and cracking of concrete below.

Clogged gutters can cause excess water to overflow and collect around the foundations of your home, which can lead to structural damage. So to avoid any damage and costly repairs, inspect your roof and guttering, and get any problems fixed by a roof specialist before the Summer storms hit.

#3  Free your Pipes, Sewer and Storm Water Drains

Heavy rain can cause leaves, dirt, sticks and other debris to block pipes, sewers, and drains, causing water to backup. There are signs that may appear if you have pipes, sewer or drain blockages. These may include, but are not limited to, flooding, bubbling in the yard, toilets gurgling, slow sink drainage, bad smells coming from drains, overflowing waste drains in the floor or the sewer, and water pooling during heavy downpours. Some blockages however, are insidious, meaning you might not know about them until it’s too late.

During Spring, tree roots are activated after being relatively dormant in winter. Some of these roots can belong to trees up to 10 metres from your home, and they could be penetrating your drains causing a collection of leaves and other debris to block your pipes. And, if a tree gets blown over in a storm, they can sometimes uproot pipes and drains as well.

So, take a walk around your home.  Check all your taps and toilets, and inspect outside areas where leaves and debris gather. Cut back any overgrown foliage and keep drainage areas clean and free of materials that might cause blockages.

An expert drainage plumber using a CCTV camera can identify any areas of concern within your drains and stormwater system around your home. This camera allows the plumber to find the source of the blockage, find the correct depth of the problem, and assists in the decision of how to best fix the issue.   

Our friendly plumbers at Plumbaround are all experts in diagnosing blockages, utilising hydrojetting, an incredibly powerful drain cleaning machine that uses high-pressure water jets to clear pipes and drains. We are also well equipped to replace any damaged pipes if needed. Call us on 07 3038 1038 to schedule a job or book online.