After a hurricane or major storm, your home may have more plumbing damage than you can see. Floodwater, fallen trees, heavy rain, and shifting soil can affect pipes, drains, and other parts of your water system. Before turning your water supply back on, take a few minutes to check your home. A quick inspection can help you spot problems early and avoid leaks or water damage.
Check for Visible Pipe Damage
Start by looking at the water pipes you can see inside and outside your home. Check under sinks, around toilets, near your water heater, and in other areas where pipes are exposed. Look for cracks, broken connections, loose fittings, or signs of water leaks. Also check your yard for damaged pipes or areas where the ground has shifted. If you see a damaged pipe, keep the water off and call our New Orleans plumbing team before turning it back on.
Look for Standing Water
Walk through your home and check for standing water before restoring the water supply. Look in bathrooms, kitchens, utility rooms, garages, and other low areas. Water left behind by a storm may also hide a leak from a damaged plumbing line. If you find water where it should not be, do not turn your water back on until the source has been checked. Our team can help find the leak and make the needed repair.
Check Your Water Heater
Your water heater can also be affected by flooding or storm damage. Look around the unit for water, damaged pipes, loose connections, or other signs of trouble. If the water heater was partly or fully covered by floodwater, do not turn it on yourself. Floodwater can damage electrical and gas components inside the unit. Our plumbing professionals can inspect the system and let you know what steps are safe.
Inspect Your Toilets and Drains
Check your toilets and drains before using a lot of water after a storm. Flush toilets only if you know the sewer system is working properly. Look for slow drains, gurgling sounds, sewage smells, or water coming back into tubs and showers. These can point to a sewer line problem. Storms can place extra pressure on sewer systems and underground pipes. If you notice these signs, our New Orleans plumber can inspect your system before you resume normal water use.
Check the Main Water Valve
If your home appears to be free of visible damage, locate the main water valve before turning it on. Make sure the area around the valve is dry and safe to access. If the valve looks broken or damaged, do not force it open. A damaged valve may need professional repair. Once your plumbing system has been checked, our team can help you safely restore your water service.
Turn the Water On Slowly
When it is safe to restore your water, do not open the main valve all at once. Open it slowly and listen for unusual sounds. Check your faucets and pipes as the water begins to flow. Watch for leaks around fixtures and exposed connections. If you hear rushing water when all fixtures are off, there may be a hidden water leak somewhere in the home. Turn the water off again and contact our team for help.
Watch Your Water Pressure
Pay attention to your water pressure after turning the supply back on. A sudden drop in pressure can be a sign of a damaged pipe or leak. Very high pressure can also put stress on your plumbing fixtures and pipes. If the pressure seems different from what you had before the storm, our plumbers can check the system and find out why. It is better to deal with a pressure problem early than wait for a pipe to fail.
Check Your Yard
Storms can move soil and damage underground water and sewer lines. Walk around your property and look for new wet spots, muddy areas, sinkholes, or sections of ground that have changed. These signs may point to a broken underground pipe. You may not see the actual damage because the pipe is below the ground. Our New Orleans plumbing team can use the right tools to locate problems without unnecessary digging.
Call Our New Orleans Plumbing Team
If you are not sure whether your plumbing system is safe after a storm, you do not have to check everything yourself. Our New Orleans plumber can inspect your water lines, sewer pipes, fixtures, and other plumbing components for storm damage. We can help identify leaks and other problems before they cause more damage to your home.
Get Your Water Running Safely Again
Turning your water back on after a storm should be done with care. Check for leaks, pipe damage, standing water, sewer problems, and changes in water pressure before returning to normal use. If you find anything that does not look right, keep the water off and contact Blair Plumbing. Our New Orleans plumbing team can inspect your system and help you get your home’s water service running safely again.