April Showers Bring May Flowers and Plumbing Issues
The weather is warming. The grass and trees are greening. The April rains return to nourish the earth and prepare it for the spring and summer. It’s a beautiful time of year. However, sometimes the April showers bring May flowers, and also more rain than the modern infrastructure can handle.
When there is excessive rain, it can wreak havoc on people's homes and particularly their plumbing systems. As a homeowner, keeping informed is the best way to protect your property from extensive damage. In this article, plumbing experts offer insight into the impact of rain on your plumbing system and what you can do to prepare.
The Impact of Heavy Rains on Soil
Although it may not be obvious, saturated soil is moving soil. Soil moves in several ways when subjected to moisture. As the soil dries, it can shrink and pull away from structures coming into contact with it.When it is moistened it will expand back to its original size. Completely saturated soil moisture will also settle. As a result of these forces, pressure can be exerted on pipes that are buried underground causing them to crack or heave out of alignment. Leaks and clogs can result.
Saturated soil is also an indication that your local plumbing system may be overwhelmed with floodwater. When too much water is present it can prevent water from draining away quickly enough. This can result in backups and clogs.
What Are Slab Leaks?
Excessive rain is particularly hard on your home’s foundation. The purpose of a foundation is to provide a surface that is unchanging to support the structure of your home. But the foundation, that is intended to provide a buffer between your home and the soil, is supported by the soil. When the soil is subjected to cycles of drying and rewetting over the years it will expand and contract.
The repeated expansion and contraction can push the soil away from your home’s foundation. As a result of the soil migrating away, your foundation is left with less support than what your home was designed for. Eventually, the foundation of your home can crack and shift from the weight of the house on top of it.
Modern plumbing systems are installed into the foundation. When foundations shift, it can cause pipes to crack and shift out of alignment. Cracked water pipes will let water seep through the concrete foundation, either up into the house or out under the slab. Cracked sewer pipes will do the same except they will leak sewage. Sewer and drain pipes can also become misaligned when foundations shift, causing them to be more prone to clogging.
Excess Pressure Can Eventually Crack Pipes
As April showers cause the soil to shift, the pipes and drains that are buried underground can crack. The weight of wet soil settling down can be more than the pipes can handle. Cracked freshwater lines are usually fairly obvious, this is because water pressure might drop inside your home and you will have a particularly wet spot in your lawn.On the other hand, cracked drain and sewer lines might not be as apparent. Foreign matter can enter drain and sewer lines and cause clogs and debris to catch on to the rough edges of the cracked pipe wall.
It may take a while before you notice a cracked drain or sewer line. However, clogs can be removed by snaking or hydrojetting. If the problem becomes chronic, your plumber may consider repiping parts of your system.
About Green Hills Plumbing
Green Hills Plumbing serves incomparable plumbing services in Nashville, TN. If you need a bathroom remodeled or a hot water tank installed, they have the expertise to help you. They are available 24/7 for emergency service on your residential or commercial property.
