Keep Your Plumbing Healthy During Storm Season
The few weeks prior to the start of the storm season is a great opportunity to inspect your property and make sure it’s ready to resist anything the weather may bring.
With this in mind, we’ve put together a few top tips on how to prepare your plumbing for storm season.
If you would prefer a professional to check your home or business premises for storm readiness, O'Brien Plumbing Wyong is here to help. Our local Central Coast plumbers can check your property for any maintenance needed before storms arrive, as well as carry out any repair work needed once a storm has run its course.
Keeping drains clear
Increased runoff, as well as a sudden influx of leaves and other debris carried by wind and rain, can cause significant stress to downpipes and storm drains.
If you notice that your run-off is slow to clear or see that the storm drain isn’t coping (for example seeing water coming out of the drain during rain), it could be that maintenance is needed.
A drain inspection using a cable-mounted camera may be a good initial move, in order to see whether work on the drain is required.
Is your guttering in good condition?
Guttering not only needs to be clear, it also needs to be securely fastened to your property. We suggest the following steps to prepare your gutters before the storm season strikes:
– Ensure that gutters are clear of leaves, twigs and similar detritus.
– Cut back any trees that are overhanging your property, in order to reduce leaf fall when the wind rises.
– Check gutter junctions and fixings for integrity. Sagging, broken or worn guttering should be replaced before the storm season commences.
– Check that downpipes are clear of obstructions and in good shape.
Roof inspection and maintenance
Whilst losing a roof tile is a fairly minor issue to fix, if it’s lost during a storm, the gap can provide an opportunity for rain to penetrate deep into the fabric of the building.
In addition, once one tile is lost, the stability of the roof is affected, making it more likely that additional tiles will be lost. We suggest inspecting the roof from both the inside and the outside, noting if any of the following signs are apparent:
- Cracked tiles.
- A build-up of moss.
- Light coming through the roof.
- A sagging ridgeline.
- Evidence of twigs or other debris in the gutter.
- Damp patches (or evidence of previous damp damage) in the attic.
- Pieces of tile or mortar lying on the ground which look as if they may have come from the roof.
- Missing or damaged flashing around chimney pots or other roof furniture.
If you do spot anything amiss, O'Brien Plumbing Wyong are happy to come out and take a closer look. We have the right tools and team to spot any problems and fix them before the storms strike. Get in touch to find out more. Schedule a plumber online or call us today on (02) 4351 3665.