The short answer is yes; heavy rain can affect plumbing. Although we get a lot of 24-hour  emergency plumbing call-outs for rain-related issues, most of them happen during winter! 

With above median rainfall predicted across Australia from November to January, we anticipate many homes to be affected. So, we want to give you the best tips on how to prepare your plumbing for storm season , just in case the Bureau of Meteorology is on the money! 

Sydney emergency plumbing - call 1300 625 077

If you’re dealing with a major plumbing problem right now, call the best emergency plumber response team immediately. Our 24-hour plumbing service is available around-the-clock and not just in gale-force weather! Meanwhile, the following advice is shared specifically to help you practice the best plumbing safety during storms and avoid any plumbing emergencies! 

Sydney trees, you may be spectacular, but you sure know how to give your residents a hard time! 

We might sound like a broken record, but Sydney trees can be, well, the root of all evil when it comes to plumbing problems! Heavy rain is great for our greenery, right? These trees love nothing more than plenty to drink. However, the spin-off is that extra hydration keeps the roots happy, healthy and - you guessed it - growing. These pesky roots can be such prolific growers that even an underground pipe is no match for them - they’ll simply pierce it and plough right through. 

Have you noticed a sluggish toilet flush in your home? This could be an early indication that roots in your area are already ploughing a destructive path under your property. If and when those pipes burst, it can be high drama. A root risk analysis is a sure way to avoid the damage, time and cost that comes with such a problem. A specialist plumbing service, the process involves our team conducting a quick and thorough underground inspection of your pipes. Using the latest camera equipment and technology, we can easily detect any damage - either pending or unfolding before our very eyes - and provide you with a report. This includes a summary of the work required to contain the damage and prevent further occurrence. It’s all very straightforward and can create a vastly different outcome for your home plumbing! 

2. Earth movement and underground shifts 

Heavy storms and floods saturate the soil, making it vastly heavier than it is when dry. Why is this a problem? Because all that weight applies pressure on the pipes and can lead to cracks or bursts. It can also lead to an actual shifting of the earth, which takes any underground pipes and drains along for the ride. Make sure you have good quality piping that can deal with Sydney’s big wet summer. Our local plumbing team can advise on your pipe integrity but also organise pipe relining if need be. Just contact us for a no-obligation quote! 

3. Box gutter overflow and blocked drains 

  Gutters overflowing is something we typically deal with in Autumn and Winter, not Summer. In fact, this time of year, we usually clear out overflowing gutters in preparation for fire season, not because we think heavy rain will cause blockages! With increased rain comes more likelihood of blocked drains and gutters, which, of course, can then wreak havoc on internal plumbing. This is the simplest of our wet weather plumbing issues to DIY; it’s all about prevention rather than cure. 

Surely mother nature is going to give us a few fair weather days over Summer? When she does, use them wisely and head outside to conduct an inspection of all your gutters and pipes. Focus on corners where particular build-up can occur. When clearing blocked drains, make sure to remove as many foreign objects as possible. The heavy rain will sweep all manner of debris, mud and dirt into pipes and gutters. You want them as clean as can be to take on whatever the rain throws their way. 

If you’re wondering how to fix an overflowing gutter , it’s fairly straightforward. Safety is paramount, so if you intend to use a ladder, be sure it is firmly locked into place to prevent falling. Use protective gloves not only because it’s dirty work but because you’ve no idea what might have landed in eaves and drains. You don’t want to catch a nasty infection or cut yourself. Have a bucket handy, and make sure anything you collect goes straight into that and then into the bin. 

If this doesn’t sound like the most pleasant way to spend your downtime, handball the job to us! Our team can move quickly to clean out any drains whilst also inspecting the integrity of your roofing and guttering at the same time.

Get a preventative plumbing check 

Our peace of mind plumbing health service is a great idea for those feeling anxious about the rainy Summer and its effect on household plumbing. Our team conducts a thorough inspection of all your plumbing and gas to either confirm a full bill of household health or suggest preventative work. After all, the best plumbing problem is not to have a plumbing problem in the first place! 

Customer testimonials 

If you’ve never contacted us before, why not visit our customer testimonial page and see what residents in Sydney’s Eastern suburbs think? It’s always a good idea to hear it directly from the households we’ve helped! 

Contact your trusted Eastern suburbs plumbers today! 

If you’re convinced that heavy rain can affect plumbingand would like to arrange an inspection, please reach out. Alternatively, if you’re after a no-cost, no-obligation quote for another matter, we’d be delighted to hear from you and to help!