When summer storms roll in, most people focus their attention on windows, roofs, or power outages. Flooded yards, backed-up drains, and overwhelmed sump pumps can all become major headaches if your plumbing system isn’t ready. At All Klear, in Springfield, MO, we help homeowners prepare their plumbing for wet weather so that moisture stays outside where it belongs.
Why Your Plumbing System Matters
Storm preparation usually brings to mind roof leaks or power outages, but your plumbing faces just as much pressure. If that path leads toward your foundation, your plumbing must hold the line. That means storm drains, sump pumps, sewer lines, and yard drainage all must work together.
Most of the risk comes from water moving where it doesn’t belong. This includes basement seepage, backed-up floor drains, or soggy patches where a pipe leaks underground. Plumbing systems are built to move water in a controlled way, but heavy rain puts stress on every weak point. A storm doesn’t need to be record-breaking to cause problems. Even an hour of downpour can trigger clogs or backups if your system can’t handle the surge.
Check Your Sump Pump Before the Forecast Shifts
If your home has a basement, you have a sump pump. That little pump sits in a pit and waits for rising water to reach a certain level. Once that happens, it turns on and pushes the water away from your home. When it works, you barely notice. When it fails, the damage adds up fast. You could lose furniture, flooring, or storage to even a few inches of water.
Pour some water into the sump pit and watch what happens. If the pump turns on and the water clears, everything is working correctly. If your pump hesitates, runs loudly, or doesn’t start at all, you need to have our team inspect your pump. Sometimes the issue is the float switch getting stuck. Other times, the motor is starting to wear out. The discharge line should carry water away from the house without leaking or spraying against the foundation.
Yard Drainage Plays a Bigger Role Than You Think
Rainwater doesn’t just disappear. It must move somewhere, and your yard becomes the first line of defense. If water collects near your home or pools around low spots, that pressure builds up against your foundation. Over time, it can push into cracks or force its way through poorly sealed walls.
Downspouts should direct water well away from the house, not just drip near the base. If your property slopes toward your foundation, gravity works against you. Installing swales, dry wells, or drains can help water move in the right direction.
Don’t forget to look at hardscaping, too. Patios and walkways can trap water if they don’t slope properly. You might not see puddles, but the soil beneath could stay saturated and cause issues below the surface. If your yard stays soggy long after the rain stops, that’s a sign your drainage needs attention.
Backflow Risks Rise During Heavy Rain
When city sewer lines get overwhelmed, they can force dirty water back into private lines. That’s what’s known as backflow, and it’s one of the worst-case scenarios for your plumbing during a storm. You don’t want contaminated water backing into your sinks, tubs, or basement drains, as this poses a major health risk.
Most modern homes have a backwater valve that helps prevent this from happening. It’s a one-way valve that lets wastewater exit but blocks anything from reversing direction. If your home doesn’t have one, or if the valve hasn’t been inspected in years, you could be vulnerable when storms hit hard.
To check it, locate the cleanout or access point and see if the flap inside the valve moves freely. Debris, corrosion, or buildup can prevent it from sealing properly. If you notice slow drains or gurgling during rain, this could mean pressure is building in the wrong direction. Backflow problems usually start quietly and escalate quickly.
Gutter Maintenance Helps Indoors
It’s easy to think of gutters as just part of your roof, but they directly affect your plumbing’s workload during heavy rain. When gutters clog, overflow, or disconnect, water spills wherever it wants.
Clearing leaves and debris from gutters before the season starts prevents surprise blockages. Make sure all downspouts connect firmly and have proper extensions. Water should exit several feet away from the house, not dribble down into the soil near the siding. If your gutters are undersized for your roof area, consider upgrading them to a wider model that can handle faster runoff.
Splash blocks can help, but they only work if the ground slopes away. A clogged gutter can’t protect your foundation, and any water that seeps through ends up straining your sump pump and indoor drains.
Floor Drains Need More Than a Visual Check
A clean-looking floor drain doesn’t always mean it’s ready for a storm. These drains sit in basements, garages, or laundry rooms and help direct water away during leaks or minor flooding. If they clog or drain slowly, water can pool fast and start spreading across the floor. That’s especially risky if your water heater, furnace, or storage tank sits nearby.
Start by pouring a gallon or two of water into the drain. It should disappear quickly without bubbling back up. If it lingers, that suggests a partial clog somewhere downstream. Hair, lint, soap scum, or dirt can build up below the surface, even if the grate looks clean. A quick flush or snaking can help restore flow before storms test the system.
Check the trap for standing water, too. That water seal blocks sewer gases from rising. If the trap stays dry, your basement might smell odd during rain because the pressure in the system gets disrupted.
Older Pipes Face More Risk During Storms
Heavy rain adds weight and movement to the soil around your home. That pressure presses against buried pipes, especially if the ground is already soft or uneven. Older clay or cast-iron lines are more brittle than modern PVC, and even small shifts in soil can crack or dislodge sections.
Tree roots follow moisture and can push deeper into joints when the ground is saturated. That leads to slow drains or full blockages just when you need water to move quickly. If your drains tend to gurgle or if toilets bubble during rainfall, something could be restricting the line. Camera inspections show what’s going on without digging. That can help you catch cracked sections, root intrusion, or bellied pipes that collect debris.
Replacing damaged sections with newer material gives your system better support during storms. Targeted upgrades to vulnerable spots can take pressure off the whole line.
Small Fixtures Can Act Like Warning Lights
Not every plumbing problem starts with a flood. Sometimes, the signs show up in small ways before things go wrong. A toilet that refills often, a tub that drains slowly, or a sink that smells during rain can all point to a storm-related weakness.
Pay attention to changes that happen during or after rainfall. If a fixture starts acting up only when the weather shifts, that tells you something in your plumbing reacts to outside pressure. That might be a vent stack blocked by debris or a section of pipe partially clogged with yard waste pushed in from runoff.
Storm Prep Should Be a Plumbing Habit
Sump pumps, gutters, drains, and underground pipes all play a part in keeping your home dry and damage-free. These systems don’t just work harder during storms. They work smarter when they’re cared for. Keeping up with professional inspections and minor repairs can keep a downpour from turning into a disaster. No one wants to bail out a basement or deal with sewage water in the tub. Plumbing preparation makes those moments a lot less likely.
Prepare Your Home for Storms
A strong plumbing system gives you more control during unpredictable weather. Whether it’s a sump pump you can rely on or a drainage setup that keeps water away from your foundation, each piece helps reduce stress when storms hit. In addition to weather-related upgrades, we also handle clogged drains, water heater issues, and emergency plumbing repairs. Don’t wait for the next big storm to test your system.
Schedule your seasonal plumbing checkup with All Klear in Springfield today.
