An alarming number of Surrey homeowners fall victim to basement flooding every year, especially during the rainy season. With places like Surrey experiencing heavy-rain falls, freezing temperatures, and sewage line backups, homeowners must always ensure effective water flow and drainage.

Preventing flooding is a proactive method that starts with a thorough assessment of your property and drainage system. Floods usually occur from preventable causes ranging from structural deficiencies, poor drainage systems, and faulty sump pumps, to ineffective backflow prevention mechanisms.

By assessing your property, plumbers can find weak spots and start fixing them.

Addressing Common Plumbing Issues

After identifying potential problems, an experienced plumber will work on correcting them. Some of the common issues you may run into include the following.

Frozen Pipes

In the frigid depths of winter, homeowners in areas like Surrey often find their pipes frozen solid, completely stopping water flow. As pressure builds up, the pipes expand and without intervention, can rupture and cause massive water damage.

Expert plumbers can prevent frozen pipe disasters by using specialized heat guns that safely warm up the frozen pipe, gradually reducing the ice blockage without causing damage. Once thawed, they might recommend insulation measures to keep pipes warmer during future cold spells, including foam rubber or fiberglass sleeves.

Blocked Sump Pumps

Sump pumps play a key role in keeping your basement dry during the rainy season, as they divert excess water away from your home. Unfortunately, blockages can occur due to leaves or debris, leading to flooding.

If a blockage does occur, plumbers can address it quickly through specialized tools such as a sump pump vacuum or pipe snake to clear the debris and restore normal function to your pump system.

When it comes to sump pumps, preventative measures are worth their weight in gold. As plumbers, we strongly recommended to clean and inspect your sump pump at least once a year, preferably before the rainy season begins. As a pro tip, you can minimize sump pump blocks by installing a cover or screen guard.

Backflow Issues

Water should only flow in one direction, whether that is toward your house or water treatment facility, but a serious plumbing issue (known as backflow) can occur.

Backflow is primarily caused by pressure changes in the plumbing system, which can be due to varying water demands, pipe blockages, or malfunctions in equipment like valves and pumps. These fluctuations can reverse the normal flow of water, causing potentially contaminated water from downstream locations to flow back upstream.

Tackling backflow issues is complex, and plumbers must use high-tech inspection cameras to locate and understand the exact malfunction within your drainage network. Once the issue is determined, they either repair your existing system or implement backflow prevention devices, like reduced pressure zone assemblies or check valves, to protect against future instances of backflow.

Keeping Downspouts Clear

Downspouts are drainage pipes that carry water off your roof and away from your property. Just like your gutters and other pumps, downspouts need to be cleaned and maintained, or issues can occur due to the accumulation of leaves, twigs, and other debris in the downspout.

Clogged downspouts can pose serious issues for your property. Hindered water flow results in water pooling around the home’s foundation, increasing the chances of basement flooding. Besides structural damage, continual moisture accumulation can also lead to harmful mold growth, which poses significant health risks to occupants inside the residence.

Plumbers tackle clogged downspouts using high-pressure water jets, snaking tools, or specially designed downspout brushes to clear the blockage. They may also use inspection cameras to locate stubborn clogs deep within the downspout.

Preventing future occurrences is equally important, and part of a comprehensive plumbing service often includes suggestions that minimize future blockages, such as cutting back problematic trees that may contribute to leaf blockages or installing gutter guards to reduce debris buildup.

With annual check-ups and timely fixes by a qualified plumber, you can significantly reduce the risk of flooding at your Surrey home caused by clogged downspouts.

A Proactive Approach Can Save Thousands of Dollars

Our homes depend on a network of pipes to manage water flow into and away from our homes. These pipes are not indestructible though, and without proper care and maintenance can clog or burst, leading to substantial flooding damage.

Therefore, as a homeowner, being proactive and correctly identifying potential causes of floods, installing flood prevention systems, and treating problems ahead of time will ensure your home is safe to come rain or shine.

Don’t let a seemingly minor leak result in major financial losses. Instead, schedule an estimate and take action today.

Hilltop Plumbing & Heating Ltd. is a licensed bonded and insured plumbing and gas fitting company, proudly serving the White Rock and South Surrey area for over 50 years.

Trusted for over four decades, we have been providing plumbing & heating solutions, backed up by our guaranteed workmanship and parts warranty.