We’re still in the midst of the South Florida hurricane season so it’s a precarious time of the year. While things are quiet, it’s a great time to prepare your Broward or Palm Beach county home. An important part of the preparation is getting your home’s plumbing ready. We asked our plumbers to provide these suggestions to protect your home and your plumbing systems.
Get a Generator
There is always the possibility that you will be without power for a long time as we saw from Hurricane Wilma in 2005. You can prepare for the possible outage by buying a generator. A generator will provide you with electricity, and your home will function as normally. The generator will reduce the strain that is put on your plumbing system.
Make Sure That the Drains are Clear
You will need to make sure that your drains are free of debris. If your drains are clear, then they will be able to handle large amounts of water. This is another way that you can keep the strain off of your plumbing system.
Make Sure That Your Home Does not Have Tree Roots
Tree roots are often the culprit behind plumbing issues. These roots can restrict water flow. A hurricane can worsen this problem. You will need to have a plumber inspect your plumbing system and remove the tree roots.
Turn Off the Water
If you have been told that you need to leave, then you will need to shut off the water before you evacuate. This will prevent toxic water from entering your plumbing system. You will also need to turn a faucet on before you leave. This will let air enter your plumbing system. If you are a pool owner, you may want to have your pool guy lower water levels to deal the heavy rainfall that typically accompanies a hurricane.
Stock Up on Bottled Water
If the power is out for a long time, then the quality of the water may be compromised. That is why it is important to have a lot of bottled water available. If you have bottled water, then you will still be able to bathe and flush the toilet. This can also take the strain off of your plumbing system.
Meteorologists try to warn people of hurricanes long before they land. That’s why people typically have a long time to prepare. If you prepare your plumbing system now, you’ll have one less thing to worry about when that inevitable hurricane hits South Florida again and your help your home and plumbing ‘weather the storm’ from damage.
