Plumbing Repairs After A Flood

With all the hurricanes that have been in the news lately, flooding has been on everyone’s mind. Even though Cherokee County isn’t on the coast, we did face a major flood in September of 2009! Recovering from a flood can be a long and arduous process. Rebuilding and repairing your home after something as catastrophic as a flood can be stressful and can take quite a bit of time. If your home has been through a flood, there can be tons of hidden plumbing damage. Today, we’ll talk about a few of the most common plumbing repairs you may need after a flood.

1. Clogged drains. Floodwater contains all kinds of dirt, silt, and other residue. Once the water recedes and evaporates, all the particles from the water are left behind. Any drains in your home that were covered by floodwater then become susceptible to a clog from all the residue left behind. Generally, you can use a DIY method to clear these clogs. However, for tougher clogs, you may need to call a professional plumber. 
2. Damaged water fixtures. Your water fixtures can be damaged in a number of ways during a flood- wind, structural failure, floating debris, etc. Any fixtures that are obviously damaged will need to be replaced. Others that don’t need to be replaced may still need to be cleaned. Mold growth after a flood can be a huge problem, and you definitely don’t want mold growing in your faucets and shower heads! A diluted bleach solution should take care of any mold growth in your fixtures.
3. Broken pipes. Broken pipes can be found inside your home and underground. Floating debris or flying objects during a flood can be hazardous to the pipes inside your home. Sometimes, its impossible to notice broken pipes until all the flood waters have receded and clean up has begun. A good way to spot broken pipes inside your home is any new puddles of water that seem to form after the flood waters are gone. Broken pipes underground can be even trickier to spot. Because wet ground creates a huge amount of pressure on the pipes that are underground, a flood can pose a serious risk to your underground pipes. If you notice a sinkhole on your property after the flood or a random wet patch once the ground has dried out, you may have a broken pipe under the ground. Calling a professional plumber for broken pipes is a must.
4. Foundation damage. Foundation damage is a common occurrence after a flood. Sometimes the flood itself causes damage to your foundation. Other times, broken pipes as a result of the flood can cause damage to your foundation. And further still, a damaged foundation can cause even more of your pipes to break! If you suspect you may have foundation damage as a result of a flood, its important to get it fixed immediately. 

For plumbing home inspections or help with any of the aforementioned problems, call the professionals you can trust at Masterflo Plumbing! We can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year at (678) 822-7095!