Plumbing Service Announcement:
Next Level Plumbing Hurricane Preparedness!
Most people think of Florida and automatically envision crystal blue water and sandy white beaches, sunny weather, tourists, and fishing. However, along with all those summer vibes, there’s also summer storms of both small and large scales. And those storms are pretty good at coming out of nowhere! So being prepared is necessary!
For those of us who have grown up in Florida and are used to experiencing those summer Hurricanes and tropical storms, it’s a little less intimidating because we know what to expect…
However!
Florida is constantly drawing in new residents from all over the place, and if you decide to settle down here in Sarasota, or anywhere in Florida, you need to be prepared for hurricanes and tropical storms!
Preparing for the summer storms means more than just tossing up some plywood over your windows or hurricane-proofing the outside of your house. You also need to be checking around your property considering the strong winds that these powerful storms can bring. If there are trees that look like they can do damage to any part of your house or residence, consider doing some trimming to avoid branches or whole trees crashing down anywhere.
But what about the plumbing when prepping for hurricane season! Anything we need to do when it comes to our home’s plumbing!?
Absolutely!
Check out the tips below from Byron, Next Level Plumbing’s owner & master plumber!
Hey all! It’s hurricane season! Since it’s extra important to protect your family, home, and investments during this time of year, let me help you do that by sharing what I know to assist you along the way.
On Well Water?
If you are, remember that if you lose power that means you have lost water as well. Make sure you have a way to connect a generator to the good system, if possible, so you can continue to have water!
No Water Available?
If you do lose water there are a couple of different places that hold water in case of emergency. It is a good idea to test these and see if they are working.
- Toilets: the toilet tank will hold water enough for one flush if the parts are working well. If they have a slow leak they will be out of water in no time. If your toilet turns on by itself that is a sign that it leaks.
- Tubs: a tub can be filled with water for reserve before a hurricane. Most tubs hold quite a lot of water. You can then bucket the water out of the tub and pour it into the toilet tank to get extra flushes. If the tub leaks, however, the water will be gone before you really need it. Double-check that it holds water by filling it partway at night, and then see if it is at the same level in the morning.
- Sinks: a sink can be used in much the same way as the tub, but they hold significantly less water, and therefore have a smaller impact.
- Water heaters: the water heater holds however many gallons that it says under “capacity” on its label. Many are 40-50 gallons. This water could be drained in an emergency through the drain valve at the bottom of the water heater. However, many water heaters are not maintained and build sediment up at the bottom which can block off the water flow, decrease the capacity of the tank, make the water that comes out very murky, and of course, cost more money in the long run.
- Reverse Osmosis: for those that filter their water through reverse osmosis, remember that as it makes water it stores it in a small tank. Once this tank is run out, it will take a while to refill it. If you are planning to fill containers with drinking water from your R.O. unit, make sure to start filling them a few days in advance so the R.O. can keep up. Or you can always install a reverse osmosis unit that is designed with a pump and will make water on demand instead of storing it.
The best thing to do to be prepared for an emergency with your water heater is to have a special valve installed that allows for good flow to come out so the chances that sediment blocks it decreases. Annual or even biannual flushes are good to keep the sediment down.
Important Note!
If you ever do have to use the water from your water heater, remember to turn the power or gas off to it! If a water heater heats empty, parts will break! Even if the power is off, turn off the breaker so that it doesn’t automatically turn on and wreck the elements.
Lastly…
For those that have outside whole house water filtration units, it is tough to tell what to do with them. They are heavy and will not blow away very easily, but something could get wind-born and hit them causing damage. I personally will leave mine outside and take my chances. The other option is to have a plumber come out, disconnect them, and bring them into the garage or a safe storage unit on the property.
Enjoyed these tips from Byron? You can learn more from this master plumber by reading more of his blogs! Check them out below!
