These Are The Most Urgent Plumbing Repairs After Flooding

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Mar 17, 2022

Recent flooding has had a devastating impact on many Australians, with residents of Lismore and the Northern Rivers region being hit some of the hardest. If your home has been damaged by flooding, it’s undoubtedly stressful and upsetting. You’ll understandably want to get things back to normal as quickly as possible but getting started can easily feel like an impossible task.

One part of your home that flooding can severely impact is your plumbing system. Regardless of the circumstances, it’s vital to solve problems with your plumbing as quickly as possible because these issues can pose a significant health risk. To make the process more manageable, we’ve put together this blog as a guide to the most urgent plumbing repairs after flooding.

Table of Contents

Foundation Repair

Your home’s foundations might not be part of the plumbing system but it’s an important part to look at after flooding when you need to begin plumbing repairs. During a flood, any movement in the soil once it’s saturated by water can shift the foundations of your home and potentially break your pipes. Foundation damage can cause the pipes to crack, leading to more issues. Before any plumbing work is completed, it’s essential to check the foundations of your property. You might need repairs before you can arrange repairs to your pipes. For safety reasons, it’s important to have a qualified specialist carry out any repair work to the foundations of your home.

Repair broken pipes

Repairing broken pipes both underground and inside the home is another vital task to keep your plumbing operating smoothly after a flood. Pipes underground are at risk of collapsing under the weight of saturated soil and standing water. If you can see sinkholes around your home, this is a good indication that there might be breakages in the underground pipes. A professional plumber can carry out an inspection to assess the damage and then carry out the relevant repairs.

Debris from flooding can also cause damage to the pipes inside your home. You might find it difficult to identify cracks or breakages until the flood water recedes or is removed so it’s worth waiting until the water is gone completely before you worry about this issue. Once the floodwater is gone, if you still see puddles of water it’s a sign of damage. In this instance, it’s advisable to close off the main water valve and then contact a plumber for assistance.

Replace Damaged Fixtures

The force of the flood might also damage your plumbing fixtures. This might be down to structural damage or floating debris. Repairing pipework is the top priority after flooding to keep your plumbing system running smoothly but after dealing with this you can address concerns with your fixtures. Damaged items are likely to need replacements but a plumber can assess the damage and recommend the right solution.

Fixtures that aren’t damaged will still need a thorough cleaning. This prevents a build-up of mould. It’s sensible to clean these parts carefully using diluted bleach. Some fixtures might need to be taken apart and have their components cleaned separately before you reassemble them.

Start To Recover From Flooding

Flood damage is certainly scary and you might feel the impact for some time to come. Whilst starting to recover from the situation might seem overwhelming, support is available and there are steps you can take to get things back to normal. Addressing any damage to your plumbing is a priority to make sure your home is safe and habitable. If you need more guidance about what to look for and how to get your plumbing system back to peak condition, contact us for professional advice and information.

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