Our team at Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning is committed to helping Western New Yorkers keep their homes and businesses safe, secure, and dry. This blog aims to help our customers and fellow residents understand how they can do this. As we start to enter into a heavy melt from one of the snowiest winters in the history of Buffalo, we figured it was a good time to talk about snowmelt and what to watch for. Remember, if you ever need a hand with anything related to your plumbing, drain, sewer, don’t hesitate to give us a call or reach out ASAP! Let’s get right into it!
What Does Snowmelt Do to Your Property?
Snowmelt flooding is a serious issue, and if you don’t stay vigilant, it can overwhelm your property’s drainage systems and start to see flooding seep into your basement. The high amount of water can stress your plumbing system and cause significant damage to your home.
This is caused by the snow creating more water than the ground, waterways, and drainage systems can absorb. This season is important to stay vigilant because rapid changes of temperature and/or accompanying rainfall can cause sudden flooding. The rapid influx of water from snowmelt and warmer weather rain can create significant pressure on sump pumps, septic systems, and pipes.
Here are a few things to be mindful of that you may not know could be caused by snowmelt.
Cracked Plumbing Pipes
When the snow melts too fast, it saturates the ground under and around your home. When the soil is oversaturated, it can cause a shift in the soil, which can damage underground pipes. The movement of the earth can cause serious pressure on the pipes, which can become cracked or damaged, especially if they’re older pipes. Rocks and other materials like tree roots can cause issues when the soil shifts. The compromised pipes can seep water into your home, which can cause significant damage.
Damaging Sewer Backups
A lot of melting snow and warm rain can overwhelm your municipal sewer system, which significantly increases the risk of a sewer backup into your home. Drains and toilets can see raw sewage backup and even if you don’t SEE something, you may SMELL something. T
hese foul odors are cause for concern as sewer backups of any severity can expose your home to harmful bacteria and viruses. If you see or smell anything concerning a sewer backup, it should be addressed immediately and considered an emergency. Call a professional sewer cleaning team in WNY ASAP.
Water Pressure Concerns & Slow Drainage
If you’re finding your water pressure not feeling the same around the time of a seasonal warm up or snowmelt, you may have an issue that needs to be addressed. This is because flooding puts pressure on plumbing components including appliances, fixtures, and pipes.
If snowmelt flooding has overloaded or blocked your plumbing system, you may also notice that your water is draining more slowly than usual in sinks, tubs, and toilets.
Stay vigilant if you notice signs of issues with your water pressure or drains, as this could certainly be cause for concern. This is why it’s vital to have a trusted WNY plumber at your fingertips and why when we work with a new customer, they become a lifetime customer.
Basement Flooding
Regardless of if you have a finished basement or not, snowmelt can cause significant damage to your basement. This can be one of the most damaging risks of snowmelt flooding. As snow melts around the home, hydrostatic pressure causes pressure against your foundation walls. One of the worst things that can happen is hydrostatic pressure causing cracks in your foundation that cause water to seem and/or pour inside.
The ground being oversaturated due to snowmelt or spring rain here in WNY can increase the risk of flooding. Flooded basements can cause serious danger! These are just a few risks of not properly monitoring the surrounding area of your home.
- Mold & Mildew
- Electrical Hazards
- Structural Damage
- Property Destruction
- Poor Air Quality
- Appliance Failure
If you notice basement flooding, you should call a professional immediately. You don’t want to enter the basement until all electricity has been turned off, as this can be an extreme risk. When the basement floods, it can also cause future issues with your plumbing components
Ideally you are never faced with any of the above issues for your WNY home or business, but if you do, know that our team at Advanced Sewer & Drain Cleaning has an answer. We will assess the situation, provide you with a comprehensive explanation of what’s going on, and execute a plan that best fits your needs and budget. We don’t overcharge you and we will make you feel comfortable and confident with the best course of action. If you or someone you know is facing an issue with drainage or water flooding from snowmelt or spring rain, just give us a call and we’ll come take a look!