In the wake of the tornadoes that recently affected the greater Nashville area, our pros at Smith’s Plumbing Services thought now was as good a time as ever to discuss disaster preparedness. Prepping your whole property for a potential disaster is important, and your plumbing system is no different. While many homeowners take precautions to stay safe in the wake of a disaster, with our busy lives, it can be easy to forget to prepare your house so that if the worst occurs, you experience less property damage. Read on to learn how to prep your plumbing system for a disaster, courtesy of our experienced Tennessee plumbers, and make sure you do everything you can to support “Nashville Strong.”
5 Steps to Prepare Your Plumbing for a Natural Disaster:
- Attach Your Water Heater to the Wall: Your water heater can shake loose and hit the floor if it is not fastened or bolted to the wall. This could disrupt gas lines, cause extensive water damage, and injure anyone who happens to be in the unit’s vicinity, so it is extremely important to secure your water heater if you have not done this already.
- Check Your Sump Pump: If you have a basement, there’s also a good chance you have a sump pump. This important piece of equipment prevents flooding, and keeps you safe from runoff from your sewer line. Not having a functioning sump pump during a natural disaster can lead to a ton of property damage, and cause severe health hazards, so it is a good idea to check periodically to ensure your pump is working properly.
- Install an Automatic Shutoff Valve: An automatic shutoff valve is used to automatically turn off your gas system in case of a disaster. By making sure your gas is shutoff, your home will be safe from fires and explosions, so it is a good idea to install this device if you don’t already have one.
- Secure Your Water Source: Having reliable, fresh water in the wake of an emergency is critical. As such, you may want to install some kind of filtration device, to prevent municipal water contamination from affecting your home after a disaster. It is also a good idea to stock up on bottled water, so you have a small supply if your plumbing system is shut down entirely. Considering hiring a licensed plumber for leak repair, too, so you do not lose any water during that critical post-disaster period. And speaking of hiring plumbers…
- Call an Experienced Plumber for Maintenance & Inspections: At Smith’s, we offer plumbing services to protect your whole property. It’s never a bad idea to call a plumber for maintenance work and inspections, especially if you have not had your system looked at in awhile. Stay prepared for disasters, and again, make sure you do everything you can to help our friends in the middle of the state following the terrible destruction that occurred there.
Call (901) 290-1110 for 24/7 emergency repairs, or contact Smith’s Plumbing Services online.