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The UK’s weather is unpredictable at best, and downright treacherous at worst. With cold, wet winters and heavy rainfall throughout most of the year, the adverse weather conditions we see year upon year can actually be damaging to your drainage system. This doesn’t just apply to cold or wet conditions either; hot weather – such as the so-called heatwaves we’ve seen during recent summers – can also have a negative impact on your drains.
With February being one of the coldest months of the year, April showers right around the corner, and the hot spells of summer not much further away, it’s possible that your drainage system could experience some problems as a result of adverse weather conditions.
This blog from Aqua Rod South West explains exactly how these drainage problems occur, how to identify them and how you can go about fixing them. Keep reading to learn more about how the weather affects your drainage system!
Though October to January sees the most rainfall overall, the UK can – and probably will – experience heavy rain at any time of the year. Unfortunately, as climate change continues and sea levels rise, it’s now rare that we go a year without seeing widespread flooding throughout the country.
Heavy rainfall can cause all sorts of problems, but the most common are blocked drains and flooding and the multitude of other issues that arise as a result.
Heavy rainfall is often paired with high winds, particularly during storm season. This means that debris like leaves, mulch, mud, and branches can get washed or blown into drains, therefore blocking them up and preventing proper rainwater drainage. This is especially true in autumn when the ground is covered in leaves.
Additionally, plants that grow in drains can cause blocked drains or disrupt the flow of water through the drainage system if the volume of water becomes too large. Both of these scenarios lead to drains getting backed up and overflowing, which eventually causes flooding.
It’s important to keep both your indoor and outdoor drains well-maintained so that they are able to cope in the event of heavy rainfall – failing to take steps to ensure your drainage system is working properly could result in your domestic or commercial property becoming damaged due to flooding.
Flooding is disruptive and damaging in itself, but it can cause a whole range of other problems that only act to worsen the situation. Here are some of the potential knock-on effects of flooding in a domestic or commercial property:
There are a few preventative measures you can take to protect your domestic or commercial property against flooding. Firstly, make sure you stay up-to-date with local weather news and flood warnings. Even just being aware of the increased risk can help you to plan for all eventualities and handle the situation more efficiently and effectively.
You could also consider placing sandbags, flood-resistant door guards, or non-return tap and drain valves around your property, as well as designing your garden in a way that directs all water away from the edges of your property.
Another preventative measure is to actively avoid drain blockages by removing mud, leaves, and other debris from your drains regularly and ensuring you don’t put anything down your drain that shouldn’t be there – for example, cooking fat, wet wipes, sanitary towels, hair, and cotton buds.
Cold weather can cause a whole range of problems, from slippery roads to fully fledged snowstorms. It can also cause your pipes to freeze, which causes a blockage and provides the perfect place for debris to build up. This means that even once the water has thawed, you might still be left with a drain blockage.
A small amount of ice in your drainage system will cause a minor blockage which limits the flow of water through the pipes. A large amount of ice, however, can block the entire pipe and cause rainwater to back up in your drains, which might lead to a burst pipe or flooding.
Additionally, cold weather and/or ice can cause your pipes to expand and put them under so much strain that they burst.
Frozen drainage pipes can occur for a number of reasons, for example:
If you are experiencing an uncharacteristically cold winter, you might need to take some steps to prevent your pipes from freezing over or experiencing another issue induced by the cold weather. Insulate all your pipes if possible, paying particular attention to colder areas of your building such as the attic and any crawl spaces.
Furthermore, you should try to keep your property’s temperature above 12°C, even if you aren’t there. This should ensure that your pipes stay above the ideal temperature for freezing over. You can also open your attic hatch and any doors to cupboards containing pipes, as this encourages warm air to circulate and allows it to reach even the most hidden-away pipes.
Hot weather can cause the soil around your home to expand and the ground to move, which subsequently shifts the foundation of your home slightly and can cause damage to your drainage system or even a burst pipe.
The same applies to extremely dry conditions: the lack of water cause the ground to crack, which leads to problems with the soil surrounding your pipes and disrupts the usual contraction and expansion process.
Tree roots can also wreak havoc on your drainage system as they search for moisture. During dry summer conditions, trees are unable to get the moisture and nutrients they need from the soil so they go in search of it elsewhere instead – i.e. in your pipes.
Try your best to keep the ground surrounding your property as saturated as possible during particularly hot spells, look out for your garden plants a little more diligently than you might at other times of year, and be sure to keep an eye on your drainage system to ensure you notice, identify, and fix any pipe damage quickly.
Are you looking for specialist drainage services? Look no further than Aqua Rod South West. We are a family business operating throughout Devon and Cornwall and offer a wide variety of drainage services. From CCTV surveying and septic tank emptying to high-pressure water jetting and other drain clearance services, we’re well-equipped to help you prevent or repair any weather-induced drainage problems.
As well as emergency callouts, Aqua Rod South West can provide regular servicing and maintenance for your drainage system to help you identify and repair potential faults before they become damaging and disruptive. This regular, pre-emptive work saves you from considerable expense and inconvenience and protects your property against damaging incidents such as flooding.
We take great pride in offering a consistently high standard of service, no matter the drainage issue or the client in question. To save yourself from a drainage emergency, or prevent one from happening in the first place, get in touch with a member of our reliable expert team today.
Published by: David Parkes on: February 15th 2022
