When hurricanes head our way, every faucet, pipe, and drain in your home faces extra risk of damage or backup. Taking time now to secure your plumbing keeps you dry, avoids costly repairs, and gives you one less thing to worry about once the storm begins.    At Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® in Port St. Lucie, we guide homeowners through every step of storm prep to protect their plumbing from wind-driven rain, flooding, and pressure surges.   

Secure All Outdoor Connections

Before the wind picks up, turn off and drain any accessible spigots, hose bibs, irrigation valves, and pool fills. Lock down garden hoses in a weatherproof storage area so they don’t whip against siding or break off fittings. Check that your irrigation or main-line backflow preventer is securely fastened and operating properly. Flooding and pressure fluctuations can cause backflow in supply lines if the device malfunctions. Consider installing a hose bib cover over exposed spigots to shield them from debris and wind-driven rain, which can damage valves and fittings. These simple steps prevent trapped water in outdoor lines from rupturing pipes or flooding crawlspaces once the storm subsides.

Inspect and Elevate Vulnerable Fixtures

Any plumbing located in low areas, such as garages, ground-level laundry rooms, or crawlspaces, faces the risk of pooling water from heavy rain or high tides. If you can’t move appliances, raise them a few inches on sturdy blocks to stay above minor flooding. Check that washing machine and utility sink connections are snug, since vibrations or minor shifting during a storm can loosen hoses and cause leaks. Remove floor drain covers to inspect for debris buildup that could block rainwater. If you have drains near exterior doors, ensure the trap primer functions properly so the trap seal doesn’t dry out—this prevents sewer gases from escaping during flooding. These preventative measures help keep moisture out of living spaces when rainwater tries to creep in.

Test Your Sump or Drain Pump and Backup

A working sump or drain pump can mean the difference between a dry crawlspace or garage and days of cleanup. Before a storm arrives, pour a bucket of water into the sump pit to confirm that it activates, discharges water properly, and shuts off when the pit is empty. Inspect the outdoor discharge outlet and clear any debris or grass that could block flow. If you rely on a battery backup, check the charge level and replace the battery if it’s over two years old. While water-powered backups can help in some cases, municipal water pressure often drops or stops during hurricanes. For most coastal homes, a battery or generator-powered backup pump offers the most dependable protection during power outages.

Check Pressure Regulators and Expansion Tanks

Your home’s pressure regulator ensures that water enters your pipes at a safe level. During a storm, sudden shifts in municipal supply pressure can strain valves and cause leaks at weak points. Have a plumber verify that your regulator holds steady around 50 to 60 PSI. After the storm, check again once water service is restored—pressure spikes are common when utilities reopen valves. Expansion tanks protect against thermal expansion when water in your heater warms up. If the tank’s air charge is too low, hot water can backflow toward fixtures or strain relief valves. Ask a professional to test and recharge the air cushion if needed. A properly functioning expansion tank helps absorb pressure changes and keeps your plumbing secure when temperature and supply fluctuations occur during storms.

Protect Against Sewer Backups

Heavy rain or storm surges can overwhelm local sewer lines or septic systems, pushing wastewater back into household drains. A check valve on your main sewer line closes under reverse flow, preventing sewage from seeping up through floor drains or toilets. Have a plumber inspect this valve’s operation and replace worn parts so it seals completely. If you have a ground-level bathroom or laundry, raise the washing machine outlet above potential flood levels or install an above-ground standpipe. This helps prevent backflow if municipal lines surge.

Secure Water Heater and Gas Lines

Your water heater sits under pressure, and if it shifts or its connections loosen, it can leak water or gas. Have a professional elevate or anchor tank-type heaters above potential flood levels and secure them to prevent movement. A plumber should also check threaded fittings on gas flex lines and tighten or replace any that wobble. If your heater vent sits low, add a rain cap to keep driving rain out of the draft hood. These precautions protect your heater from storm damage and help ensure you still have safe, reliable hot water afterward.

Mind Your Indoor Drains and Traps

Strong gusts and heavy rain can force water through floor drains and vents. Pour a small amount of clean water into rarely used drains, laundry trays, and fixtures so their traps stay sealed. This water barrier keeps sewer gases from entering your home during long outages or flooding. Pull away cabinet skirts to monitor plumbing connections during the storm, and install trap primers on critical drains so they maintain a permanent water seal. These small details can prevent contaminated air or water from invading your home when your yard is saturated.

Invest in Professional Storm-Ready Upgrades

If your home sits in a flood-prone area, consider installing an automatic main-line shutoff valve connected to a flood sensor. When rising water is detected in your garage or crawlspace, the valve automatically closes to stop your internal water supply, preventing burst pipes from compounding flood damage. These valves don’t stop external floodwater, but they prevent internal plumbing leaks and reduce water waste. A licensed plumber can also install flood-rated backflow preventers, frost-proof hose bibs, and elevated utility hookups to raise your system above typical surge levels. These upgrades help minimize post-storm repairs and emergency calls.

Label and Locate Every Shutoff Valve

Knowing exactly where to turn off the water during a storm can save hours of damage. Walk through your home before hurricane season and locate every shutoff valve for sinks, toilets, appliances, irrigation systems, and your main supply. Mark each valve with a waterproof tag or colored tape for easy identification in low light. Keep a simple map on your refrigerator showing shutoff locations and directions for turning valves off. If you hear pipes groaning under pressure or see a hidden leak when a neighbor’s system backs up, you’ll be ready to act fast. During your annual plumbing inspection, have a plumber test each valve’s function and replace any that stick or drip to ensure they’ll work when needed.

Long-Term Maintenance for Hurricane Seasons Ahead

Storm prep isn’t a one-time task. Schedule annual plumbing inspections each spring, before hurricane season, and again in early fall after months of heat have stressed seals and fittings. A licensed plumber can check for corrosion on buried fittings, test shutoff valves, and reseal under-slab penetrations that may have shifted. Regular maintenance keeps your system strong so you’re not scrambling when the next storm warning appears on your screen.

Prepare Your Plumbing for Storm Season Now

Hurricane season demands careful plumbing preparation to keep your Port St. Lucie home safe and functional. We offer sump pump inspections, backflow preventer testing, and emergency pipe repair to complete your hurricane-readiness plan. Don’t wait until the next storm warning. For tailored advice and hands-on help protecting your water lines, contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing® of Port St. Lucie today.