Drain tips
Monsoon season drain tips for Yuma homes
Most of the year, Yuma barely sees rain. Then monsoon season arrives, roughly July through September, and a single storm can drop a lot of water in a short time, often with strong wind, blowing dust and debris. Drains that handle a normal day just fine can be overwhelmed. Here's how storms cause drain trouble and what to do before, during and after one.
How a storm turns into a drain problem
Sewer lines that are already narrowed
A sewer line with roots, grease or scale inside it might drain normally day to day, with just enough room for the water your household sends through it. A storm adds water and sometimes debris to the system, and that partly blocked line can't keep up. The result is gurgling drains, slow toilets, or water coming up through the lowest drain in the house.
Yard drains and outdoor drains
Yard drains, patio drains and area drains collect dust, leaves, palm fronds and sand between storms. When the first big rain hits, all of that washes in at once and can plug the drain just when it's needed most.
Soil movement
Heavy rain soaking into dry ground can cause soil to shift, and a sewer line that loses support underneath can sag over time. A sag holds water and waste and turns into a spot that clogs again and again.
Before the season: a June checklist
- Clear outdoor drains. Pull leaves, sand and debris out of yard, patio and area drains and their grates.
- Check gutters and downspouts so roof water is carried away from the house and not dumped next to your foundation or into a drain that can't handle it.
- Pay attention to slow indoor drains. If several drains have been slow, or a toilet gurgles, get the main line cleaned before storm season, not during it.
- Know where your sewer cleanout is. If a technician needs to reach your main line in a hurry, it helps to know where it is.
- Trim back landscaping over drains so falling debris doesn't block them.
- Consider a camera inspection if your home has had more than one main line clog. Roots and sags are easier to deal with on your schedule than in an emergency.
During a storm
- If drains start gurgling or water rises in a tub or shower, stop using water right away. Don't run the washer or dishwasher during a heavy storm if your drains have been sluggish.
- Stay away from flooded areas outdoors. Moving water can carry debris and hide open drain covers.
- Don't open a sewer cleanout during a storm. The line may be under pressure.
After the storm
- Clear any debris that washed into yard and patio drains.
- Run water in each fixture and watch for slow drains or gurgling.
- If you had any backup during the storm, even one that went away on its own, get the main line checked. A line that backed up once under stress will likely do it again.
- If water came in from outside, that's flooding, not just a drain problem. Dry things out quickly and contact your insurance.
Is it the storm or my line? If neighbors are having the same problem at the same time, it may be the public sewer system. Report it to the City of Yuma. If it's only your house, the blockage is likely in your own line, and that's where a drain technician comes in.