In This Guide
After a windstorm or heavy rain event, most homeowners check for fallen branches and power outages. Fewer think about storm damage plumbing checks, yet storms stress your plumbing in ways that do not show up until weeks later, when a small crack has become a major leak. Lynnwood's powerful winter storms and fall wind events make this inspection routine especially important.
This guide walks you through a complete post-storm plumbing check, inside and out.
How Storms Damage Plumbing Systems
High winds flex roof structures, loosening vent pipe flashing and chimney flashing. Saturated soil shifts around buried water and sewer lines, stressing joints. Falling branches can strike exterior hose bibs, exposed piping, and vent stacks. Pressure surges from storm-related power flickers can strain water heater components. And wind-driven rain forces water into wall penetrations it would never reach in calm weather.
The Post-Storm Plumbing Inspection Checklist
- Check the water meter. With all fixtures off, watch the meter for 15 minutes. Any movement suggests a leak somewhere.
- Walk the exterior. Look for damaged hose bibs, cracked vent pipes, and displaced flashing.
- Inspect the attic. Use a flashlight to check for new water stains, damp insulation, or daylight through the roof deck.
- Check the crawlspace or basement. Look for standing water, damp soil, or new musty smells.
- Test every fixture. Run faucets, flush toilets, and watch drains for slow or gurgling behavior.
- Check the water heater. Look for leaks at connections and the pressure relief valve discharge line.
- Listen for hissing. In quiet moments, walk near walls and listen for the hiss of pressurized water escaping.
Exterior Checks First
Start outside while it is still daylight. Check roof vent pipe boots for lifted or cracked seals, since wind works these loose. Look at chimney and skylight flashing for displacement. Inspect gutters and downspouts for clogs that could back water against the foundation. Walk the yard looking for new wet spots or sinkholes that suggest a broken buried line. See our guide to wind-driven rain intrusion for how horizontal rain exploits these weak points.
Interior Checks
| Location | What to Look For |
|---|---|
| Attic | New stains, damp insulation, displaced vent pipe joints |
| Crawlspace/basement | Standing water, efflorescence on walls, damp soil near pipes |
| Under sinks | Slow drips at supply lines and trap connections |
| Water heater closet | Poolings, rust streaks, TPR valve discharge |
| Ceilings | New discoloration, bubbling paint, sagging drywall |
Pro tip: take dated photos of anything suspicious. If you file an insurance claim later, a photo taken the day after the storm is powerful evidence.
Storm-Damaged Sewer and Drain Lines
Heavy rain saturates soil and can shift buried sewer lines, opening joints and creating bellies where waste collects. Roots exploit storm-loosened joints aggressively. Signs of storm sewer damage include multiple drains running slowly at once, gurgling toilets, and sewage odors after the storm passes. Our sewer line leak detection in Lynnwood pinpoints breaks without digging up the yard.
When to Call a Professional
Call a leak detection specialist when the water meter shows unexplained movement, when you find stains you cannot trace to a source, when multiple drains misbehave at once, or when you smell gas or sewage. Hidden storm damage often needs acoustic or thermal imaging equipment to locate precisely. Our emergency leak detection team serves Lynnwood and Snohomish County, and we can trace storm-related leaks to their exact source.
Documenting Damage for Insurance
If storm damage may lead to an insurance claim, documentation starts the day after the storm. Photograph every suspicious stain, drip, and damaged fixture with timestamps, and photograph the exterior roof, siding, and yard the same day. Keep a written log of what you found, when, and what you did about it; insurers look for prompt action to limit damage. Save receipts for any emergency repairs, tarps, or professional inspections. Do not throw away damaged materials until the adjuster has seen them or your insurer says it is fine. A thorough moisture intrusion inspection report with thermal images can be powerful evidence of hidden damage an adjuster cannot see from the surface.
Preparing Your Plumbing Before Storm Season
The best post-storm check is the one you never need because you prepared. Each fall, walk the roof and secure or replace aging vent pipe boots, check chimney and skylight flashing, and clean every gutter and downspout. Trim branches that overhang the roof or threaten exterior plumbing. Know where your main water shutoff is and make sure every adult in the house can find it in the dark. Insulate exposed pipes in the crawlspace and attic before the first freeze. Storm season in the Northwest is predictable; a prepared home rides it out with far less drama and far fewer leaks.
Gas Lines and Storm Safety
Storms do not only threaten water pipes. High winds and falling branches can damage exterior gas meters, exposed gas lines, and vent terminations for gas appliances. After a major storm, walk past the gas meter and look for impact damage, leaning pipes, or a strong gas odor, and check that appliance vents on the roof or walls are still attached and clear. If you smell gas at any point, leave the area immediately and call your gas utility from a safe distance; never investigate a suspected gas leak yourself. Once the gas side is confirmed safe, continue with the water plumbing checks knowing the whole system has been reviewed.
Storm damage plumbing checks are cheap insurance. Spend an hour after every major storm, document what you find, and get professional help for anything you cannot explain. Small problems caught early stay small. ProLine Leak Fix Pros is one call away at (425) 380-0028.
