Brevard Storm-Season Drain Checklist

[PLACEHOLDER] Brevard storm season runs June through November. The plumbing problems we see spike right after the first heavy rain because yard drains and gutter downspouts have been collecting dry-season debris and the first real storm overwhelms anything that is partially blocked. A short walk-around in May or early June catches most of it before it becomes an emergency call at 2am during a downpour.

Start at the gutters. Leaves, oak catkins, and shingle grit accumulate over the dry months and clog the downspout elbows where they tie into a buried drain. Pull the strainers, flush each downspout with a garden hose, and watch where the water exits at grade. If water backs up at the elbow or pools at the foundation instead of flowing out to the swale, the underground tie-in needs to be jetted before the next storm.

Yard drains and French drains are the next stop. The grates are designed to catch debris on the surface, but silt and decomposed leaves work their way past and settle in the buried pipe. A drain that handled last year is not guaranteed to handle this year. Flood-test each grate with a hose for two minutes; if water pools instead of disappearing within thirty seconds, the run is partially blocked and needs to be cleared before the storm load hits it.

Check the sewer cleanout cap in the yard. A cracked or missing cap lets storm water and yard debris into the sewer lateral, which is one of the fastest ways to back up the whole house during heavy rain. The cap should thread on snug and sit flush with the cleanout riser. Replace any cap that is cracked, missing, or loose — a five-dollar fix that prevents a four-figure cleanup.

If the home has a sump pump, test it on a clear day with a bucket of water poured into the pit. The float should rise, the pump should kick on, and the discharge line should carry water clear of the foundation. Listen for the pump cycling normally and check the discharge for any blockage. A sump pump that has been idle through the dry season is the one most likely to fail when the water table rises after a tropical system.

Finally, know where your main water shut-off and your primary sewer cleanout are before you need them. If a storm causes a backup, getting to the cleanout fast — and having the right cap key on hand — turns a sewage flood into a quick stop. Mark both locations now while it is dry and accessible.