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Spring Weather Conditions Can Affect Plumbing

26 March 2021

Byron Gutierrez

Sometimes the weather or climatic conditions can affect how your plumbing works and whether or not it fails. The seasonal conditions present in spring may have a variety of effects on your plumbing. Here are a few of the possible ways that spring weather conditions could affect your home plumbing, both indoors and outdoors.

High water table reduces drainage potential

In springtime, water tables tend to be extra high due to snowmelt, seasonal precipitation, and similar factors. If you live in an area that already has a high water table, the even higher water table could affect drainage in your yard.

For example, if you have a septic system or a gray water system distributing water, the water won't have as much space to drain away before hitting the water table. This could lead to swampier conditions, slower draining, lower working septic capacity, and even backed-up septic drain fields in some cases.

Warmer weather affects pipe corrosion

If you have metal pipes that have started the long, slow process of rusting through, you should know that higher temperatures tend to lead to faster corrosion rates. This means that your metal pipes may actually corrode slightly faster as the weather warms up.

Breeding season means more potential pests

Many pests consider spring to be the ideal breeding season, and others may consider any season with warm enough temperatures fair game. Either way, you're likely to see a population increase around this time of some of the pests common to your area. If you have an infestation in your house, the increased numbers could spell more damage to your plumbing system.

Some of the plumbing system problems pests may cause include pipe insulation damage and drain clogs and leaks. So stay on top of any pest problems as the weather warms up to avoid incurring any damage to your plumbing pipes.

Tree roots grow quickly in spring

Pests aren't the only thing multiplying in springtime. Tree roots take warmer weather as a sign as well. Tree roots can clog your main sewer line as well as any other outdoor drains, and can cause big problems with septic systems too. Trees send hair-thin roots through pipe cracks and joints, then grow those roots steadily until the joints become leaks and the root masses inside the pipes cause clogs. In some cases, an enterprising tree can actually burst a pipe with the force of its growing roots.

As you can see, spring weather can still damage your plumbing even if it's not as hostile as winter weather. For more information about getting a maintenance or repair visit for your plumbing, contact a local plumber today.

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