Roger Wakefield, also known as The Expert Plumber, shares what homeowners should know to be adequately prepared for any natural disaster.
In your experience, what are some of the common plumbing or HVAC issues that arise during disasters?
It really depends on the specific disaster. I would say that the biggest problems tend to be loss of power and flooding due to severe storms. Personally, I experienced some flooding recently because of a severe storm that clogged our septic tanks and blocked water flow. The storm also caused a weeklong power outage in our house, meaning our refrigerator was out and we had to toss any food that might go bad.
What do you think are some simple steps that homeowners can take to prevent these types of issues, like flooding or power outages, before a disaster strikes?
I think the most important thing we can all do is know where our tools are. If your power goes out in the middle of the night, that is the worst time to be looking for your flashlight. Knowing where things are in advance is really important. This could also include tools like your meter key. If a tree falls on your house, or your water starts flooding everywhere, being able to get outside and turn off the water is a huge deal. One of the problems that we have here in North Texas is freezing, and you’d be surprised how many homeowners don’t know how to turn the water off at their own houses.
When I was a kid, I came home one day and there was water up to my ankles in the garage. Even though as a kid I thought this was pretty cool, when I called to tell my mom that there were 6 inches of water in the living room, she was not pleased. She asked me to turn the water off, and I had no idea what she was talking about. I really think that everybody in your house should always know how to turn the water off, and that can be a really big deal as it can save you tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, depending on what kind of problem you have.
Also, if you live in an area where you lose power often, you may want to think about getting a whole-house generator that can kick in when you do lose power. If you lose power for too long, it really does get to be a big pain.
How would you recommend families establish an emergency plan or help kids learn where these tools are located?
Everybody should have a plan. If there’s a fire or any kind of natural disaster, you need to know what to do. One way to do this is to say to your kids one night in the middle of dinner, ‘Okay, guys, pretend the power’s out, and there’s a really bad storm outside. Where’s the flashlight?’ Then you can make it a game to see who can find it first. That’s how you get the kids excited, not scared.
What advice would you give to homeowners who have just experienced a natural disaster and need to rebuild their plumbing or HVAC systems?
I think that the most important thing is to know your plumber. Knowing your electrician or your HVAC technician before you ever have a problem is extremely important because then if there is an emergency, you know exactly who you are going to call. Hopefully, it is someone you know and someone that you have already vetted. If it’s not, you will not be their first priority after a disaster strikes. Building a relationship in advance with your plumber, electrician, and technician is the best way to ensure you are receiving help in a timely manner after a disaster.
What are some of the biggest challenges that you typically see when it comes to preparing people or preparing people’s homes for disasters?
It’s tough because you can prep for a lot, but when something big hits, like a flood, it’s a whole different ballgame. I mean, you can get your septic tank pumped, but will it be enough? What if it rains harder than expected? It’s like, you’re always one step behind.
Then there’s the crazy stuff, like lightning strikes. I had a friend whose house got hit. The fire department comes in and puts out the fire, but then you have to deal with the gas line, permits, the whole nine yards. It’s a nightmare. So, yeah, it’s tough to be ready for everything, but knowing who to call when something happens is a big deal.
Do you have any other personal situations that you’ve encountered that really helped you understand the importance of natural disaster preparation in the home?
We went through a big freeze here in Texas a couple of years ago, which does not happen often. It was obviously dangerous to drive on the roads, but everyone in Dallas needed a plumber during that time. So, I got in my truck and I was trying to run every single call that I could. When people are suffering through a natural disaster, we never know how bad it’s going to be, or what situation they’re in. However, that’s when tradespeople really need to step up and try to take care of the people and their community.
Is there anything else that you think is important for people to know?
I think the most important thing is understanding your systems. If you can just go out and turn off the gas and water yourself, which is not hard to do, that’s a big deal and goes a long way. If something hits an electrical line in the attic and there are sparks going everywhere, just being able to go to your breaker box and turn off the power to your house is huge.
