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It’s That Time of Year Again – Prep Your Plumbing for Hurricane Season

Posted on May 11, 2026 by Melbourne Plumber

Hurricane season officially begins in less than three weeks. Those of us who have lived here for any length of time understand what this means.

Hurricanes generate strong winds and rainfall which can damage your home and cause plumbing to malfunction. The good news? Most hurricane-related plumbing damage is preventable with the right preparation.

Know Your Shut-Off Valves (Do This Today)

Locate your main shut-off valve. Test it by turning it off and making sure water in your home stops flowing. Knowing how to shut off your home’s water supply in an emergency is very important.

Label the valve clearly with bright tape or a tag so family members or neighbors can find it fast.

For those on well water, make sure you understand how to turn your pumps off.

Inspect and Secure Outdoor Plumbing & Fixtures

• Garden hoses should be drained and secured.
• Secure or remove any loose outdoor plumbing attachments that high winds could damage.
• Check sump pumps and battery backups — Brevard County flooding is no joke during hurricanes.

Protect Your Water Heater

You can secure your water heater in a way that it won’t be knocked over should your house be damaged in a hurricane. Use metallic straps and wall studs to secure the water heater in place. If you have a tank-style heater in the garage, elevate it on blocks to protect against floodwater.

Consider installing a flood protection pan with a drain line if you don’t already have one.

Gutters and Drains

If a Hurricane is imminent, you will want to make sure your gutters and drains are not blocked or clogged in any way. If they receive an overwhelming amount of rain while being clogged, this could result in them totally failing and coming undone from your home.

Have your main sewer line and drains professionally inspected if you’ve had slow drains this year — tree roots are very active in Brevard County.

Prepare for Power Outages

Power loss means your sump pump, septic system, and water pressure can fail. You can invest in a backup battery pack for this system.

For septic systems: Avoid heavy water use once power is out to prevent backups.

Many people here in Brevard County also own generators. These are effective at keeping the most important electrical items in your home functioning.

Local Melbourne & Brevard County Tips

Saltwater intrusion near the Indian River and beaches can accelerate corrosion. Homes in areas like Indialantic, Satellite Beach, or Merritt Island should pay extra attention to exposed piping.

Older neighborhoods in Melbourne proper and Palm Bay often have aging galvanized pipes that are more vulnerable.

After the storm, do not turn water back on if you suspect damage — call a licensed plumber in Brevard County first to avoid flooding.