A Hurricane Season Plumbing Checklist for Beaumont

Know your shut-offs

Find the main water valve, the water heater's gas or power shut-off and the sewer cleanout before a storm is forecast. Make sure each one turns or opens. If you must leave in a hurry, you'll know exactly what to close.

Store water the safe way

Fill clean containers with drinking water ahead of a storm. Your water heater also holds clean water; learn how to drain it safely from the valve at the bottom in case you need it, with the power or gas off first.

Protect the sewer line

If your home has had backups in heavy rain, ask a plumber about a backwater valve before the season starts. Have the line cleared if drains have been slow, so storm flow has somewhere to go.

If you evacuate

Turn off the main water valve and the water heater before leaving. That prevents a broken pipe from running for days while nobody is home.

After the storm

Before turning the water back on, look for broken pipes and damaged fixtures. Open one tap slowly and listen for hissing. If floodwater reached the water heater or gas appliances, leave them off until they've been checked.

Getting help

After a storm, plumbers are busy. Send clear details of what's damaged and what's still working. See storm and flood repairs.

A simple kit

Keep a meter key, a flashlight, a bucket, towels and a list of shut-off locations in one place. When a storm is coming, you won't have to hunt for them, and anyone in the house can use them.

More plumbing guides

• After a Flood: What to Check in Your Plumbing
• Why Drains Back Up in Heavy Rain
• Shutting Off the Water in a Beaumont Home
• Is Your Water Heater Safe After High Water?
• Hiring a Licensed Plumber in Texas