If you love the heat and are a sun worshipper, then the summer has been a great one this year! With record high temperatures in the UK and plenty of hot and sunny days, it has certainly been one of those summers that we will all remember. However, as well as the fun in the sun, there are also things to look out for when we have had such a prolonged period of hot weather. As autumn gets underway, here are the things to look out for…
Problems with Drains – The hot summer weather can actually cause all sorts of issues for the drains. If you notice that the drains are a little smelly, this is likely due to a blockage. The bad smell will tend to be worse in the dry hot weather and this attracts pests like rats and flies. Another problem with drains during periods of hot and dry weather is that the tree’s roots deep in the ground will naturally start to seek out sources of water. This means that they could get into the drains causing damage to them. It is a good idea after a summer like this to get a professional like this CCTV drainage surveys Kingsbury based company www.wilkinson-env.co.uk/drainage-services-cctv-surveys-midlands/cctv-drain-surveys/cctv-drain-surveys-gloucester/ to come and have a look at them and check that all is well with the drains before the winter.
Flooding – Although it might seem unlikely at the moment, the hot and dry weather like this actually increases the risk of flooding. Even though we are currently experiencing a drought and the grass has all turned to straw, the ground has become baked hard under the hot sun. This means if we have a significant amount of rain, the water will not soak into the ground, but will run off of it, leading to flooding. Prepare for this by making sure that you have things like sandbags in your home.
Subsidence – If you live in an area with clay soil, this is certainly something to watch out for. When there is moisture in the ground, it expands, however when the ground dries up it will retract. This means that buildings are more prone to shifting as the ground moves around. Look out for new cracks developing on walls.