October through March in Brisbane means one thing: storms. Big ones. The kind that dump a month's rain in an afternoon and turn your street into a river.
Every wet season, we get the same emergency calls. Drains backing up. Toilets overflowing. Water flooding under houses. And almost every time, it could've been avoided with 30 minutes of prep work.
Here's your storm-ready checklist — before the Bureau issues the next severe weather warning.
Clear Your Drains Now (Not When It's Pouring)
Your stormwater drains are about to handle months of rain in hours. If they're clogged with leaves, dirt, and debris, that water has nowhere to go except into your house.
Walk around your property and clear:
- •All drain grates
- •Downpipe outlets
- •Gully traps
- •Ag drains and surface channels
Takes 20 minutes. Saves you from a flooded laundry.
If you've got big trees (eucalypts, figs, anything that sheds constantly), check your drains fortnightly during autumn. Leaf buildup happens fast in suburbs like Kedron, Ashgrove, and Chermside.
Test Your Drains Before the Sky Opens Up
Grab a hose. Run it into each drain for 5 minutes. Watch what happens.
Water should drain away in under 30 seconds. If it pools, gurgles, or drains slowly, you've got a blockage. Fix it now while it's dry.
Check your downpipes too. Make sure they're discharging water well away from your foundation — not pooling next to your house.
Gutters: Clean Them or Pay for Water Damage Later
Clogged gutters overflow. Overflowing gutters send water cascading down your walls, into window frames, under eaves, and eventually into your house.
Pull out all the leaves, twigs, and that random tennis ball that's been stuck there since 2019. Check for rust or sagging. Make sure gutters slope toward downpipes.
Flush your downpipes with a hose to confirm they're clear all the way down.
Got trees overhead? Consider gutter guards. They're not perfect, but they cut leaf buildup by 80%.
If You Have a Sump Pump, Test It
Sump pumps prevent basement or undercroft flooding. They're brilliant — until the first big storm when you discover yours hasn't worked in three years.
Pour water into the sump pit. The pump should kick on automatically and drain it fast. Check the discharge pipe isn't blocked.
If you've got a backup battery, test it too. Power outages during storms are common, and that's when you need your pump most.
Check External Pipes and Fittings
Walk around your house. Look at visible pipes. Check for:
- •Cracks or corrosion
- •Loose brackets
- •Leaking pressure relief valves
- •Dripping outdoor taps
Storm winds can rip loose already-damaged pipes. A small crack now becomes a burst pipe at 2am during a cyclone.
Know Where Your Main Water Shutoff Is
Serious question: Do you know where your main tap is?
It's usually near the front boundary, in a concrete box in the ground. Find it now. Make sure it turns easily. Show your partner/kids where it is.
Because when a pipe bursts during a storm and water's gushing everywhere, you don't want to be searching for it with a torch in the rain.
Flood-Prone Areas: Extra Steps
Live in Virginia, Boondall, or low-lying parts of North Lakes? You need more protection:
Backflow prevention valve: Stops sewage backing up into your house during floods. Essential if you've ever had sewage come up through floor drains.
Raise your hot water system: If your hot water system or electrical components are at ground level in a flood zone, get them elevated. Water + electricity = disaster.
Clear drainage channels: French drains, ag drains, surface channels — make sure they're all clear and flowing.
During the Storm: Don't Do This
When the rain's belting down:
- •Don't use plumbing if you suspect sewage backup
- •Don't try to clear blocked drains in heavy rain (wait it out)
- •Turn off appliances near floor drains if water's rising
If you've got a plumbing emergency during a storm, call us: 1300 158 895 — we run 24/7 emergency service.
After the Storm
Once it clears, do a quick check:
- •Clear debris from drains
- •Check for leaks around hot water systems
- •Look for cracks in external pipes
- •Check under the house for standing water
Spot damage? Get it fixed before the next storm.
Can't Remember the Last Time You Cleared Your Drains?
Book a pre-storm inspection. We'll check your stormwater system, clear blockages, and make sure everything's ready.
Better to spend an hour on maintenance now than deal with a flooded house in December.
Khaki Plumbing — Brisbane Northside stormwater specialists. Call 1300 158 895 or book online. We cover Kedron, Chermside, Stafford, Aspley, North Lakes, and surrounding suburbs.
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