Be Ready for El Niño
Heavy seasonal rains can put sump pumps, storm drains, area drains and catch basins under serious strain. Prepare your property before the next major storm with preventive inspection and maintenance from EZ Plumbing.
California Is Preparing for a Historic El Nino. Is Your Property?
On September 21, 2026, Governor Newsom declared a statewide emergency to prepare California for what forecasters say could be the strongest El Nino on record. State agencies are staging sandbags and pumps, and officials are urging residents to clear drains and downspouts before the storms arrive. Forecasters give this El Nino a greater than 90% chance of becoming very strong.
Three Pre-Storm Services, Clear Pricing
Standard pricing is a one-time service. Contracted pricing applies on a 2, 3, or 5-year maintenance plan.
Basic Check-Up
About 1 hour on site · includes 1 sump pump + 3 drains
$395 one-time, or from $317/yr on a plan
- Sump pit cleaning and fill test
- Discharge line check
- Clear surface debris from grates, hose flow test every drain (visual, no camera)
- Cleanout and relief valve check
- Before/after photos
- Written findings report
Full Storm Check
2.5 to 3 hours on site · includes 1 sump pump + 5 drains + up to 2 camera runs
$795 one-time, or from $639/yr on a plan
- Everything in the Basic Check-Up
- Sump pump age and data record
- Check valve and electrical inspection
- Alarm and battery backup test
- Camera inspection of problem lines
- Drain outlet verification
- Below-grade drain testing
- Backwater valve and sewer tie-in check
- Downspout discharge check
- Written recommendations report
Custom Plan
Visual drain inspection · about 1 hour on site · pick only what you have
From $230 one-time, or from $202/yr on a plan
- $195 visit fee plus per-item pricing
- Sump pumps $95 each: pit cleaning, fill test, discharge line check
- Drains $35 each: clear surface debris from grates, hose flow test (visual inspection only: no line cleaning, no camera)
- Camera runs $150 each: camera inspection of the line
- Every visit: cleanout check, before/after photos, written findings report
- Lower per-item rates on 2, 3, and 5-year plans
Add-Ons
| Add-on | Standard | Contracted |
|---|---|---|
| Additional sump pump | $95 | $75 |
| Additional drain | $35 | $25 |
| Additional camera run | $150 | $125 |
| Hydro jet maintenance – first line | $495 | $449 |
| Hydro jet maintenance – each additional line | $200 | $180 |
| Clearing of already-clogged drains (jetting or snaking) | Quoted separately | |
A drain is an exterior storm or rainwater drain (area, yard, trench, stairwell, garage floor, downspout inlet). Each grate counts as one drain. Interior fixtures do not count.
Maintenance Plans
Choose One-Time service, or a 2, 3, or 5-Year plan with 1 or 2 visits per year. Plans use contracted pricing, locked for the full term with no annual increase.
| Benefit | 2-Year | 3-Year | Best value5-Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plan discount | 3% | 5% | 8% |
| Price locked for full term, no annual increase | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Priority scheduling during storms | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Contracted rates on drain and sump repairs | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Discount on storm-related repairs found during visits | 5% | 5% | 10% |
| Extended workmanship warranty | 30 days | 60 days | 90 days |
| Waived trip fee on drain and sump repair calls | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free high-water alarm installed (1 per term) | No | Yes | Yes |
| Free post-storm check visit (1 per plan year) | No | No | Yes |
| Sump pump replacement discount | No | No | 10% |
| Transferable if property is sold | No | No | Yes |
Build Your Plan
HOA, Apartment, and Commercial Properties
Free site walk, El Nino 2026-27 promo. We walk the property, count every pump, drain, catch basin, and roof drain, and send you one fixed quote.
Build a per-item estimate in the calculator above. The same 2, 3, and 5-year plans, term multipliers, and benefits apply to contracted properties.
Free during El Nino season
How It Works
Build your plan and request enrollment.
We call to confirm details and schedule.
Your tech walks the property, confirms the pump and drain count, and you sign the agreement before any work starts.
One-time service is paid when the work is complete. For plans, Year 1 is due when you sign the agreement on site, and each following year is due on your plan anniversary. We send a reminder 30 days before, and you can keep a card on file.
Why El Niño Preparation Matters
Periods of intense rain can overwhelm drainage systems that appear fine during dry weather. A pre-storm inspection gives property managers and owners an opportunity to address visible maintenance concerns before the system is under maximum load.
Find visible issues before a storm exposes them.
Confirm key drainage equipment is operating when tested.
Know what needs attention now and what can be monitored.
Ideal for HOAs, apartment buildings and commercial properties.
Storm Plan FAQ
What counts as a drain?
A drain is an exterior storm or rainwater drain (area, yard, trench, stairwell, garage floor, downspout inlet). Each grate counts as one drain. Interior fixtures do not count.
What’s not included?
Repairs, parts, pump replacement, jetting or snaking, excavation, grading or landscaping, gutters or roof, electrical repairs, and concealed or inaccessible components. Additional work is quoted and needs your signed approval before it starts.
How does billing work?
One-time service is paid at completion. Plans are paid at the start of each plan year: Year 1 at signing, then on each anniversary. Pricing is locked for the full term.
Does my plan renew automatically?
No. Plans never auto-renew. To continue after your term ends, you sign a new agreement.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Cancel with 30 days’ written notice. Prepaid visits not yet performed are refunded, minus the standard price of any visits already used beyond what was paid.
What if I miss a visit?
Unused visits don’t carry over to the next plan year and aren’t refundable. We contact you to schedule, with at least one visit before the rainy season when possible.
What happens if a payment is late?
If a plan-year payment isn’t received within 30 days of your anniversary, plan benefits pause until it is. Your plan isn’t canceled.
Can I transfer my plan?
5-year plans only, with written notice and the new owner’s signature on a transfer form.
How does the post-storm check work?
5-year plans, 1 per plan year. Request it within 7 days of a storm. It covers the trip and an inspection of your plan’s pumps and drains; any repairs are quoted separately.
Is the site walk free?
Yes, site walks for HOAs, apartments, and commercial properties are free during our El Nino 2026-27 promo.
Why prepare now?
California declared a statewide emergency in September 2026 ahead of a potentially historic El Nino. Drains and sump pumps should be checked and cleared before heavy rain arrives, not during it.
I don’t have a sump pump. Can I just get my drains checked?
Yes. Choose the Custom Plan to have only your drains visually inspected and flow-tested. It’s a $195 visit fee plus $35 per drain, or less on a multi-year plan. This is not a camera inspection and doesn’t clean the lines. Add camera runs if you want lines inspected inside, and add hydro jetting or we’ll quote drain clearing if a drain is slow or clogged.
What is hydro jet maintenance?
Preventive high-pressure cleaning of your storm and area drain lines before the rainy season, so debris and roots don’t cause a backup mid-storm. It’s priced by number of lines and done once per plan year.
Request Enrollment
No payment online and nothing to e-sign. The agreement is signed on site, after your tech confirms the pump and drain count.
Plans and Pricing
Basic Check-Up
About 1 hour on site. Includes 1 sump pump + 3 drains.
$395 one-time
or from $317/yr on a plan
What we do:- Sump pit cleaning and fill test
- Discharge line check
- Clear surface debris from grates, hose flow test every drain (visual, no camera)
- Cleanout and relief valve check
- Before and after photos
- Written findings report
Full Storm Check
2.5 to 3 hours on site. Includes 1 sump pump + 5 drains + 2 camera runs.
$795 one-time
or from $639/yr on a plan
What we do:- Everything in the Basic Check-Up, plus:
- Sump pump age and data record
- Check valve and electrical inspection
- High-water alarm and battery backup test
- Camera inspection of up to 2 problem lines
- Drain outlet verification
- Below-grade drain testing
- Backwater valve and sewer tie-in check
- Downspout discharge check
- Written recommendations report
Custom Plan
Visual inspection and flow testing of just the drains you choose. No sump pump required. No camera unless you add camera runs.
About 1 hour on site, depending on items.
$230 one-time
or from $202/yr on a plan
What we do (per item you choose):- Sump pumps: pit cleaning, fill test, and discharge line check
- Drains: clear surface debris from grates, then hose flow test to confirm water moves freely (visual inspection only: no line cleaning, no camera)
- Camera runs: camera inspection of the line
- Every visit: cleanout check, before and after photos, written findings report
$195 visit fee included in prices shown.
Customize in calculatorDrains already slow or clogged? An inspection won’t fix that. Add hydro jet maintenance below, or we’ll quote drain clearing when we call.
Not included: repairs, parts, pump replacement, jetting or snaking, excavation, grading, gutters or roof, electrical repairs, and concealed or inaccessible components. Additional work is quoted and needs your approval first.
Have more than what’s included? Add them here.
Preventive high-pressure jetting of storm, area, yard, trench, and downspout lines, up to 75 ft each. Sewer mains and longer lines are quoted separately.
Plan prices shown are the 5-year, 1 visit per year rate. Build your exact plan in the calculator.
Managing an HOA, apartment, or commercial property? Get an estimate
Request Enrollment
Calculate Your Storm Prep Cost
Maintenance and visual check-ups can help identify visible conditions and improve preparedness, but they do not guarantee against backups, flooding, power outages, equipment failure, hidden defects, or future storm-related damage. Additional cleaning, repair or replacement may be recommended and quoted separately.