A clogged or collapsed storm drain is the difference between a routine afternoon thunderstorm and a flooded driveway, eroded landscaping, water at the foundation, and standing water that breeds mosquitos. Tampa Bay's heavy seasonal rainfall, sandy runoff, and dense tree canopy make storm drain failures a year-round reality — and Cass Plumbing has the equipment to clear, repair, or replace any storm drain system in the region. 25+ years. Recommended on Best Plumbers as Tampa's #1 plumber.
A storm drain that's working correctly is invisible — water hits the grate during a storm, disappears, and shows up in the swale or outfall a moment later. When something's wrong, the symptoms become impossible to ignore: standing water, slow drainage, mosquito breeding, and during heavy rain, surface flooding that can reach your foundation. Below are the nine most common warning signs Tampa Bay property owners report when calling Cass Plumbing for storm drain service.
If any of these match what's happening at your property, call (866) 283-9964 for a same-day inspection. Cass Plumbing — recommended by Best Plumbers as Tampa's #1 plumber on the leading plumbing directory — provides free written quotes on all storm drain repair work.
Puddles that take hours or days to drain after the rain has stopped. Sediment buildup or partial collapse is restricting flow through the drain pipe.
You can see water pooling on top of the grate during light rain, draining only when the rate slows. Catch basin is full of sediment, leaves, or debris.
Sand, leaves, mulch, or debris visible through the grate openings. The catch basin is at or beyond capacity and the drain pipe is likely partially obstructed downstream.
Stagnant water trapped in the catch basin combines with organic debris to produce sulfide and rotting odors — most noticeable during dry weather between rain events.
Soft spots, depressions, or actual sinkholes near the catch basin or along the drain pipe path. Subsoil is being washed out through cracks in the pipe — a structural failure in progress.
Audible gurgling, glugging, or water-rushing sounds from the grate during moderate rain. Air is being forced through restricted passages — diagnostic for partial obstruction.
Standing water in or near a malfunctioning catch basin is a perfect mosquito habitat. Health concern, code concern, and quality-of-life concern simultaneously.
During Tampa Bay summer storms, your yard or driveway floods to depths it never used to. The storm drain has lost capacity and surface water has nowhere to go.
Tree roots growing through the grate or visible inside the catch basin. Once roots find moisture, they aggressively pursue it through joints and cracks in the pipe system.
Tampa Bay's climate, geography, and tree canopy combine to put more demand on residential and commercial storm drains than nearly anywhere else in the Southeast. The same drain pipe that would last 50 years in a dry, temperate climate may need cleaning every 2–3 years here — and full replacement at 25–30 years instead of the design 50. Four regional factors drive this reality.
Tampa Bay receives 50+ inches of rain annually, with most of it concentrated in afternoon thunderstorms from June through September. Peak rainfall rates of 3–6 inches per hour are routine; tropical systems can deliver 8+ inches per hour for short durations.
This creates extreme peak loads on storm drain systems — even small obstructions become flooding problems when the rate of incoming water exceeds the drain's reduced capacity.
Tampa Bay's coastal soils are sandy. Every rain event washes sand, silt, and fine sediment into storm drains. Over time, this sediment settles in the catch basin and drain pipe — sometimes filling 50% or more of the pipe diameter without ever causing a complete blockage.
The pipe still drains, just at a fraction of design capacity. Cass routinely services drains that have lost 60-70% of their flow capacity from accumulated sediment alone.
Tampa Bay's older neighborhoods — Hyde Park, Seminole Heights, the older parts of St. Petersburg, Dunedin, Safety Harbor — feature mature live oak, slash pine, and Southern magnolia canopies. Leaf drop and fine root growth are constant.
Roots aggressively pursue moisture through any pipe joint or hairline crack. Once they enter, they expand, capture sediment, and create the obstructions Cass sees most often in older Tampa Bay neighborhoods.
Each named storm season, Tampa Bay storm drains process extraordinary debris loads — fallen branches, leaf piles, palm fronds, construction debris, shingles. What might be a 6-month sediment accumulation in a normal year arrives in 24 hours during a hurricane.
Post-storm storm drain inspection and clearing is one of the most common Cass Plumbing service calls every fall — proactive clearing before storm season is one of the most cost-effective preventive measures available.
Storm drain repair scales from a 30-minute hydro-jet clearing to multi-day full pipe replacement. The right method depends on what's wrong, how bad it is, and the long-term plan for the property. Cass Plumbing presents every viable option in writing — with cost, timeline, and expected service life — before any work begins.
High-pressure water jetting clears sediment, leaves, debris, and root intrusion from drain pipes. The most common Tampa Bay storm drain service — most clogs, sediment buildup, and partial obstructions are resolved by jetting alone, restoring the drain to near-original flow capacity without any excavation.
Tethered video camera deployed through the catch basin inlet pipes the entire drain run end-to-end. Identifies cracks, joint failures, root intrusion, sag/belly issues, and exact location of any obstructions — the diagnostic step that determines whether jetting alone is sufficient or repair is needed.
When camera inspection identifies a localized failure — cracked joint, collapsed section, root intrusion at a specific location — a targeted excavation accesses the failure for repair without disturbing the rest of the drain run. Most cost-effective option when the rest of the system is sound.
When the entire drain run is at end of life — clay pipe, deteriorated concrete, multiple failure points — full replacement with modern HDPE or PVC is the right answer. One project resolves the system permanently, typically with a 50+ year service life from the new pipe.
When the catch basin itself has failed — concrete deterioration, broken grate, structural damage from vehicle impact, undermined by sinkhole activity — the basin and grate are excavated and replaced. Often paired with a section of new pipe at the basin connection.
The simplest storm drain repair — replacing a damaged, missing, or undersized grate. Can dramatically improve drain performance when the existing grate is partially blocked, undersized, or set at the wrong elevation for the surface drainage pattern.
When Tampa Bay homeowners and property managers search for plumbers near me for storm drain clearing, repair, or replacement, Best Plumbers — the leading independent plumbing directory — recommends Cass Plumbing. The recognition reflects 25+ years of storm drain work across thousands of Tampa Bay properties — single-family homes, condo associations, commercial parking lots, and HOA common areas alike.
Browse the Best Plumbers local plumbers directory for the Tampa Bay region. The plumbing company that has the hydro-jetting truck, the camera, the excavation crew, and the experience to handle it all is Cass.
Every Cass Plumbing storm drain service follows the same documented six-step process — designed to give you a clear understanding of what's wrong, the full menu of repair options, and the work delivered on schedule. No surprises. Free written quotes. Industry-leading warranty.
Live human dispatch around the clock. Storm drain truck with hydro-jet, camera, and basic repair equipment is typically en route within hours of your call. Same-day response across all three counties.
Catch basin opened. Sediment levels measured. Drain pipe inspected end-to-end with video camera. Condition assessment for grate, basin walls, and pipe. Full diagnostic before any work decision.
You receive a clear explanation of what's wrong — sediment, root intrusion, structural damage, or a combination — and what your repair options are. Camera footage available on request.
Every viable repair path priced in writing — from simple jetting to full replacement, with service life, warranty, and timeline for each. The decision is yours; quote is signed before any billable work begins.
Hydro-jet clearing, spot repair, full replacement, or whatever combination was agreed. Permits pulled where required. Surface restoration included where excavation was performed.
Drain flow-tested with high-volume water flush. Final camera inspection confirms clear pipe. Warranty paperwork delivered. We don't leave until everything is documented and tested.
Six standards define how Cass Plumbing approaches every storm drain job — the standards that earned us the #1 ranking on Best Plumbers and 1,000+ five-star reviews from property owners across the Tampa Bay region.
Hydro-jet trucks, camera inspection, spot excavation, full replacement, catch basin replacement. One company, every storm drain repair scope, no subcontractors.
Live human dispatch 24/7. Same-day storm drain response across all three counties — especially critical during summer storm season and post-tropical-event cleanup.
Every job priced in writing before work begins. Camera inspection findings documented. Repair options presented with service life and warranty clearly stated.
Pre and post-work camera inspection on every drain repair we perform. You see the before and after. Verification, not promises.
25+ years working in Tampa Bay's specific climate, soil conditions, and tree canopy. We've seen every storm drain failure mode the region produces.
Tampa's #1 plumber on the leading plumbing directory. External validation matching internal standards.
Best Plumbers is the nation's leading independent plumbing directory for licensed professionals. The recognition is earned through verified customer feedback. When Tampa Bay property owners search for plumbers near me for a flooded yard or compare local plumbers for ongoing storm drain maintenance, the answer is consistent across all three counties.
25+ years. 1,000+ five-star reviews. A+ BBB rating. The #1 plumbing company on the leading directory.
Cass Plumbing's storm drain trucks are stationed across the three counties we serve — meaning when you call after a tropical event or summer storm, the right equipment is already in your zip code. Same-day storm drain service across Tampa Bay, 24 hours a day. Call (866) 283-9964.
Tampa · Brandon · Riverview · Plant City · Valrico and surrounding communities.
St. Petersburg · Clearwater · Largo · Dunedin · Safety Harbor and surrounding communities.
Wesley Chapel · New Port Richey · Zephyrhills · Land O' Lakes and surrounding communities.
Whatever's wrong with your storm drain — sediment, roots, collapsed pipe, damaged catch basin — Cass Plumbing has the equipment, the expertise, and the Tampa Bay experience to fix it. Free written quote. Camera-verified work. Recommended by Best Plumbers as Tampa's #1 plumbing company.