The last thing your house will need is broken or burst plumbing pipes. However, the key to averting the ugly situation lies in knowing the basics about your plumbing systems and ultimately having an idea of what to do in plumbing emergencies. The best, however, remains to hire a professional water pipe repairer.
Signs Of Damaged/Cracked Pipes
Detecting plumbing problems as soon as they occur can help save you a lot of money and resources, from the costly damage to the need for extra repairs. Here are signs to look out for.
- Mold on your ceilings or walls
- Damp drywall
- Puddles
- Cracks in your walls and sinkholes
- Poor water quality
- Consistent clogs
- Whistling or bubbling noises
- Banging or clanking sounds
- Unpleasant odor
- Unusual high water bill
Kinds Of Plumbing Pipe Damage
There are different kinds of damages to pipes. There could be broken pipes likely underground, underneath the floor or inside walls. These all lead to damage in the area where the seepage occurs. If left undetected and unattended earlier, greater and more costly repairs will be needed. You surely need not be told that burst water pipes can lead to flooding in homes, making the need for flood cleanup service imminent. This is certainly a costly lesson for any homeowner. It is prudent to attend to leaks as soon as you identify the signs.
When one suspects a leak in the water system, there are some factors to consider. The age of the house can determine the type of broken water pipes. The areas where the seepage and water spots are found are indicators of where the damaged pipes are.
What Are The Causes Of Broken Pipes
- Frozen Pipes
Freezing of pipes, for most homeowners, is a downside associated with cold weather. At temperature below the freezing point, there’s every tendency that your pipes could freeze. Frozen pipes will crack, water will trickle down from tiny holes made by the cracks. When the pipe burst, water will spill in large amounts which when not tackled immediately will lead to flooding of the home.
- Aging Water Pipes
As the useful life of water pipes gets exhausted, their strength and durability are diminished as well. The older the pipes, the greater the risk.
- Physical Damage
In the course of running a construction work or renovations in the home or on the property, a water pipe may be accidentally hit by a piece of equipment or tool; there is a chance the pipe could crack or even break open.
- Too Much Pressure in Pipes
Improper functioning of the water pump may create pressure within the water pipes; it could cause the pipes to rupture and break.
- Improperly Installed Water Pipes
If your plumbing pipes are not installed properly, the result could be a break in the pipe. Acquiring the services of professionals will ensure that the pipes are correctly installed and the joints are tight and sealed properly.
- Corrosion
Corrosion caused mostly by soil, water and of course, the presence of air, the exterior piping metal corrodes and eventually works its way into the pipe leaving it weakened. If you have old pipes that are corroding, there is a risk that the pipe will crack and then burst someday.
- Poor Quality Pipes
Installing poor quality pipes is synonymous to penny-wise, pound foolish. There’s every that in the shortest time interval, they will breakdown and burst. A sub-standard or defective product will generate to breaks in a pipe.
- Long Term Crack
A small crack in the pipe that is leaking over a long period, if not changed will eventually expand due to water, pressure, and corrosion. The water in the pipe will break through the crack leading to burst pipe.
How To Fix Burst Plumbing Pipes
It is quite easier to repair a cracked pipe than a burst one. Fixing a broken water pipe may require your plumber to dig under your floor, it is important to call a professional plumbing service rather than attempt to repair yourself.
However, in case of emergency, here’s what you need to do to control the situation before the arrival of a well-trained hand.
- Turn off the main water valve
The first thing you need to do is turn off the main water valve to your home and open the faucet that the suspected broken or cracked pipe is feeding to. The logic behind this act is to control or limit the incidence of flooding in your home.
- Locate the faulty pipe
The next step will be to trace the source of water leakage. You can track down the source of leakage by tracing the runoff water. Inspect the pipe for any cracks or bulges that indicate a potential bursting point.
If you desire to achieve a temporary fix, then after locating the damaged or broken area in the pipe, apply a pipe repair clamp. If you thrive for a long-lasting solution, then you have to;
- Cut out the damaged pipe section
- Clean the repair sleeve between the two older pipes before inserting it
- Slide the repair sleeve
- Solder the top and bottom coupling
However, if the pipe is PVC, after cutting off the affected area, apply primer to the slip coupling before you apply the solvent cement over the primer on the slip coupling and slip fix. Connect the end of the slip fix to the piping.
To become a successful homeowner or renter, knowledge of basic emergency plumbing tips is needful. You never can tell when the application of your knowledge will come up; your water line chooses to burst and flood your house. Though, it can prove quite tricky given that you are not a pro to detect the cause and kind of damage. Detecting and repairing these pipes on time can save the homeowner a lot of money. If you have no plumbing experience, it will be best to hire a professional water pipe repair hands. If you need assistance to clean up flood from a burst pipe or you need an experienced hand to repair your broken water pipe, we got you covered.