Welcome back to another entry of our ever growing Metro-Flow Plumbing blog. In today’s blog we are going to talk about why pipes burst and what to do about them. Weather is not the only cause for pipes bursting, a number of things might contribute to this and that is what we are going to learn about. At Metro-Flow Plumbing we strive to be the go-to number one plumbing service in the Dallas area and as such we want you to know the ins and outs of our business. Read on to find out why pipes burst and better yet what can you do to keep this from happening in our homes.
While there is no surefire way to prevent pipes from bursting, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk. Here is what you need to know about why pipes burst and how to prevent it from happening:
Water pressure inside the pipes is too high
A pipe bursting is indeed a rare occurrence but it does happen. There are a few reasons why pipes burst. One is that the water pressure inside the pipes is too high. This can be caused by a number of things, including a sudden increase in water usage, a drop in water pressure, or a leak in the pipe. Any of these tiny problems can become a bigger headache for you if not addressed quickly. A serious clog for example, can cause a large amount of water pressure to build and if the tiniest thing is not installed properly a pipe might indeed suffer a break.
Corrosion of old steel pipes
Corrosion of old steel pipes can also be a problem that can lead to the bursting of pipes. Unfortunately, not much can be done about these older pipes bursting over time. Once corrosion begins to occur, it is only a matter of time. Fortunately homes with pipes like these tend to be on the really old side as most home’s plumbing is made out of copper nowadays. If you have an older property that uses steel pipes consider updating them to copper pipes when you are ready to. We know this can cause some confusion so give us a call at 214-328-7371 and we’ll be happy to provide you with some solutions.
Nature can play a strong role
Another reason pipes can burst is nature itself. Tree roots are usually a big culprit for a pipe breaking underground. As trees grow their thick roots grow outwards pushing terrain and human installed utilities out of the way over time with their tremendous power. Even large sewer pipes can be the victims of this so do not be shocked when your home’s normal sized plumbing falls victim to this. Fortunately, we can keep an eye on issues like this by keeping an eye on the foliage around our homes and maintaining proper upkeep of our yards. There are certain companies that can even safely remove and relocate a tree if it becomes too much of a nuisance for the structures around it. When a pipe is broken by a tree root, make sure to shut off your water valves and call us so we can send over one of our certified plumbing technicians to replace it.
The weather can contribute to burst pipes
Earlier, we mentioned pipes bursting because of the weather. This happens when water inside the pipes freezes. This can happen if the temperature outside drops suddenly or if the pipes are exposed to cold air for an extended period of time. As we all experienced some winters ago, temperatures can indeed drop to lows that will make less than properly insulated pipes freeze and begin to burst.
Human error
How often have we seen workers on the side of the road excavating trying to replace something and an error was made. A pipe is hit and water shoots out of the hole so many feet high until the city comes out and fixes the problem. Indeed, main water lines can be broken simply just by human error. There is nothing that can really prevent this one as mistakes can happen. Patience with these if said water line that is broken is affecting your home is key. Don’t forget to hire a plumber when you need it.
So what can you do to prevent your pipes from bursting?
First, make sure that your pipes are properly insulated. This will help to keep the water inside them from freezing in low temperatures. You can also install a water pressure regulator to help keep the pressure inside the pipes at a safe level. You definitely want to stay ahead of the game when it comes to burst pipes. Nothing messes up a home’s structural integrity like water and a burst pipe is pretty much every homeowner’s worst nightmare. Water damage will rot wood and cause mold to grow everywhere. To reverse the effects of this, you have to replace large areas of wood and treat your home for mold. Both are very costly expenses we want you to avoid.
The absolute best thing you can do to keep your water pipes from bursting?
Schedule a plumbing inspection for your home annually to make sure that your home’s water pipes are in tip top shape. A plumbing inspection happens when you call us at Metro-Flow Plumbing and we schedule one of our certified and insured plumbing technicians to come out. We then run a full diagnostic of your home’s pipes and water system from top to bottom to make sure everything is in working order. If any problem is found, we walk you through what we found, what we recommend doing moving forward and how to fix it. Call us at 214-328-7371 and ask us about our Diamond Club Membership.
Please be sure to check out our brand new website to get a feel for our company and our decades of service to the Dallas area. We are delighted to have you here and look forward to continuing to build a great client-plumber relationship. We love to see our loyal customers as well as meet new ones.
Thank you for visiting our Metro-Flow Plumbing blog everyone! From our family to yours we would like to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! Be safe and enjoy the time with your loved ones!
