Burst Pipes - Emergency Plumbing Solutions
After a long, stressful day, the only thing on your mind is to return home and relax. Imagine coming home to see your living room flooded. That's not a sight anyone wants to see.
Burst pipes can be a nightmare. They can cause severe damage to your electricity and property.
Sometimes, burst pipes are caused by aging pipes, human mistakes, or freezing temperatures. And it can happen to anyone at any time.
In this article, you'll learn the causes and signs of burst pipes. You'll also learn ways to prevent them. Keep reading to uncover the ins and outs of burst pipes.
The Major Causes of Burst Pipes
Pipes don’t burst by themselves; something must be the reason. While there are several reasons, there are some homeowners encounter more often.
Steady Corrosion
Most plumbing problems, including burst pipes, have corrosion as a direct or indirect cause. Corrosion is the result of the variations in the pH of the water that flows through the pipes.
This corrosion will slowly weaken the pipes and end up causing rust to form. With both the rust and the imbalanced pH of the water in play, over time, the pipe will slowly fail. This leads to leaks and bursts.
An easy prey is a home that uses well water. Well water usually contains more iron than other sources of water and therefore tends to cause more rusted pipes.
Constant Pipe Movements
In most cases, pipe movements are unintentional. For instance, after winter, pipes may shift because the pipes tend to compress in the cold and then expand once the weather warms.
Other times, movements happen due to plumbing repairs to other areas or pipe remodeling. When this motion raises the water pressure in a specific place, the pipe there tends to burst.
Freezing Temperatures
Frozen pipes are a major issue in regions that experience severe winters. Even those who reside in more temperate areas sometimes deal with frozen pipes.
The water in the pipes freezes when the outside temperature drops below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Since the water can still flow through the pipe, but notably more slowly, the early warning signs of a frozen pipe are easy to overlook.
Pressure increases as the water in a pipe freezes in one spot. The pipe will eventually burst when the pressure builds up to a dangerous level. The areas most susceptible to freezing are:
- Sprinkler lines.
- Unheated crawl spaces or attics.
- Pipes parallel to inadequately insulated exterior walls.
Water pipes should be adequately insulated and kept under observation by homeowners when the temperature drops.
Aging of the Pipe
Although some materials age more quickly than others, all plumbing materials eventually decay with time. Older pipes are typically weaker than more recent ones and are therefore more vulnerable to damage and bursting
Therefore, it is best to know how long your pipes will last so that you can repair them in time to prevent harm.
Human Errors
A burst pipe can be the result of innocent human error. Never hang anything from exposed pipes in storage rooms or basements. Even small objects can pressure pipelines, causing cracks or complete ruptures over time.
People often break water pipes—whether underground or in a wall—by accident when performing house renovations and during gardening maintenance.
How Do You Know You Have Burst Pipes
There are several signs of burst pipes that one should always watch for. These signs are usually tough to notice, especially when you don't know what to look for. So, here are 3 to look out for.
1. Expensive Water Bills
Burst pipes lead to expensive water bills. This is because the more water gets wasted, the more your bill increases. And this is due to the excessive volumes of water that seep through the hole or crack.
You may think it's just little drops of water. But more than 100 gallons of water may be lost annually by faucet drops that seem minor. For instance, a slow leak from a broken pipe multiplied by that loss causes dramatic jumps in the monthly water bill.
2. Series of Weird Noises
Your water pipes shouldn't be making noises like hissing, slamming, or rattling. If they do, then there is a reason for your pipes' abrupt noise. And that reason can be a sign that they are about to rupture or already have.
3. Sudden Low Water Pressure
Your plumbing system may be leaking if you notice a sudden drop in the water pressure flowing from your taps or the force with which your toilet flushes. When a pipe bursts, water pours out of the hole rather than through the faucet, lowering water pressure.
Ways to Prevent Burst Pipes
There is a saying that "prevention is better than cure." On that note, here are some preventive measures you can take.
- Regular Checks
Be sure to regularly examine your plumbing system. Doing this allows you to find any flaws or problems that can lead to burst pipes.
- Rapid Repairs
Immediately fix any weak or rusted pipes and any indication of a water leak. But if you reside in an older home, the plumbing system may require a total makeover.
- Good Insulation
Installing foam insulation in the mechanical room and basements where you have pipes will help keep them and the water flowing through them from freezing.
- Maintain the Water's Flow
Keep your faucets open at night, so water may pass through, especially in extreme cold. This will prevent the water from freezing and keep it moving.
Steps to Take Once You Notice You Have Burst Pipes
It's critical to act fast because a burst water pipe in your home could result in damage costing more than $2,000. To lessen the damage, take these steps.
- Disconnect the Water
It's critical to quickly turn off the main water supply of your house before taking any additional action. So instead of waiting until you need to access the shut-off valve and don’t know where to start looking, please locate it now.
When a pipe bursts, you don't want any additional water to enter the system. It is far simpler to manage the water already in the system than any new water.
- Turn Off the Electricity
Water and electricity aren't friends. Therefore, before you begin addressing any flooding caused by the burst pipes, ensure that the electricity is off before stepping into standing water.
If you do not take this step, you risk being electrocuted. However, if the flooded area is close to the electrical breaker and you cannot reach it safely, check for the main electrical shutoff outside your home. If you cannot do that, seek assistance from an electrician.
- Take All Valuables Out of the Room
After taking every precaution to ensure that it's safe for you to enter the flooded room, it's time to remove any rare or costly items. This can include documents, furniture, or other items.
Once you have them out of the water, gather them and dry them. To assist the items in drying more quickly, keep the room's doors and windows open. This will allow air to flow.
Finally, move them to a room that is not flooded where the water can't reach them.
- Clean the Mess
Cleaning up the mess comes next after taking out valuable items. The cleaning will stop moisture-related harm, including the development of mold and mildew. Then clean up any standing water on the floors. Also, remember to put a bucket under any drip from pipes or drains.
At this point, it's time to hire an expert plumber since you've done all you can to control the damage. Let the expert know where the burst pipe is, how serious it is, and what efforts you've previously taken to prevent the burst.