3 Common Causes Of Broken Plumbing
Your home's plumbing system is extremely durable, made out of high impact plastic or metal that can withstand a variety of different temperatures, environmental factors, and of course the pressure of the water that it carries. However, no matter how durable your plumbing may be, it is still possible for pipes to burst or break open, which can cause significant amounts of water damage and cause a huge disruption to the operation of water fixtures and appliances within your home. Understanding some of the most common reasons why your plumbing may break can help you keep an eye out for them, and identify problems quickly, to either prevent broken pipes or deal with them efficiently.
1. Corrosion
The first thing that you should look out for when it comes to broken pipes is rust. Rust won't affect modern copper or PVC plumbing, but if you have older steel or cast iron pipes in your home, you should be wary. Any signs of orange rust on your pipes can be a massive structural concern, as your pipes can be easily eaten through to develop a leak. While expensive, replacing your older pipes with newer, rust-proof plumbing is a proactive action to take.
2. Freezing
Another reason why your home's plumbing may burst or break is because the temperature drops below freezing for too long, causing the water within the pipes to turn to ice and expand. This can break pipes apart, particularly around where two pipes are joined, and can cause water to pour out rapidly once the temperature goes back above freezing again. In order to prevent this, you may want to consider installing plumbing insulation, which is available at most hardware stores and can be easily installed using plumbing tape and a box cutter. Alternatively, you may want to consider raising the temperature within your home and leaving cabinet doors open to allow warm air to circulate around exposed and at-risk pipes.
3. Tree Roots
Finally, one of the most common reasons why your pipes, particularly the pipes outside your home that connect your home to the sewer hookup or septic tank, can break is because of tree roots growing into or around them, placing undue pressure on the pipes that they simply cannot resist. Tree roots that have grown into your plumbing won't be able to be cleared through traditional methods of drain cleaning, and you'll have to replace the pipes entirely. Further, you may want to consider removing trees that are growing too close to your plumbing lines to prevent such blockages and breaks from becoming commonplace.
For more information, contact a company like VINES PLUMBING & WATER RESTORATION.