How often do you hear about problems with your pipes? Maybe they leak or maybe there is a burst pipe somewhere in your house. The problem is, most people don’t know that the pipes in their houses are connected to a network of pipes that extend under the streets and into nearby lakes and streams.
If your plumbing system is damaged by a leaking pipe, it may have a small crack at one point that may not show up immediately. As time goes by, water can leak out from the cracks and cause a mess on your floors, on your walls, and in other areas of your house. Eventually, the damage will be too big for your plumbing system to handle and you will need to call a professional plumbing company to repair it. If you are seeing leaks in your pipes, then you should call a company that provides plumbing services.
Millions of people are deprived of a clean water. We can save water by repairing water leaks, to know more read this article about saving water loss by fixing wasteful leaks by the Govt. of Africa.
If your home or business is experiencing a water leak, this article will provide you with five basic reasons why you may have a leaking pipe.
Corrosion of Pipes
Corrosion in the plumbing system could be the culprit behind the leaky sink. To determine whether or not there is corrosion, test the inside of the pipes with a plumbing testing kit. The testing kit should give off an immediate chemical reaction, indicating that there are metal ions present in the pipe. If the results indicate that corrosion is present, you will need to flush out the corroded pipes with a water hose.
High Water Pressure
It’s no secret that pipes can leak. Many homeowners have experienced this common problem over the years. But if a water pipe under your sink or bathroom tub is leaking, it could mean that high water pressure is forcing the water out of the pipe before it gets to the drain. The leak could also be coming from a pipe near the floor or a faucet with a loose handle or spout.
A common issue we see with leaking pipes is high water pressure. As the water pressure builds up, the pressure causes the pipe to swell and eventually burst. The most common causes of high water pressure in pipes are:
Clogged Pipe
A clogged pipe could be the cause of leaking water in the house, especially if you are looking at the problem from the outside. If the problem is located inside, then it may be very difficult to determine the source of the leak. It can be caused by many things, including a blockage in the line or a slow-moving leak in the pipe itself. There are several common causes of a clogged pipe including:
Most bathroom drain clogs result when dirt, skin flakes, and especially hair binds to soap scum on the walls of drain pipes. Over time, this gunk accumulates and reduces water flow.
Coffee grinds are one of the worst types of food waste to grind up because it creates extremely fine, granular waste. This waste sticks to any sludge found in the pipes and quickly becomes a clog.
Offset joints are a very common problem. They can cause blockages in your pipes, as well as the possibility of snake blades being caught on your pipes. There’s no way to prevent snakes from being present in sewers.
Homeowners are often surprised to learn that tree roots are the cause of these problems. Once a tree has been in place for many years, it will have grown a number of large roots in your yard. These roots will grow into the ground to form a network of conduits for underground water to travel through… If the flow of water in and out of your underground plumbing system is blocked by a tree root, you’ll hear a gurgling noise whenever you flush the toilet.
A shift in the foundation
If your home’s foundation shifts, cracks may appear in your walls, floors, and ceilings. And if you don’t know what to look for, you could be at risk of leaks. These cracks can lead to water damage, damage the foundation and cause additional problems in your home. Before a leak causes further damage, though, take note of these tell-tale signs. If your house shows any of these, be sure to contact professional plumbing services before it’s too late.
Leaks can be costly, time-consuming, and frustrating. If your home was built after 2006, you need to call a licensed plumber to find the source of the leak. The plumber will make an initial assessment and then give you a quote for a solution. The good news is that leaks typically cost less than $200 and are easy to fix. The bad news is that this problem is on the rise because the foundation in many homes is shifting.
Broken Pipe
Sometimes there are broken pipes and leaks in the walls and floors that don’t seem to be causing any problems at all. But after a while, the water starts dripping and building up. And it just gets worse and worse until you finally realize that your house is flooded. You have to act fast to stop the damage.
Water leaks happen when pipes break or crack over time. When water gets trapped inside the pipe, it causes the metal to expand and bend. When you tap on the pipe, it bends further causing a crevice in the pipe where the water starts leaking out of the pipe.
There are several reasons pipes could be leaking. Some pipes may leak because they are old and worn. The most common cause of leaking is when the pipe wall or threads become damaged due to corrosion, or it can be caused by a faulty joint. There are many ways to inspect and maintain pipes. It’s also important to understand the different types of pipes available, so you can determine which ones you need for your home or business. You can also read this article about checking pipes for leaks by the Govt. of Santa Barbara.
What Will Temporarily Fix a Leaking Pipe?
Before you duct tape a pipe leak and hope for the best, consider these alternatives that can save your home from damage while you await professional plumber help. Some products are better for specific types of pipes, so knowing what material you are working with can help you make a quick decision when time matters. Don’t forget to shut off the main water supply as soon as you see a leak to prevent as much damage as possible while you solve the issue.
Pipe Clamps
If it’s sturdy enough for a submarine, it can probably handle your pipe problem. A pipe clamp, made of metal sleeves and a rubber pad inside, can be used in a scenario such as a leaking copper pipe. It would require more skill and specific tools to replace a portion of the pipe. In the meantime, the clamp can be used to stop the leak in just a few minutes, and for only a few dollars at a local hardware store.
Repair Sleeves
You can temporarily solve pinhole leaks with repair sleeves, which are similar to clamps. They will give strong support to your pipe for a limited time, but shouldn’t be a permanent fix.
Epoxy Compounds
If you have a leaking cast-iron pipe, you will probably know it, especially if it is a sewer pipe. You may smell something terrible, see moldy walls, or have slow drains from your sink or toilet. You can patch it with epoxy; just make sure your surface is good and dry before you begin the repair. You may see compounds such as QuikSteel, J-B Weld, and others at a local hardware store for under $10.
Epoxy will dry in just a few minutes and may end up being a more budget-friendly solution than replacing a pipe, depending on the size of the leak. However, it’s always best to let a certified plumber determine that. Another possible epoxy-like solution is a pipe wrap, which goes around the pipe and hardens in the same way.
Rubber Pipe Connectors
If your leak is at the joint, rubber pipe connectors can help stop water or drainage from pooling. This process can involve some cutting, so it may be better to use if you have more than basic plumbing repair experience.
Tape
Several types of tape can be solid options for containing a small leak, including duct tape, Teflon tape, and electrical tape, depending on the type of pipe. The secret to using tape to temporarily fix a leak is to ensure there’s no water in the area while you are taping as this will help you to create a good seal. You’ll also want to completely flatten the tape against the pipe so that no pockets of water can fill up inside your tape job. This will only work on smaller leaks, and shouldn’t be attempted with serious leaks.
While it may be tempting to just ignore a small water leak, it will cost time, energy, and more money in the long run if you just leave it. You may end up with ceiling, wall, or floor damage which can be costly, in addition to potentially dangerous environments, such as mold, that can harm your family’s health. To be safe, be proactive about every leak by attempting to fix the link or calling a professional for help promptly (or both).
Reasons You Should Leave Pipe Repair To The Professionals
Almost 10,000 gallons of water are lost every year due to household leaks.
Leaks in homes and businesses can cause a range of problems, and they’re often very hard for the average person to locate. The best way to find and fix a leak is with the help of a professional plumber. They’re able to detect leaks that would otherwise be essentially impossible to find.
For 5 of the key benefits of water pipe leak detection, keep reading.
1. Accurate Leak Detection
There are various water pipe leak detection methods that professional plumbing companies use. At one time, digging into the ground was the only way of detecting water pipe leaks underground, but now there are much better options.
Modern technology allows professionals to detect underground leaks with much less invasive methods. Things like acoustic sensors and thermal imaging can accurately show where leaks are without the need to dig into the ground.
2. Time-Saving
You might know that you have a leak, but like most people, you probably don’t know how to detect water leaks in underground pipes. You could spend hours searching, and not find anything.
Rather than wasting your time, you should hire a professional plumbing company water leak detection company. They know how to detect leaking water pipes underground quickly and efficiently.
You might want to avoid calling a company to try and save money, but if you’re unable to find the leak, you’ll end up calling a professional plumbing company anyway. It makes more sense to save yourself some time and get them in straight away.
3. Lower Bills
Not everyone pays close attention to their monthly bills, but if you do notice yours rising unexpectedly, a leak could be the cause. There are various types of leaks that can lead to this, such as:
- Fixtures
- Irrigation
- Underground pipes
- Pipes in walls
When your bill goes up and there’s no other reason for it, then it’s probably one of these types of leaks. Having professional plumbing find and repair the leak as soon as possible should bring your bills back to a normal level.
4. Prevent Major Issues
Sometimes leaks can be small and fairly insignificant. If it doesn’t have a major impact on your bills or affect the water pressure in your home, you might try to ignore it. This is a bad idea.
Leaks often get worse with time, to a point where you really start noticing the effects. Even if they don’t, when left unchecked, leaks can slowly cause damage in several ways.
A leaky pipe in a wall, for example, can quickly cause mold to grow, or rot structural components of your home. Getting these kinds of problems fixed can be very expensive and involve a lot more work.
You’ll save a lot of time and money by getting leaks fixed as soon as you can.
5. Reliable Water Supply
Many businesses rely on a constant water supply to function properly. Emergency services are also sometimes dependent on reliable water sources, and without them, there could be some serious issues.
As soon as you notice signs of a leak, you should hire a professional plumber to find it. Getting a leak fixed immediately will reduce the risk of problems occurring due to a poor water supply.
USEPA had run a campaign for fixing the water leaks to create awareness about water leaks.
Solve Your Plumbing Emergencies With Citizen Plumbing
Have you noticed slow-moving sinks, gurgling noises, or unpleasant smells coming out of your sinks? It could be time for a drain replacement or repair.
We’re the best plumber in Toronto who provide guaranteed solutions to all your plumbing problems! Our professional plumbers can expertly fix clogged or damaged pipes. Not only do we deliver outstanding plumbing services, but we also always put our customer’s needs first.
Plumbing problems are an emergency. A pipe leak can cost you a lot in water bills if not fixed quickly. Don’t try to fix it by yourself, you might be doing more harm to yourself than good. Oftentimes people watch videos online and try to fix their own plumbing problems, and failing at it makes the problem bigger. Read an article about residential plumbing system, it will give you an overview on how plumbing works in a residential premises.