The home plumbing system is prone to all kinds of faults and problems. There are many plumbing areas and components that can suffer damage due to improper care and maintenance and also because of other physical hazards. That is why you are advised to conduct regular and thorough inspections of your home plumbing system to ensure that everything is in good condition. And if there are any existing or potential faults, then you should not hesitate to call in a professional plumber for timely repairs. One of the most susceptible plumbing areas to damage and fault at home is the piping network. This is mainly because the piping network forms the largest section of the whole plumbing system. Remember that the piping network includes all the clean water supply pipes, all the connecting pipes, and all the drainage and sewer lines. Any of these pipes can get damaged by all kinds of physical hazards. Some of these pipes are installed outdoors and are hence exposed to all kinds of environmental and man-made hazards. Others like the drainage and sewer lines are installed below the ground and can hence be damaged by many physical hazards. Today we are going to look at some of the most common piping problems and how they can be fixed.
Leaking Pipes
Leaks are some of the most common piping problems in any plumbing system. Pipes can start leaking because of many different factors or reasons. A metallic pipe can start leaking due to severe corrosion, which can undermine its structural integrity. A pipe can also start leaking if it’s damaged by a physical hazard. You can be nailing something to your walls and you accidentally puncture a pipe installed inside the walls. Outdoor pipes can be damaged by all kinds of agents including animals, tree roots, bad weather, vandalism, and so on. Old pipes can start leaking simply because they are worn out by old age. All these hazards can cause any of your pipes to start leaking. The leaks can be minor or heavy. For minor leaks, you can try to stem the water loss using plumber’s tape or any other readily available material. For heavy leaks, you should call a professional plumber as soon as possible to avoid a flooding problem in your house.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes usually occur during the cold season. This is when the water flowing in your pipes freezes due to extremely low temperatures experienced during the cold winter season. The frozen water or ice blocks the flow of water in the pipes. But because there is more water coming through, there is massive pressure buildup in the frozen pipes. This can cause the pipes to crack and burst causing a very serious problem in your house. You can prevent frozen pipes by insulating all outdoor pipes and also by leaving the thermostat on during the cold season. And if you suffer frozen pipes, you should call a professional plumber who handles pipe thawing in DC to fix the problem before the frozen pipes burst and flood your house.
Clogged Pipes
Pipes can clog because of many different reasons. The problem can be caused by the aforementioned frozen pipes. Drainage and sewer lines clog due to obstruction by solid waste inside the pipes. Underground sewer lines are sometimes clogged by tree root infiltration. You can try to unclog your pipes with a plunger or any other DIY solution. But do not hesitate to call a professional plumber if the clog persists.