As a homeowner in Lubbock, TX, you have a responsibility to keep everything in your home maintained. This also includes the water lines that are a part of your plumbing system. A burst pipe causes damage, no matter if it’s located in your walls or underground. Below we’ll discuss ways your water lines get damaged.
Change in Water Pressure
A sudden surge of higher water pressure will damage a water line, even if it occurs during a short period of time. This sudden change of water pressure occurs when you gradually replace parts of the plumbing system, such as the pressure gauge or cutoff switch, and is not compatible with the existing plumbing.
Faulty Installation
Mistakes with installation, such as when a plumber didn’t pay attention to their work, cause damage to the water lines. Substandard materials also negatively impact how long your water lines last, which means you have to replace them far sooner than if a technician installed them correctly.
Freezing and Thawing
In Lubbock, TX, the average temperature at night during the winter months does get down below freezing. Freezing and extremely low temperatures will damage water pipes if they aren’t more than four feet deep. When the water in the pipes freezes, it expands and adds pressure to the inside of the pipes. If there’s too much pressure, the pipes will burst, and you’re left with a plumbing emergency. We are here to solve your water line problems with expert service and repair.
Rodents and Pests
Pests are another way your pipes become compromised, with mice, moles, squirrels, and other animals searching for the water in your pipes. If you have pests in your walls, they hear the water running in the lines, and they chew through the lines to get to it.
Shifting Soil
In Texas, people expect the ground to remain stable and unchanging, but conditions underground change over time due to multiple reasons. These reasons include oversaturation from excessive rain, tree roots, and moles are commonly found where suitable soil exists. Other reasons for shifting soil include soil erosion, too much sand in the soil, and if the soil isn’t properly compacted. Whatever the reason for the shifting soil, the water lines don’t bend in such a way that accommodates these shifts without breaking.
Wear and Tear
No matter how well you maintain your water lines and how well they avoid the other methods that damage them, there comes a time when natural wear and tear claims the quality of your water lines. No matter how long your pipes are supposed to last, they do have expiration dates.
It’s only natural to worry about your water lines when you suspect they have damage, but you can rest easy knowing that you’re in good hands. Signs of a damaged water pipe include higher water bills, fluctuating water pressure, dripping noises in the walls, or foul odors. Contact the qualified, experienced experts at Action Air Plumbing and Septic today for all your water line repair and installation needs.
