The Plumbing Scares That Keep Homeowners up at Night
Halloween scares are all fun and games, but plumbing scares are true nightmares. Most plumbing troubles start with invisible causes, lurking just out sight until they attack. Homeowners should beware of these plumbing emergencies and be prepared for them to spring at any moment.
Fears of Bursting Pipes
There are few plumbing situations more dreaded than burst pipes. Pipes usually burst from frozen water expanding past the pipe’s capacity. Most people know that burst pipes often happen because of cold temperatures, but that is just one of the many factors that lead to a pipe bursting.
Other factors include:
- Poor Insulation: Usually, burst pipes on a frigid day go hand in hand with poor pipe insulation. Pipes need insulation to prevent cold temperatures from reaching them, and a lack of insulation allows for greater temperature fluctuation in the pipework.
- Rusted Pipes: Rusted pipes are just waiting to burst. Weakened metal is more susceptible to bursts and incapable of withstanding changing temperatures and pressures of frozen water.
- Hard Water: Hard water can cause bursting for one of two reasons. First, hard water causes degradation of pipes over time, as the minerals are quite abrasive. Second, hard water can create mineral deposits in pipes, which contributes to the slowing of pipes and easier freezing of the water within them.
Burst pipes usually come after several warnings from the plumbing system. Discolored water from rust or mineral-rich water is a sign of degradation in the pipes. Poor insulation is easily detected in areas of the home that experience cold spots. An inspection by a plumbing professional can take care of these pipe-burst contributors and keep the horrors and expenses of burst pipes away. If worse comes to worst, they can also help in repiping the affected area.
Beware Overflowing Toilets and Sinks
Horror movies like to use flooding sinks and toilets as signs of a tampering ghost. Fortunately, most overflowing troubles originate from mundane sources and are often easily prevented with the right care.
Like most plumbing floods, overflowing sinks and toilets typically come from problems within the pipes that provide and remove their water. Drains become easily clogged by hair, makeup, debris, and other grime. Removing clogs can usually be solved with an over the counter drain cleaner and plunger, but more extensive clogs or clogs in the vent-pipe that provides air to flush the toilet may require a visit from a professional.
On occasion, toilet overflow can be caused by a filler float adjusted too high, which allows too much water to fill the toilet tank. This can spill unwanted bacteria and other hazardous substances into the home. Thankfully, most of these problems are quick fixes easily handled by a plumbing professional.
Sump Pump Failure
Hidden away in many homes are sump pumps, the home’s defense against flooding. Usually found in the basement, sump pumps are used for flushing excessive groundwater out and away from the home’s foundation, thereby preventing flooding. When a sump pump fails, flooding usually follows.
Sump pump failure is usually caused by one or more of the following:
- Age: As sump pumps age, their motors and parts will wear down. Just one broken part will result in a sump pump failure.
- Power Failure: Sump pumps, unlike most pipes, rely on electricity to force water away from the foundation. Electricity failure caused by storm fronts or flash flooding is a threat to sump pump integrity.
- Poor Maintenance: Sump pumps should be inspected every year to ensure the proper functioning of the unit. Debris and build-up of materials can occur within the pump’s basin, preventing proper functioning and wearing down the parts.
When a sump pump fails, expenses add up quickly. Flooded basements often require a visit from a plumber and a water mitigation specialist to get the home up and running again. Mold, water damage, and cleaning expenses can place an immense toll on the homeowner. Reaching out to have sump pumps inspected and maintained can help prevent this nightmare from happening.
Contact a Local Plumbing Expert for Help!
Dutch Enterprises is proud to be the premier rapid response plumbers in Cape Girardeau, MO. Their 50 years of experience and dedication to their clients has earned them the respect of the community. Their friendly techs will treat your home like their own and are ready to handle any emergency plumbing scares that pop-up in your home.
