Causes Of Pipe Damages: How A Plumber Can Help | Oak Ridge, TN
Wednesday, February 9th, 2022
Photo By Pradit.Ph at Shutterstock
Pipes are the backbone of any plumbing system, meaning that when they have issues, your entire plumbing system is at risk of malfunctioning. Therefore, you have to keep the pipes in good condition throughout the year. When you need a plumber to repair your damaged pipes, you may wonder, what damaged the pipes?
Pipes may be damaged by many factors that we shall consider below. Whenever something goes wrong at your home, you want to ensure that the problem is fixed instantly. Staying at your home can become stressful and frustrating quickly. We will cover some of the various reasons for calling a plumbing service for help necessary.
DIY Fixes
Unless you are a trained and experienced plumber, Do It Yourself jobs are among the major causes of damage to pipes. People without enough plumbing training have a high chance of damaging the pipes by putting together two things incorrectly.
Plumbing is a more complex undertaking than most people think, and improperly putting it together causes various damages. Therefore, you end up making many calls to a plumbing service than you would have had you called them on the first instance before the DIY job.
Grease
Although considered a problem for plain clogs, you should know that putting the grease down the drains or your pipes is a recipe for disaster in the future. As the grease cools, it thickens and sticks to anything, including your pipes, shrinking the disposal pipes’ useful space as time goes by.
The congealed grease ends up causing backups inside your house and may even cause problems elsewhere within your plumbing. Enlisting the services of a plumber to clean the drains and not throw grease or oily substances down the drain. Plumbing experts replace the drain pipes more often because of issues caused by grease.
Roots
Shrubs and trees take their roots around many homes in Oak Ridge, TN. The water and sewer lines leave moisture that attracts the vegetation along with them. When the shrubs and trees grow over time, the roots become stronger and may infiltrate the pipes, causing damages like leaks, bursts, or clogs.
Therefore, you may be forced to call a plumbing company for various solutions to the problem. The best way to avoid this is to ensure the pipes are not installed near trees. If shrubs and trees grow over the water or sewer lines, the plumbing service will recommend cutting them down. The plumbing service can send a powered “rooter” auger to your yard to uproot the overgrown shrubs and trees whose roots may damage your pipes.
Home Products’ Harsh Chemicals
Many chemicals are agents of corrosion. Rusting is among the leading causes of pipe damage that leads to bursting or leaking if exposed to household chemicals for long. However, the corrosion rate depends on the material that makes the pipes. Steel and iron pipes are more corrosion-prone than copper and plastic pipes. You should seek the help of a plumbing service to replace the pipes that are prone to corrosion.
Sometimes, what you may think is a solution can end up causing more problems downstream. For instance, a quick fix for clogs is using a liquid drain cleaner to clean the drains. However, it has been proved that liquid drain cleaners can damage your pipes. As indicated above, Do It Yourself jobs on your plumbing are a terrible idea. Call a plumber to clean your drains with industry-approved methods if your drains are clogged.
Although homemade solutions might not damage your pipes like some acidic compounds in liquid drain cleaners, they produce mixed results if used extensively for a long time. If the pipe backs up and breaks, pouring more liquid drain cleaner into your drains will solve nothing. Call a plumbing service to clean your drains whenever you suspect your drains are clogged. They will use tools and cleaning materials that will not damage the pipes.
Direct Sunlight
If your home uses polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) pipes or Chlorinated Polyvinyl Chloride (CPVC) pipes, you might want to ensure that they are not exposed to direct sunlight. Ensure the rest of the plumbing is kept in darkness as well.
The two types of plastic pipes can wear down over time when exposed to sunlight, and this might cause ruptures and leaks. Enlist the services of a plumber to inspect the pipes and ensure that they do not have a problem before burying them underground or in the walls of your house. If the pipes show any sign of damage or degradation, replace them. Do not risk placing them in your walls or beneath your foundation, and they may damage the structural integrity of your house.
Septic Tank Chemicals
Are you on a municipal or a personal septic system? If you use an individual septic system, you should be extra careful of what you throw down the pit. There are many household chemicals like ammonia, paint, bleach, salt soap, among others, that may form a coating of corrosive materials along the walls of your underground septic tank. The corrosion may break down the septic tank or the pipes that feed into it.
Always check the local regulations to know what to do with the chemicals. Be cautious when throwing items down the septic tank because replacing the tank is quite costly. A plumber may advise you on the proper ways of disposing of the chemicals and chemical containers to prevent pipe damage.
Old Water Heaters
How old is your water heater? What water heater type do you use? There are two standard water heaters: conventional and tankless water heaters. The former’s lifespan is 10-15 years, while the latter has a lifespan of about 20 years. When the water heater approaches the end of its lifespan, it needs frequent repairs, which may prove costly. An aging water heater may force the water back up into the pipes. This may cause raptures away from the water heater, requiring you to spend more on the plumbing repairs or replacements than you would, had you just replaced the water heater by calling a plumber.
Experienced Plumbers in Oak Ridge, TN
It might be obvious, but your home’s plumbing system has got its fair deal of problems. However, maintaining the plumbing system regularly can help keep your pipes intact.
A professional plumbing expert can help resolve all of the plumbing-related issues and may also give you advice on the best ways of extending the lifespan of your water pipes. Be on the lookout for the above factors that may damage your pipes. If you need advice on handling any contact, My Professional plumber. Do you need any plumbing service in your Oak Ridge, TN home? Call our experienced plumbers today.