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Every day hundreds of gallons of water are pumped into your home, but if you are like most people you don’t really understand how it happens. You are just grateful when you turn on the sink and water comes pouring out. However, if you turn on the sink one day and water doesn’t come out, or you only get a small trickle of water then this may be an indication that it is time for water line repair in Arlington, TX. It also might mean it is time to learn a bit more about how water access really works.

If you live within municipal limits in Arlington, TX the process is actually quite simple. Water travels from a water treatment plant through a network of plumbing pipes that run under the ground to your home. It is routed directly to your home from an underground pipe that connects your home to the waterway under the street. What you may not be aware of is that the pipe that routes the water to your home and travels under your yard is actually considered your responsibility to maintain. Unless you have a protection plan with the water company, if this pipe breaks or is damaged you will be responsible for the repair.

Suddenly, you will know a lot more about how water is routed to your home than you likely ever wanted to know, and at a cost that may not be what you expected. Before you get to that point, however, there are a few things that you should know. One is how to keep that water line in great shape by learning the signs you need water line repair before it turns into a water line replacement. Like most things, repair is always the better option when you can take it.

Additionally, you may want to call the local Arlington, TX water provider and see if you can sign up for water line insurance. Most of the time it is the minimal cost each month to do so and protects you in the case that you need emergency water line repair. This may be the smartest way to cover yourself in the event of an emergency, although many plumbers can also work with you on cost because they are responsible and understand that no one plans for life’s emergencies.

Unlike other situations, you may not have a lot of choices if something happens to your water line because you need access to clean water. Therefore, you will need to take prompt action and water line repair needs to happen within a day or two. Having a good plumber you can trust can also help make the process go a little better for you in the long run. The truth of the matter is no one wants to discover that the running water to their home is suddenly gone, which is why it is so important to learn the signs of an impending issue before they occur. To help out, here are a few that might help you ward off a serious problem in the future.

Water Is Discolored

There are a lot of reasons why your water may be discolored, but sometimes the simple answer is that you need water line repair. This one is an easy one to figure out because all you need to do is turn on your faucet and look at the color of your water. Ideally, it should run clear, but sometimes you may start to notice a rusty or brown tint to it. Other people simply report that they can taste rust in their water which is another sign that it is indeed time for water repair.

This can occur if your main water line is starting to corrode or if there is a break somewhere along the line. All it takes is a hairline fracture for soil, dirt, and minerals to seep in from outside of your main water line and pollute your water. Therefore, any indication that the color or the taste of your water is off should signal the need for water line repair or at least an inspection to see if the water line is the issue or not.

Of course, when it comes to water discoloration and/or taste issues, the main water line is not always the culprit. One thing you can do to isolate other issues is run both your cold and hot taps and inspect for the same discrepancies. If you notice the issue is only occurring in your hot water then there is a very good chance that the problem is actually coming from your hot water tank instead. While that means you will need repair, hot water tank repair is generally easier to tackle than water line repair so the news isn’t the worst.

What happens is that your water heater can start to leach metal and rust as it grows older and begins to rust. A lot of people don’t realize the tank is starting to rust on the inside because on the outside it can look pristine, but red-colored water that only appears in the hot tap is a dead giveaway that this is occurring. Of course, if you notice the discoloration in both hot and cold taps then you are back to square one and will have to deal with the very real possibility that there is something wrong with your water line somewhere in your home. It may not be your main water line, but the main water line at some point is in need of water line repair.

Sudden Soggy Spots on the Lawn

Arlington, TX has an odd relationship with the weather. The city can go for weeks without rain and be a dry, cowboy-like city. On the other hand, it can also storm for weeks as hurricanes move through the Gulf and start to resemble a swampland. For that reason, soggy areas in your lawn are not always an immediate sign that you need water line repair.

However, if you notice soggy spots on your lawn during one of the periods where there hasn’t been rain for weeks then you have a huge issue to contend with that likely stems from a need for water line repair. This is usually a sign that your water has cracked or is damaged and is now letting water seep into your lawn. Water will always rise upwards towards the sun, so even though your water line is ten feet or so under the ground, the water will eventually make its way up to the top and create soggy spots.

At this point you have two major issues: the first is that you are paying extra in water that is essentially just watering your lawn daily and the second is that your water line is leaking and contaminants are also likely flowing into the water that enters your home. Neither is great so if you start to notice soggy spots on your lawn you need to take immediate action and call for water line repair in Arlington, TX before the issue gets any worse. Soggy lawns have been known to cause sinkholes to develop, so this is not something that you want to play around with.

Drop In Water Pressure

No one likes to experience a drop in water pressure within their home. Waiting a few minutes for a pot to fill up is way different than waiting ten minutes for the same pot to fill so that you can boil water. This isn’t even touching on how irritating a shower with low water pressure can be, especially if you have thick hair and have to be somewhere. While annoying, a drop in water pressure is not something that you can just ignore because it usually indicates a problem in your plumbing.

One such problem is water line repair. If your water line is cracked or allowing water to seep into your soil as discussed above, then your water pressure will naturally drop. Consider this, a pipe that is only pushing half of its capacity into your home is not going to offer the same pressure as a pipe that is able to push a full pipe full of water into the pipe.

With this in mind, if you notice that your water is slowing down the first thing you should do is call a local plumber and ask to talk about your options. An inspection can help you get to the bottom of the issue quickly. Keep in mind that you will probably pay the same amount if not for less than adequate water pressures, so by putting off repair the only person you end up hurting is yourself.

As a general tip, if you notice that poor water pressure is only an issue with the hot water tap, this is a clear sign that something is wrong with your hot water heater. In this case, you may be able to avoid water line repair and instead just need to adjust your water heater. An experienced and certified plumber is your best option in this situation as they can help you get to the bottom of the issue.

Lack of Water

The biggest sign that you need water line repair is if suddenly there is no water flowing to your home. If you wake up and cannot get water to come into your home at all, or only get a very low trickle then you without a doubt need water line repair. Unless you happen to have gotten behind on your water bill, this is a clear indication that something needs to be done and it needs to be done right away.

Before calling a plumber you can talk to your neighbors to see if they are experiencing the same issue because if they are then it is likely an issue that your municipal water source will have to sort out. In that case, you will need to call them right away and let them know that your neighborhood is experiencing an issue with your water. This is also true if your entire neighborhood is dealing with discolored water.

However, if you check around and you are the only one facing a problem, then it is time for a plumber to come out to your home for water line repair. They can use special tools like laparoscopic cameras to snake down your main water line and identify where issues may lay. Depending on what they see, they may recommend full water line replacement. If the issues are small then they may be able to offer water line repair instead.

Sharp Increase on Your Water Bill

Finally, if you notice your water bill jumping up without any obvious reason, then there is a very good chance that you need water line repair. If your water line is not the problem, another plumbing fixture in your home might be causing the issue or potentially another pipe. Either way a sharp increase on your water bill always means you need to talk to a professional plumber.

Worried about rising water bills in your home? Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth can help with that. We are a professional plumbing company with years of experience helping your Arlington, TX neighbors with their plumbing issues. In addition to offering water line repair, we can inspect your plumbing system and recommend repairs if necessary. Therefore, if you are experiencing any plumbing issues it will pay to have a plumber inspect your plumbing line and create a repair plan that will get your home back up to par with standard water consumption standards. Give us a call today if you are worried about your home plumbing and we will schedule an inspection.