Blog

In the United States, overflowing gutters, burst sewer lines, and leaky pipes waste a lot of water at an alarming rate. According to the EPA, the average family wastes about 9399 gallons of water yearly or about 180 gallons each week because of household leaks. That is the volume of water that a family in Arlington, TX, can use for about 299 loads of laundry and over 201 showers. Kitchens, toilets, bathrooms, septic tanks, home appliances, water heaters, water lines, and below the slabs are among the most notorious plumbing areas and appliances where you can find leaks. Unfortunately, not most homeowners understand the risks and damages posed by water leaks and the potential side effects.

Sadly, delaying water line repairs can result in unpleasant stenches, flooding, high water bills, mold growth, sagging walls, and many other problems. Although many issues delaying repair might bring about, below are some of the most common ones that plumbers come across. Remember, a water line delivers clean water to your home. Hence, failing to maintain it properly has a direct impact on the water quality and bills.

Common Water Line Issues

Water Line Leaks

Leaky water lines are among the main problems you might experience at your home. Besides wasting water, leaky water lines can also result in serious water damage, not to forget the skyrocketing water utility bills. But what are the main causes of leaky pipes? The main reasons why the pipes might be leaking include:

• Encroaching and expanding tree roots can find their way into the pipes. When they reach the water line, they penetrate them, causing leaks and seepages into your plumbing system.
• The faucet and fixtures connecting rubber seals might wear out with time and result in leakages of water.
• The corroding metal pipes might become weak and result in pinhole leaks, allowing water to flow from the water line into the ground or your slab.
• If clogs aren’t treated early, they might result in pressure buildup in the water lines and breakages or cracks that will allow the water to seep out.
• Curled pipe’s damaged joints might become weak and discharge the drain channel.

If the water line repair professional doesn’t fix the damaged seals, dented pipes, cracked conduits, weakened joints, improperly laid pipes, and corroded pipes on time, they will spring leaks and result in other severe damages. They might result in mold, flooding, warped walls, and even high water utility bills. All these issues can prove costly if not attended to on time. The plumber might use putty or epoxy to repair the water line or seal the cracks or holes in the leaky water line.

Homeowners can avoid such issues by having a regular plumbing inspection and maintenance to ensure that this plumbing component is efficiently working for a longer time. You should also wipe out the taps and clean its aerator once yearly, at least. The water line repair professional also can use tapes, clamps, and rubber piping connectors to fix the cracked pipes and damaged joints.

Overflowing Gutter Problems

There are many reasons why the gutters overflow, including heavy downpours, blocked drains for downspouts, or even if they aren’t correctly positioned. If the gutters overflow, they can cause mold growth, warped walls, cracked footpaths, flooded flooring, and roof damage. For your family’s health and safety, the water line repair expert might mount or install gutter guards to ensure your gutters remain clear of dust, debris, and other forms of waste.

If the downspout flow is blocked, the plumber can’t unclog it, providing easy water flow into your home. The other reason for the overflow is when the gutter fitter properly pitches and tilts the gutters. This mainly happens during heavy rains. The water line repair technician will install mesh and splash screens on the trenches to filter the debris and avert overruns. You can manage the channel deterioration and ensure the water line remains intact by scheduling a gutter cleaning service at least twice yearly.

Burst Pipes

Because of the sheer damage that a burst pipe can result in, they are classified as a plumbing emergency. Whenever you have a burst pipe at your Arlington, TX home, ensure that you shut off the water at the main shutoff valve. If you can, also turn off the electricity to avert electrocution. There are many reasons why pipes burst, including corrosion, high water pressure, earth movements, low water temperatures (freezing), when the pressure valves aren’t positioned correctly, and on-surface activities such as vehicular movements. Since it is a plumbing emergency, you should immediately contact a water line repair if this critical plumbing component bursts.

The plumber can shortly stop the gushing water flow using a C-clamp. They also might winterize your pipes by installing heat tapes that warm them during cold winter to reduce pipe raptures/bursting. Additionally, the professional will check the water temperatures and seal the leaks, among other inspections, during the routine maintenance visit. Hence, you’ll be in the clear, and the water line will remain intact for longer.

Low Water Pressure

Did you know that water pressure directly affects the comfort of your home? For instance, low water pressure affects showers, bathing, dishwashing, and virtually any other water activity. On the other hand, high water pressure might result in leaks, noises, and damage to plumbing fixtures. However, some homeowners might think high water pressure is good.

The clogged pipes, failed pressure regulators, and corroded conduits can all result in low water pressure problems. Besides these, shared piping systems, leaky water lines, when the shutoff valve isn’t fully open, and a lack of water supply from your water utility provider can also result in low water pressure. To bring the water pressure in your Arlington, TX water line to the recommended levels, a water line repair professional will clear any obstructions, fully open the main water valve, or even replace the pressure regulator. The plumber can also install a pump to boost the water pressure or replace the damaged piping.

There are various methods that a plumber can use to repair the water lines. However, modern technologies such as trenchless water line repair have more advantages than the traditional methods. One such method is pipe relining. But what are its benefits?

Benefits and Techniques of Pipe Relining

A water line usually runs into various plumbing issues that need water line repair. Although there are many methods of repairing the water lines, pipe relining is among the less-known techniques. Hence, inquire about pipe relining whenever you head out looking for a water line repair technician. It doesn’t involve digging up your yard. To ensure that you have enough information when asking about pipe relining the next time you call a plumber, below are the definition, benefits, and techniques of pipe relining.

What’s Pipe Relining?

This is an umbrella term for several methods to fix the leaking or damaged pipes from within. In this water line repair method, the area around the pipes isn’t disturbed. This means that the walls aren’t pulled, or the floors ripped.

It also doesn’t involve any excavation or digging your yard. As you might have guessed from its name, pipe relining involves replacing or repairing the interior surfaces of the piping. This is done using a coating, a rigid pipe, or flexible tubing. There’re various techniques of pipe relining. Although they all involve or aim at repairing the piping in the most non-invasive ways, the chosen method is critical.

Pipe Relining: How Does It Work?

As mentioned above, there are several pipe relining techniques available. Each of the methods addresses a specific issue on your waterline. However, you cannot just randomly choose from either of these methods. You will have to consider the individual circumstances while also seeking help from a professional water line repair technician in Arlington, TX. Below are the commonly used pipe relining methods:

Cured-in-Place Piping (CIPP)

This is among the most popular pipe relining methods today. Here, the plumbing professional cleans and dries the damaged pipe and inserts a strong resin-saturated felt tubing made from fiberglass or polyester. The resin is then cured in place using a hot steam jet. This helps attach the felt to the damaged pipe’s interior, mold the interior cracks, and eventually harden in place.

Slip Lining

Albeit older, slip lining is a tried and tested pipe relining method. It involves inserting a narrow pipe within a larger damaged pipe and then grouting the space between them. Hence, the larger damaged pipe is replaced with one having a smaller diameter. Although this is an effective method, it has a drawback in reducing the previous pipe’s functional diameter. This might result in future plumbing issues such as blockages. Unfortunately, this method cannot be used for water line repair if your pipes have a narrow diameter.

Pull-in-Place Lining

This method involves fixing epoxy-soaked felt tubing liner within the damaged tube using heat, for instance, steam. The water line repair professional pulls the liner through the damaged pipe until it covers the entire damaged section. The plumber then introduces air into the pipe to inflate the tubing. Therefore, the tubing lines properly with the walls of the piping being repaired and is left in a position to dry. When the inflated tubing dries, it will act as a replacement for the damaged water line.

Pipe Bursting

Pipe bursting is a pipe relining method commonly used in the sewer or heavily damaged water lines. Because of the nature of this relining technique, it is used for the outdoor pipes buried under your yard. A tool is used on one end of the water line or the sewer line in pipe bursting. This tool breaks the aged pipe while using hydraulics to draw the new pipe to replace the older one.

Internal Pipe Coating

This is another pipe relining technology that works excellently for water line repair. It also can be used for other outdoor pipes such as sewer lines. In this method, the plumber drains the damaged pipes completely and leaves them dry. Then, they apply a thick epoxy coating to the water line’s interior walls to cover the damage. The professional then leaves the epoxy coating for several hours to dry. The resulting product is a sturdy interior coating on the damaged piping.

Benefits of Pipe Relining

It Is Less Intrusive

This is probably one of the greatest benefits of pipe relining over traditional water line repair or replacement. There’s virtually no digging or intrusion on your yard or property. This is true if the affected pipes are under the paths, driveways, or even heavily landscaped areas. In traditional piping repair, a lot of digging was involved. It also used guesswork to find the issue with the drainage system, replace the water lines, or even repair them. The relining technology allows the plumber to resolve the issue without digging up or excavating your Arlington, TX home’s yard.

It Is Long Lasting

Most of the resins used in pipe relining often come with years of warranties. This is because they are strong and might even render the pipework more robust and effective, not to forget that they are also highly durable. Whenever you use pipe relining as a method of water line repair, you will not have to worry about the piping issues on your residential or commercial property for many years to come.

Stops Root Intrusion in Its Tracks

Tree root intrusion is among the most common issues affecting sewer and water lines in Arlington, TX. The fractures and holes on the pipes are often the culprits that invite the roots to puncture the water lines, resulting in serious issues. Using the pipe relining technology for water line repair effectively seals any entry points. It ensures that a homeowner will not have to deal with tree roots incursion in the future.

It Can Increase Flow

If relining is completed properly, it leaves a smooth finish in the interiors of your piping. When you compare it to corroded cast iron or clay piping, you notice that the smoothness in pipe relining ensures a smooth flow.

The advancement in technology has brought about a lot of convenience in various industries, including the plumbing sector. Today, water line repair doesn’t involve excavating your yard, meaning that you get to save on labor and landscaping costs. Additionally, it only takes several hours, and the entire job is completed. There are many benefits of pipe relining, as discussed above. Do you need a pipe relining service for your Arlington, TX home’s sewer or water line? Don’t hesitate to contact our reliable and savvy plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today.

Photo By RosnaniMusa at Shutterstock