5 Common Causes of Broken Pipes in Your Home | Alvarez Plumbing & AC

5 Common Causes of Broken Pipes in Your Home

Damaged pipes never present a good situation for a homeowner, they cause water leaks and increase your expenses. If you are lucky, you will notice the issue immediately.  Some symptoms such as a reduced water рrеѕѕurе, indiсаtе thаt a leak iѕ damaging the base of your house creating a hazardous environment for mold and mildew. In this article, we will discuss several reasons why pipes burst

1. Freezing

Freezing is one of the main causes of broken pipes. We are all familiar with the fact that water exposed to cold air will freeze and when this happens, the water changes the state into ice. The ice will then expand and the pressure will increase until it eventually breaks the pipes. Unless you take proper steps to winter-proof your pipes, you may encounter a major problem when winter comes.

2. Blocked Pipes

Your home’s drains and toilets may become blocked, and then back up into your house. Not only is this situation untidy, but it can also be a serious health risk, especially if wastewater and sewage are involved. Also, clogged drains and sewer lines can cause water pressure to accumulate in your pipes, which can result in ruptures or leaks. If construction is being done near your house, your pipes may fail as a result of environmental circumstances. Construction activities near your home may block your toilet by bringing sand into your pipes. When the pressure is intense, and your pipes cannot handle it anymore, they are going to rupture. This is more likely to happen if you are not doing constant maintenance on your plumbing system.

3. Old Pipes

Sometimes the reason a pipe may burst is that it is too old. The main issue that can occur is due to an erosion of the surface, forced by a reaction and the acidity of the drinking water. Worn-out pipes such as steel are very susceptible to corrosion and alkaline water which can rapidly decrease the integrity of the pipe.

4. Irregular Maintenance

This is the leading reason houses just get flooded. Ignoring the indicators such as when the water line is leaking or a toilet is clogged can lead to a lot of repairs in the future.

5. Tree Roots In Pipes

Though very rare tree roots and mature trees near the water lines may lead to burst pipes. They grow naturally below the ground in the direction of a water pipeline and cause blockages that lead to serious problems. Regardless of how strong your pipes are if the root grows around the water system, it can wrap the pipeline until it bursts.

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