Burst Pipes

It is important that reach out to us as soon as you have a burst pipe. We explain below some dangers that are associated with a burst pipe.

Most households usually experience burst pipes in winter due to frozen pipes.

When pipes bursts, there is usually a lot of loss that comes with it. Not only does it significantly increase your water bill due to the huge amount of water that will have leaked, but the leaked water causes damage to the house itself and if not immediately fixed the damage to your home can easily run into thousands of dollars.

In fact, in some cases the water damage can be so extensive that you and your family might be forced to find alternative accommodation.

Another danger of burst pipes is the growth of mold. Mold thrives in damp conditions and burst pipes create a wet environment. If not checked, the mold might cost both you and your family your health.

All these reasons explain why it is important to call Plumbing Troopers the minute you notice a burst pipe.

Minimizing and Preventing Risks

To avoid any inconvenience in future, it is always important to take preventive measures aimed at reducing the risk of your pipes bursting.

To achieve this you can do the following:

Pipe Insulation – When you insulate your water pipes, you reduce the possibility of freezing during winter. This is because frozen pipes are prone to burst. You always have to be cautious when dealing with a frozen pipe. Some people think that they can easily fix a frozen pipe but instead end up causing far much more damage. In such situations, it is always important that you call the experts to your home.

Locating the main stopcock – Another thing you need to do to minimize the risk of burst pipes is to ensure that your stopcock is in good working condition. The main stopcock is responsible for controlling the flow of water in your water pipes and in the event of an emergency you can turn the water off from it.

Locating the main stopcock – Another thing you need to do to minimize the risk of burst pipes is to ensure that your stopcock is in good working condition. The main stopcock is responsible for controlling the flow of water in your water pipes and in the event of an emergency you can turn the water off from it.

If you discover that your stopcock is not working, give Plumbing Troopers a call.

Do not put off issues until it is too late – The longer you leave your plumbing problems unattended the worse they become over time. In the end you will greatly inconvenienced not to mention that it will cost you more.

What to do When A Pipe Bursts – Even with the greatest of care and maintenance, burst pipes still happen. If you find yourself in such a situation we advise you to do the following:

Turn off the water supply – The main stop tap is usually situated under the kitchen sink alternatively you could turn of the water supply at the point the service pipe comes into your home. Next, you need to immediately make a call to Plumbing Troopers.

Sometimes, the water might have been leaking for some time causing your ceilings to bulge, we recommend that you be careful as it is potentially dangerous to get into such a room. We advise that you don’t do anything that might risk your property or life before we get there.

Switch off your electricity and water heating systems – It is extremely important that you switch off all electrical appliances as you wait for the Plumbing Troopers team to arrive. The risk of electrocution increases significantly, when electric wiring and water is involved.

Backed Up Sewer Lines

Backed up sewer lines can cause you thousands of dollars to repair.

Before we explain some of the dangers associated with sewage backups, we need to define sewage.

The most basic way to explain it is waste from animals or other humans. Consequently, it contains dangerous bacteria that can lead to fatalities in some cases. Some of the dangerous pathogens found in sewage include:

Coli

Salmonella and Shigella

Streptococcus

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Mycobacterium

In addition to causing bacterial infection, these pathogens are responsible for causing the following diseases:

Thyroid fever

Hepatitis A

Campylobacteriosis

Encephalitis

Cryptosporidiosis

Gastroenteritis

Poliomyelitis

These diseases will affect not just your family but your pets as well.

Some warning signs you should keep an eye out for indicating that you have sewage backup include:

A gurgling bathtub or toilet – Gurgling is a sign of restricted flow. If your house talks to you be sure to listen. In fact, at this stage you are likely to pay less if you reach out to Plumbing Troopers than if you wait until your bathtub or toilet is completely blocked.

No Draining – The other sign you need to keep an eye out for is if your bathtub is not draining at all. If this is the case, for instance, your sink not draining, you might find out that something as simple as hair might be causing it. However, if you use draining liquid to get rid of the blockage and it still does not take care of the problem, it might be a sign of something more serious in which case you should give Plumbing Troopers a call.

We recommend that you have a plumbing expert inspect your drainage at least once a year. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Causes of Sewage Backups

Several things some of which are out of your control and others that you can prevent cause sewage backups.

Tree Roots

This usually happens in cases where plumbing structures have been in the ground for decades. Because tree roots can grow very deep, they can reach the sewage lines and cause them to either block or rupture.

Clogs

Clogs usually occur when you try flushing something other than toilet paper in your toilet. The clog might even cause the pipe to break. The same can be said of garbage disposals and sinks. We advise never to shove large items or pour grease down the disposal.

Structural Defects

Older plumbing was made from cast iron and clay which is not as durable as plastic piping that is currently used. Even though these old sewer systems are not prone to degrading from natural causes, they become brittle over time and break easily.

Since laying new pipe is an expensive endeavor, you can have Plumbing Troopers do a sewage inspection before you buy a new home.

Preventing Sewage Backups

Some preventive measures you can take to avoid sewage backups include:

Installing a backwater valve

This can be expensive to install especially if you do not have a basement. However, in the long run, it will be money well spent.

Floor drain

Installing a water drain is the best solution especially if your ground floor is very close to water lines. Even though it is not a necessity, it can help in times of emergencies.

Regular Plumber inspection

Plumbing Troopers takes pride in the fact that we are always on call. After conducting a comprehensive sewage inspection, we will advise on whether you need backup prevention or not.

Avoid flushing anything that is not toilet paper

Yes, we know it sounds obvious but creating a clog in your pipes by trying to flush paper towels, napkins as well as other tough tissues will lead to major clogs which unfortunately might cause your toilets to break. Instead, use other disposal systems to get rid of your trash.