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Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Why Plumbing Break and How to Prevent It


Like everything else in and around the home, your plumbing system is susceptible to wear and tear and damages from other structures such as trees and shrubs. A broken or faulty water and drainage system can produce some really embarrassing experiences, but that’s not all. Having to call in your Oconomowoc plumber to fix a fault or replacing a broken part can prove to be costly.

Homeowners can play an active role in protecting their plumbing system from damages. All that is required is a knowledge of the objects or conditions that can cause damage to the piping system. Here are a couple reasons why plumbing breaks. Each will be followed by a short suggestion on how to prevent the damage from occurring.

Shifting of the ground

This often occurs during the summer when the time becomes hot and dry, causing the ground to shrink and crack. That shifting can cause pipes in or near the foundation of the home to break and leak. The corrective measures might include a slab leak repair, a regular water pipe repair or a sewer line repair.

Preventative measure:
Keep your lawn and foundation nicely watered throughout the hot summer months.

Pipe freeze

Exposed pipes (indoor or outdoor) can become frozen and break during the winter months if the temperature falls below freezing point. If broken on the inside, you could be dealing with water logged carpets and furniture.

Preventative measure: Wrap the exposed areas of the pipe with some insulation. As long as you can see the pipe (even under the cabinet of the sink) you should insulate them. Do the same to your heater (wherever in the house it is) using either a specially made blanket or tape along with insulation.

You should also ensure that lock offs that allow water to flow to exterior faucets are all turned off and drained. In case the temperature gets really low, you can protect hose bibbs and outdoor faucets with insulated covers. Ensure the water supply to your sprinkler system is also turned off. Use compressed air to blow through the pipeline to get rid of any water left there as it could cause the line to freeze and burst.

A final tip from PJ’s Plumbing is that you leave your furnace on at a minimum of 55 degrees if you go off on vacation. If you are accustomed to spending the entire winter in a tropical area and have no caretaker for your home, be sure to drain the entire pumping system.

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