What Causes the Leaking Pipes Leading to Water Damage Restoration?

1. Cracks and Other Damage

Pipes can crack for a myriad of reasons, from thermal expansion to physical damage and temperature changes.

No matter what contributes to the issue, what can begin as hairline cracks in critical pipes around your property can later grow in size. While thin, hard-to-see cracks only release small amounts of water, large gashes can send forth a deluge.

You could very quickly end up with significant water damage requiring you to call water damage restoration professionals.

2. Loose Connections

Some of the pipes that travel across your property are connected to hoses. Even though those connections were initially screwed in tight, time and movement can dislodge them.

Take one of the most common household appliances, the washing machine. If your washer rocks during its spin cycle, it can loosen the connection to the pipes and allow water to begin leaking.

If you see water pooling around the bottom of your washer and you can ascertain nothing is wrong with the appliance, the cause is likely loose connections to the pipes.

3. Tree Roots

It’s not exactly like you have X-ray vision, so it’s impossible to determine if tree roots under the surface are what’s causing leaky pipes until it’s too late. Your pipes could have burst by then, especially if the roots mingle with your water lines.

A good way to check for tree root issues affecting the water lines on or around your property is to look for sinkholes and unusual wet patches in your yard. If you’ve noticed your water pressure has decreased for no explainable reason, that’s another sign.

4. High Water Pressure

Speaking of water pressure, it’s not only low water pressure that should raise your hackles, but also excessively high water pressure, explains Wawanesa Insurance.

The problem with high water pressure is that the rate of water flow impacts the pipes more. It’s one thing if your pressure rises only on occasion, but if it’s a daily occurrence, it’s only a matter of time before the pipes could break down or show other signs of damage.

What’s too much water pressure? If yours exceeds 60 PSI, consider calling a plumber to examine your pipes. 

5. Incorrect Installation

If you’re not the first occupant of your home, you might not realize the pipes weren’t properly laid until disaster strikes. Pipes should be installed so water moves against the flow of gravity.

While you can’t go back in time and change how your pipes were originally installed, you can get them inspected and reworked by a professional.

6. Corrosion

Corrosion can develop in pipes in several ways.

Perhaps the pipes were installed in the presence of corrosive soil, which gradually wore away the integrity of the pipes. Maybe your water contains a lot of sediment, or your electrical grounding was done incorrectly.

Whatever the cause, corrosion around and within your home’s pipework creates more than an unsightly appearance. The corrosion also leads to worn pipes that are likely to become leaky.

7. Clogs

Clogged pipes can hinder water flow, but that’s not the only threat you have to worry about. If the clog is severe enough, the backed-up flow can lead to an increase in pressure that could possibly burst the pipe.

Before the pipe explodes, it will leak, sometimes subtly and other times more overtly.

8. Broken Seals

It’s common for rubber sealant to be installed around some pipe systems, such as your dishwasher. Since these seals are only rubber, they can degrade with time. As this happens, what was once watertight becomes significantly less so.

You can confirm damaged or broken seals by inspecting your appliances. If you see puddles around or underneath your appliances, or if they feel moist with condensation when you haven’t recently run them, the seals are to blame.

Until the seals are tightened, the pipes are compromised.

9. Age

The last factor for leaking pipes is undoubtedly one of the most common. The years simply add up!

You might not know the age of all the pipes in your home if you weren’t the first homeowner. Even if you were, you could forget how long ago your pipes were installed.

Pipes aren’t designed to last forever. Before they give out entirely, they’ll begin showing signs of wear, such as thinning or cracking. As you’re now aware, these issues can cause water leaks.

To help you determine when to replace your pipes, here is a guideline of the average pipe lifespan by material:

• Steel: 80 to 100 years
• Copper: 70 to 80 years
• PVC: 25 to 70 years
• Iron: 50 to 100 years
  

Conclusion

Water damage can be financially draining. Why not mitigate the need for water damage restoration by caring for your pipes now? What begins as a leak can become a deluge without the right care, so don’t wait to get your pipes seen by a professional.

Source

• https://www.wawanesa.com/us/blog/what-causes-high-water-pressure-and-how-do-i-fix-it