April Showers Bring... the Water Indoors!

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Keep Your Home Dry This Rainy Season

May flowers aren’t the only thing that April showers can bring. If you aren’t getting your plumbing routine maintenance done at the end of every winter, your home may experience plumbing issues. Large amounts of rainwater can easily compromise your plumbing system if it isn’t in the best working conditions. Getting your plumbing maintenance done is cheap compared to the damages caused by flooding.

Your plumbing professional will be able to tell you where your problem areas are and get them repaired before a problem occurs rather than after. To learn more about how large amounts of rain can affect your household plumbing system, continue reading.

Saturated Soil Can Cause Water Backups

home backupsSaturated soil is nothing to mess with. There are numerous problems that can occur from saturated soil moisture. First, the soil becomes saturated when the soil pores fill with water. Once the pores are filled that is when the soil is said to be saturated.

It becomes extremely dense and can actually crush sewer lines as a result. Once this occurs, water will begin to backup within your home’s plumbing fixtures. You will want to call a plumber as soon as you notice this happening.

Expansive soils are also a problem. These are soils with clay minerals that expand and hold large amounts of water. If your foundation is surrounded by expansive soil, you could experience flooding from your foundation as well.

Not to mention it could actually cause a shift in your foundation, which would severely compromise your plumbing system. Sloping soil away from the home is one good way to fight this, but your plumber can also help prevent severe problems from saturated soil.

What to Do About Slab Leaks

As mentioned above, saturated soil can cause shifts in your foundation. These shifts can cause what’s known as slab leaks. Slab leaks can be caused by a few different things other than saturated soil.

slab leaks

Some causes of slab leaks include:

  • Improper Construction: If your pipes were improperly installed or dented upon installation, this will compromise your piping system and lead to leaks underneath your foundation.
  • Pressure: The added weight from saturated soil can cause pipes to leak or burst. This can also be caused by earthquakes and soil erosion.
  • Water Quality: If your water quality is not on par, your pipes can get corroded.
  • Abrasion: This happens when the pipes rub against concrete, gravel other pipes, or other rough materials.
  • Old Plumbing: If your pipes are old, natural wear and tear can also cause leaking.

It is important to call a plumber as soon as you notice any signs of slab leaks. Some signs include:

  • Damp Floors
  • Moldy Floors
  • Warm Areas on the Floor
  • Low Water Pressure
  • High Utility Bill

Call an experienced professional to check your home for a slab leak immediately. The professional will hopefully get the problem under control before the damages become extensive.

Water Pressure Can Cause Cracked Pipes

Some people think that the higher the water pressure, the better. This isn’t necessarily true, though. High water pressure can actually cause some expensive damage. When the water pressure is too high, water will begin to drip out of faucets and showers. In return, your utility bill will be raised. Not only that, but high water pressure will also begin to erode pipes over time.

There are a few ways in which a professional might go about fixing this issue. These different approaches include:

  • cracked pipesCured-In Place: Plumbing companies can remotely line a section of piping without having to dig a trench. The pipe must first be cleaned and dried, then the installers will apply the lining to the cracked area.
  • Pull-In Place: This method is best for larger cracks in the piping. The material is placed into the pipe with steam. The liner is saturated in epoxy and then placed into the pipe and pulled through. Air will then open the sleeve and hold it against the walls until it dries.
  • Pipe Bursting: This method is used when the pipe is severely damaged. The installer needs physical access to repair. Once this is achieved he will place a “bursting head” at the access point. This will break the old pipe apart and allow for a new pipe to be seamlessly drawn in behind it.
  • Repiping: A house will sometimes need a whole new piping system installed if the pipes are old and the damage is too severe.

Falcon Plumbing Will Fix Your Pipes

The professionals at Falcon Plumbing are here for you 24 hours a day with their emergency plumbing services in Miami, FL. They offer these services with no overtime charges! They understand plumbing issues are frustrating and unsafe.