The water service line is a direct line to the city water supply that runs near your house. If this line breaks, your house will no longer have any water. Also, it might need a lot of plumbing work to fix, so you may need to call a professional plumber. Here is a quick look at what causes a service line to break and how it can be fixed.
Assessment
Because the water lines are underground, it might be hard to find leaks or breaks. But the water that leaks will build up underground and flood your yard or lawn. Also, your foundation or basement could show signs of water damage. Finally, decreased water pressure will be one of the best indicators of a leak, as the leak might actually take time to flood your yard.
If you notice any of these things, you should call a plumber to check the service line.
Causes
No matter how strong or long-lasting a pipe is, normal wear and tear will eventually weaken the pipe fittings. The pipes in your water supply line will start to rust and break down over time. Corrosion and deterioration occur because of exposure to oxygen, chemicals in the water, and changes in temperature. As the pipes get older, they weaken and become more likely to break.
Pipes and fittings that cannot handle sudden changes in pressure will break when the pressure changes. If the water pressure in your home goes up or down all of a sudden, it can put stress on the pipes and cause them to break. If there is a problem with the city's water supply, these sudden changes can happen. Someone could also turn on a faucet or device that uses a lot of water quickly.
Water supply lines can also break because of extreme weather, strong vibrations, or mechanical stress. During the winter, the water might freeze if exposed to extreme cold. When the water in the pipes freezes, it expands, putting pressure on the walls of the pipes. When the temperature changes quickly and the water freezes, the pipes can burst and leak.
Also, tree roots that grow close to your line put mechanical stress on the pipes as they squeeze them. Additionally, construction equipment and extreme weather can loosen pipes because they make the soil less stable.
Solutions
If a water supply line breaks, the first thing you should do is turn off the water at the main shut-off valve to stop more water damage. After you turn off the water, you can look at the situation and figure out what needs to be done to fix the break.
Call a plumber next. The plumber will give you two ways to fix the broken line. They will tell you to either get a new installation or fix the broken one.
Repair
If the pipe break is in an easy-to-reach place, the plumber might be able to fix it with a pipe clamp or patch kit. If there is a lot of damage to the pipe, like rust or cracks, the whole line might need replacement.
New Installation
Old homes, yards with deep tree roots, and homes that experience extreme weather may need new fixtures. These factors damage pipes in irreparable ways. To make sure the pipes last longer, your plumber will need to put in new lines and retrofit the whole supply line.
A service line break can create further problems if no one fixes it immediately. However, do not try to repair it yourself. You could end up making the problem even worse or damaging your home further. The issue will require professional tools and expertise to diagnose and accurately apply long-lasting solutions.
Contact us at PlumbRite to have your water line fixed if you notice any problems with it.
Additional Service Areas
Omaha, NE
La Vista, NE
Bellevue, NE