What Causes Burst Water Pipes and How You Can Stop Them Bursting?

water leaking from hole in a hose

Plumbing issues are unavoidable, so burst water pipes may not be an uncommon occurrence for most Sydney homeowners. It is a problem that can cause a lot of discomforts and cost you a lot of time and money to fix. A burst water pipe is a serious emergency that must be addressed as soon as possible in order to prevent flooding and extensive property damage. To handle this situation, contact the best emergency plumber in Sydney. First, let’s look at what causes pipes to burst. It all comes down to a few simple issues, such as corrosion, poor installation, water pressure, frozen pipes, etc. 

Corrosion

Older pipes frequently struggle with corrosion. Corrosion can start to degrade metal pipes if the plumbing isn’t properly maintained. A simple rise in internal plumbing pressure is all that is required for these frayed pipes to rupture. Corroded pipes may burst open if there is a buildup of calcium inside the pipes, which can increase pressure. 

Checking your water’s quality and pH levels at the source and the location where the water is discharged is one technique to prevent corrosion. If only your home has this problem, you might need to add a filtration system as soon as the water is brought in. If the water comes from a municipal source with high mineral content, you should probably talk to your municipal about fixing it. If there are problems with your water after it leaves the faucet but not at the source, you could need to change the plumbing in that area, or your water heater might need to be repaired. Contact the best emergency plumbing services in Sydney for your plumbing issues. 

Poor Installation

If a pipe was installed improperly by a non-professional, it may burst. There are a number of things that can go wrong while replacing pipes or performing small plumbing repairs around the house in an attempt to save money. The incorrect crimping of water line connections is one of the more frequent issues we’ve run into. The water flow may be impeded if the connections are pinched too firmly. The pipe on that side may burst as a result of increased water pressure on that side of the crimp. 

It is strongly advised to get in touch with qualified Sydney professional plumbers to ensure that repairs to water lines, faucets, and other plumbing are completed appropriately. 

Water Pressure

To prevent water pipe bursts, it is important to maintain regular water pressure. Pipes will burst in the event of a significant increase of pressure, necessitating urgent repairs for the damaged pipes as well as potentially costly property damage. If you think your home’s water pressure is too high, a qualified plumber can check the pressure at each faucet and spigot. Water pressure should never be higher than 60 psi in a home to prevent the need for urgent pipe burst repairs. Most homes have a water pressure range of 30 to 50 psi.

Frozen Pipes

Long-term below-freezing conditions can cause the structural walls of a structure to freeze over. For this reason, insulation is crucial in both the summer and the winter. Water expands when it freezes. Any water left in the plumbing pipes will start to freeze. As the water inside the pipe continues to freeze, the ice expands and pressure inside the pipe starts to rise. Eventually, the frozen water will cause the pipe to rupture, which will then cause water from the non-frozen sections to start spilling out. Significant damage may result if a frozen or leaking pipe is not identified right away. Turn on the faucets to let a slow, steady trickle of water run, if you need to prevent pipes from freezing.

How Do Stop Water Pipes from Bursting?

Insulation of Pipes

Sleeve-style pipe insulation should be used to insulate water pipes that are found in unheated exterior walls, basements, crawl spaces, or garages in order to keep the temperature above 32 degrees Fahrenheit and prevent freezing. Making sure that every room is adequately insulated and that cracks in leaky windows and doors are sealed to prevent blustery gusts can benefit your plumbing as well as your wallet as a whole.

Lock up Outdoor Faucets, Valves, and Hoses

Disconnect garden hoses before winter arrives, and if you can, use an interior valve to turn off and drain the water from the pipes going to outside faucets. This lessens the possibility of the short pipe span within the house freezing.

Prevent Corrosion

Keeping things out of the drain that promotes corrosion will also lessen the possibility of a broken pipe. Pouring harsh chemicals down the drain can cause a leak because they speed up pipe corrosion. This includes chemical drain cleaners.

Contact Professional Plumber

If you need plumbing or drain repairs, think twice before hiring an unlicensed plumber. Many things could go wrong and escalate quickly into major expenses. Licensed professionals have warranties and liability insurance in addition to the knowledge to avert these disasters!

Conclusion

You know what a headache it can be to clean up the mess and have the plumbing fixed if you’ve ever had a burst water pipe. Every homeowner needs to know how to keep their pipes from freezing and bursting, but it’s even more crucial to have an emergency plumber in Sydney on your side in case damage does occur.

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Call Mates Rates Plumbing Sydney, the first choice of enlightened residents, strata managers and commercial organisations throughout the Sydney North Shore on (02) 9191 7369 or complete the enquiry form to arrange an appointment and quotation.