There are a number of reasons why a pipe can bust, and as a home owner, you want to make are that you are avoiding a burst pipe at all costs. A bust pipe can be catastrophic in damage to your home, and on your wallet. Let’s review some of the common reasons why pipes can burst in your home.
Extreme Freezing Temperatures
Yes, the extreme cold of Canadian winters can be one of the biggest culprits of bursting pipes in your home.
Although cold temperatures generally cause materials to contract, ice has more volume than water. Because of this, when water freezes inside a pipe, it expands and increases pressure inside the pipe. All that pressure has to go somewhere
As a result, the accumulated pressure will burst through the weakest point in the pipe. One way that you are able prevent your water pipes from bursting during extreme cold is to turn on your faucets to allow a steady stream of water to flow through your pipes. This will help prevent freezing and bursting pipes from built up pressure, and keep water flowing.
Wall Hammering
If your water pipes are not properly installed or have become loose over time, the motion from water suddenly running on and off can cause your pipes to move around inside the walls.
If you have ever turned on the water and heard pipes clanging inside the floors or walls, you have “wall hammering”. These pipes will essentially wiggle back and forth cause them to come loose and weaken the points until it may burst under pressure. If you suspect you have wall hammering, we recommend you contact RR Calgary immediately. Trust us, you DO NOT want your pipe to burst!
Corrosion
Water pipes are built to be reliable and last for decades.
However, like most things in life, your pipes will deteriorate over time. Years and years of slow corrosion can cause pipes to fail. Corrosion can be caused by a pH imbalance in the water, a minor issue at first that over time becomes more takes its toll on water pipes. In Calgary and surrounding areas, we have a harder than average water supply.
If your water supply pipes are made of galvanized iron, the minerals inside the water slowly wear down the galvanized coating, causing faster corrosion and can cause lead poising. This exposes the iron underneath, causing rusting and gradually narrows the diameter of the pipe.
If you are subject to a burst pipe, it is curtail that you locate the source of the problem so that it does not happen again.
After all, prevention is the best fix. Contact an RR Calgary plumber today to get your plumbing inspected and make any necessary water pressure adjustments.
Contact Us Today