We all know the damage that cold weather can do to pipes, but did you know that extreme heat can be just as bad? You wouldn’t think that warm weather could do much to pipes, but the truth is that extreme heat can be devastating to your pipes and your home in general. It is vital to know what could happen, so you know what to look out for and when it’s time to call a certified plumber.
Summer Causes Pipe Problems
It’s not just the heat; summer, in general, can cause all kinds of pipe problems. Some common summer pipe problems include:
- Dry soil shifting and allowing pipes to move and crack or disconnect
- Tree roots growing into pipes as they look for moisture
- Increased water usage putting pressure on old pipes and hoses, especially sprinkler systems
- Increase in water usage from more people being home in the summer from more showers to more laundry
The Direct Impact of Extreme Heat
While not everything can be directly attributed to rapid increases in heat, extreme heat can directly impact your pipes. Extreme heat can lead to pipes expanding at a rapid rate and cracking or even bursting.
Signs There May Be a Problem
Unless you are sitting in a pool of water, you may not know there is a problem with your pipes for a while. Here are a few signs to watch for; if you see them, it’s best to contact someone immediately.
- An unexpectedly large water bill
- A noticeable decrease in your water pressure
- Backed up sewer pipes
- Slow draining sinks
- Large puddles of water forming in the yard
Solutions
Unfortunately, there is not much you can do without the help of a professional; however, there are a few actions you can take while waiting for help to arrive.
- If you have a burst pipe in your irrigation system, cut off the water flow to your system until it can be repaired
- Do not try to snake or use chemicals to fix slow drains, as they can cause more damage and likely won’t work, especially if your problem is a damaged pipe.
- Use as little water as possible until a certified plumber can get to you
- If the broken pipe is a mainline outside your home, call the city to shut off the water to your home and mark where the affected pipe is in your yard.
Prevention
As the old saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of the cure. Even if you don’t think you have a problem with your pipes now, that doesn’t mean one isn’t lurking around the corner. Try these suggestions to prevent problems before they happen.
- Water your yard regularly in dry months to prevent the pipes from shifting in the dry soil and trees from searching for moisture in your pipes
- Stagger the use of large appliances, so there is not as much pressure on the pipes and run them at night and in the early morning when the temperature is cooler
- Open up closed water lines slowly after the winter, so there is no undue pressure on the pipes.
Call Us ASAP!
A broken pipe is not something that you can put off until later. Small cracks in a pipe can lead to burst pipes that cost a lot of money to repair. So if you have an emergency or just have a feeling that something isn’t right with your pipes, give us a call as early as possible. Our trained professionals will diagnose and fix any problem you may have, whether it is an everyday clogged drain or extreme heat causing cracks in your pipes. The faster it’s fixed, the more money you will save on your water bill, and you will have peace of mind that a bigger problem is not right around the corner.
