Plumbing Tips | September 7, 2022

What Do I Do If I Have a Broken Pipe?

What Do I Do If I Have a Broken Pipe?

Broken pipes, whether they are inside your home or underground, are never good. It can lead to various problems that can quickly cause damage to your home.

Let’s go over some information to help you solve this issue. 

What Causes a Cracked Pipe?

The reason why you might find a cracked pipe in your home is because of environmental impacts like temperature changes and thermal expansion. 

But wait, these aren’t the only reasons. The material of the pipe and the age of it can also have a huge impact. 

On top of that, if the ground settles and puts too much pressure on the pipe itself, this can cause them to crack. They can’t stand the stress of the ground forever. 

The last reason that a pipe might crack is due to corrosive soils around the pipe. This is typically because of not using corrosion protection, allowing the soil to break down different metals like iron over time. 

The material and the age of the pipe plays a huge role in what may cause a crack.
The material and the age of the pipe plays a huge role in what may cause a crack.

How Serious is a Cracked Sewer Pipe?

A cracked sewer pipe is very serious for many reasons. The number one reason being that it can make you very sick. It can release so much harmful bacteria in your home including, but not limited to, E.coli, salmonella, and pinworms. These are known to negatively impact your digestive tract. 

How Serious is a Cracked Pipe Inside My Home?

A cracked pipe in your home can be very serious. This is because water moves quickly. In addition, it can cause extensive damage to your home in just a short period of time. It’s best to first turn off the water supply to prevent any more damage. 

How Do I Tell If I Have a Cracked Pipe Inside My Home?

There are many signs you can look out for. If you hear things like dripping noises in the walls, see fluctuations in your water pressure, have high water bills, see water marks or mold problems, it’s more than likely you have a cracked or broken pipe somewhere in your home. 

This is what water marks on your walls would look like. This is a key indicator that there is a leaking pipe behind there.
This is what water marks on your walls would look like. This is a key indicator that there is a leaking pipe behind there.

How Do You Fix a Cracked Pipe?

There are two choices here. You can either have a traditional repair done or a trenchless repair. 

A traditional repair involves digging up the broken sewer pipe and replacing it with a completely new pipe. The unfortunate thing about traditional repairs is that your yard will be dug up to reach the pipe. This can leave a pretty significant mess during the project. 

A trenchless repair requires a camera system to be sent down the pipe. This is so it can be identified where the crack is in the pipe. Once it is identified, a liner sleeve that is coated in epoxy goes into the pipe. It completely covers the area that is leaking. This basically creates another layer inside the existing pipe that mimics the pipe itself. This process typically costs less than the traditional method, takes less time to do, and uses minimal equipment. 

If you come across this issue inside your home, it is best to shut off the water first. Then, call a plumber to take a look and replace or repair the pipe for you. 

A traditional repair involves having to dig where the broken pipe is in order to replace it.
A traditional repair involves having to dig where the broken pipe is in order to replace it.

Will Homeowners Insurance Cover This Inside My Home?

On the bright side, water damage from cracked or broken pipes inside your home can often be covered by insurance. Check with your insurance company to be sure on what they can do for you.

Water damage that is sudden and accidental can typically be covered by your insurance company.
Water damage that is sudden and accidental can typically be covered by your insurance company.

Can I Seal a Cracked Pipe? 

You can seal a pipe with silicone repair tape. This can be effective for small holes and leaks on pipe joints. This wouldn’t be recommended for use on a huge hole or crack in a pipe. 

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, it’s important to know of the most common signs people see when they have this issue. This is so you can be familiar with the signs and catch it before it causes damage to your home. Broken pipes can be costly repairs depending on the circumstances and should not be taken lightly. 

Call 1-Tom-Plumber 

Don’t hesitate to contact us here or call us at 1-Tom-Plumber (1-866-758-6237) if you need help with any drain cleaning service, anywhere in your home or business. 1-Tom-Plumber’s certified team of plumbers and drain technicians respond immediately to any emergency plumbing, drain cleaning, or water damage problem. 

We also handle the excavation of underground water lines and sewer main lines. Our immediate-response team is available every day and night of the year, even on holidays. 

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