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Faulty Plumbing? The Causes of Water Damage
4 min read
Faulty plumbing is one of the most destructive issues homeowners can experience in Metro Detroit. Seemingly minor issues such as a small leak can produce tiny droplets of water that gradually damage your property over time.
The slow action of water seeping into your home can cause the material to rot and promote the growth of mold and mildew. Meanwhile, a sudden pipe burst will result in significant water damage to your furniture, carpeting, walls, and floors; it will also cost you thousands of dollars in water cleanup and repair.
What Causes Broken Pipes?
Although plumbing issues are problematic in themselves, they should be seen as a symptom of a different problem around your home that needs to be solved. That said, here are the most common causes of broken pipes that lead to plumbing problems:
- Extremely High Water Pressure: For most homeowners, high water pressure indicates that all is well with your plumbing system. However, excessively high water pressure levels can lead to issues like burst pipes. One sure sign of high water pressure is what is known as a water hammer which is an audible banging noise that emanates from your lines.
- Freezing Temperatures: Most incidents involving bursting pipes are caused by extremely low temperatures. At freezing temperatures, the water within the pipes freezes and expands, causing the pipe to burst. This occurs due to a lack of adequate pipe insulation.
- Corrosion: Pipes do corrode over time with constant exposure to the oxidative effects of water and oxygen. This gradually weakens the integrity of the lines, making them prone to leaking or bursting at any given time.
- Clogging: Foreign substances like hair, dirt, small debris, food waste, and toilet paper can clog your pipes and increase their pressure. Over time, the pressure will start to build up, causing your pipes to burst.
- Root Ingress and Shifting Soil: A common issue among underground pipes, the action of roots and the shifting of the soil can puncture your tubes and cause them to break.
What Problems Does Faulty Plumbing Cause?
Plumbing systems are built to last a long time. However, as time passes, pipes and fixtures can get damaged due to the above causes. When this happens, there is an increased risk of potential problems that may require water cleanup and restoration.
Leaks are one of the most common issues that appear due to faulty plumbing. Although leaks may seem like a simple inconvenience, the damage they cause builds up over time, which adds to the eventual repair cost. The type and severity of water damage will also depend on the leak’s location.
For instance, an undetected leak in the attic can cause considerable water damage to your ceiling, floors, and walls; it may also lead to microbial growth. However, when that leak occurs in the basement, you will most likely be dealing with a mold problem and the gradual weakening of your home’s foundation.
When leaks are detected early, the damage to your property will be minimal and can be dealt with quickly on your own. However, when you’re dealing with a burst pipe, you will most likely be facing significant property loss. You will also require the expertise of a professional water restoration company to mitigate the damage and prevent further loss.
Call the Water Clean Up Experts in Metro Detroit
If you start noticing signs of water damage around your property, get in touch with the experts at Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit. Faulty plumbing issues may be involved, which means swift action is necessary to mitigate the damage and keep costs for repair and restoration at a minimum. Solve your plumbing issues and eliminate the problems that come with them by engaging the services of a reliable water restoration company. Call Restoration 1 of Metro Detroit today!
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