Saddleback Plumbing Heating & Air Blog: Posts Tagged ‘Water Lines’

What Can Cause Damage to My Water Line?

Thursday, January 22nd, 2015

There are some really big repairs homeowners really don’t like to deal with: replacing roofs, re-wiring their homes and repairing either a water line or sewer line. While these types of repairs are ultimately good for your home and you, they are big repairs that tend to be costly. There are a few ways in which water lines can become damaged, and here are some of the more common scenarios our Saddleback Plumbing technicians have seen:

  • Aging of pipes – over the years, water lines have been made of a various metals, and some age better than others. Metals like iron can last over a hundred years while galvanized piping lasts about 50. If your water line is made of a type of metal that ages earlier than other types, it may age more quickly.
  • Corrosion – it’s hard to keep metal from corroding when it constantly comes into contact with water; safeguards are taken to help reduce the level of corrosion on piping, but once it starts it doesn’t stop. Corrosion leads to cracks and holes, which will cause your water line to leak.
  • Tree roots – tree roots are incredibly strong. They can wrap around a pipe and crush it or they can infiltrate small cracks and holes and as they suck up the water in the line, become stronger and bigger.
  • Ground shifting – the ground doesn’t necessarily stay put over the years, and even small shifts can cause a break in a water line.
  • Pressure – if a major clog forms deep in the system, the pressure from this clog can cause the water line to burst.
  • Fluctuating temperatures – if your water line pipe is exposed to highly fluctuating temperatures, the metal will expand and contract. Enough expanding and contracting can weaken the pipe and cause cracking, which can eventually lead to a break.
  • Freezing – it takes a lot to freeze a water line pipe, but if it does freeze, the ice crystals put tremendous pressure on the pipe from the inside; many times, this pressure is enough to cause a break in the pipe.

Soggy areas in your yard, dirt in your water and low water pressure are all signs that you may have a water line break. If you are seeing these signs, then it may be time to call Saddleback Plumbing and schedule an appointment for water line repair service in Trabuco Canyon.

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Why Have I Lost Water Pressure in My Home?

Wednesday, September 10th, 2014

If you’ve lost water pressure in your home, daily tasks like rinsing the dishes or showering may seem to take too long. And while this is somewhat of an inconvenience, low water pressure can also indicate trouble for your plumbing system. Low water pressure may be attributed to many factors, including the fixtures in your sink or shower. But in today’s post, we’ll look at a couple of ways that the water lines may be to blame.

Leaks

One possible reason for lowered water pressure is a leak in your water line. The water line is the pipe that runs from the water main to your home plumbing system. But leaks can occur in this pipe for many reasons, including tree root infiltrations, corrosion, or a sudden change in pressure elsewhere in the system. As a result of leaks, water cannot reach your home at a high pressure. Also, water may leak into your yard, causing it to pool around the home, and the leak may only worsen, leading to the need for professional pipe replacement.

Mineral Deposits

Another common source of low water pressure is a buildup of mineral deposits. A majority of homes are affected by “hard water.” If your water is hard, it simply means that certain minerals are present in your water, usually because it picks up some minerals as it moves underneath the ground. If you have hard water, you may notice white or yellow-green deposits around your faucets, drains, and showerheads. Also, it may be difficult for soap to lather, so water spots or residue show up on your glasses after running the dishwasher. Mineral deposits also build up inside your pipes, and water lines are most at risk. If mineral deposits build up in your pipes, it will block the normal flow of water into your home. But it may also build up to the point that you have to replace the pipes entirely. If it’s caught early, a simple repair and the addition of a water softener might solve the problem.

The professionals at Saddleback Plumbing have years of experience locating trouble areas and repairing water lines in Irvine. If low water pressure is an inconvenience for you, call us today!

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Signs of Damage to Your Water Line

Friday, June 27th, 2014

When you consider the amount of water that you use in your house on a daily basis—for cooking, cleaning, bathing, drinking—it’s astonishing that the pipeline that carries the fresh water into your home can endure as long as it does. But the continuous movement of water will eventually take a toll and you will end up with clogs, breaks, or leaks in the water main. In Southern California, damage from earthquakes are a particular worry, although you may not notice issues in the pipe immediately after a temblor.

Aside from outright losing your water supply, there are a number of specific signs to look for that can warn it’s time to call a plumber to investigate potential damages that may require the water line repair. For Mission Viejo, CA water lines, you can trust the job to Saddleback Plumbing; we’ve served Orange County with quality plumbing for over three decades.

Watch for These Indications of a Damaged Water Line

  • Drop in water pressure: One of the earliest warnings that there is a leak or block in the water line is when the water pressure suddenly plunges. If you notice that faucets and showerheads throughout your home have lost pressure and the flow of water is weak, the problem might lie with a damaged water line. (It’s also possible that there is an issue in the municipal system, so you should check with neighbors to see if they are experiencing similar troubles.)
  • Contamination in the water: Breaks in the water main will allow dirt and soil to enter into the pipes. Should your water take on a sudden reddish-brown discoloration, or an unpleasant taste, the issue is likely because of a breach in the water main. Call for repairs immediately.
  • Water flow in your yard: Should the water line spring a leak, the escaping water will flow up into your yard, and sometimes come through cracks in the sidewalk. The problem could come from unrelated pipes, but you nonetheless need to contact a plumber to determine the source of the leak.
  • Hissing and rumbling noises: The point where the water main enters your house will make hissing and rumbling sounds when water is flowing from a tap in your home; this is normal. But if you hear this sound when there is no water flowing inside the house, it indicates that water is running out of the line somewhere between where it exits the municipal supply and where it enters your home. Call right away for plumbers to look into the situation.

You don’t want to have your water supply abruptly vanish because of a damaged water line, so pay attention to any of these warning signs and call for a team of plumbers that knows how to handle plumbing repairs in Mission Viejo, CA that include water line damage. Trust the work to Saddleback Plumbing for fast and professional service. Contact us today to schedule a plumber at the first sign of damage to your water line.

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Ways to Detect Leaks in Underground Water Lines

Friday, May 16th, 2014

Underground water lines are a tricky proposition when it comes to plumbing repairs. You can’t usually spot signs of trouble until an actual leak has sprung up, at which time you often need to perform a full-bore excavation to get at the problem. Here in Lake Forest, CA water lines can also suffer damage from earthquakes, making excavation-based repairs more commonplace than they might be else. The good news is that technological advancements have made excavation must faster and more efficient, and there are new ways to detect leaks in underground water lines as well. We’ve broken down a few of them below.

The most obvious signs are usually the ones that will alert you to the problem. For example, if the water pressure in your home drops precipitously or puddles form in your yard without any apparent cause. Another quick way is to shut off water to the hose and then check the meter after 15 minutes or so. If water is still being used, you likely have an underground leak. In some cases, you may even be able to spot a leak if the grass in the vicinity of the leak is greener than the surrounding foliage.

Once you summon a plumber, he or she can take advantage of advanced tools to pinpoint the leak. Acoustic leak detectors can be used to spot the dripping sounds: a microphone is pointed at the ground and the plumber slowly moves along the length of the underground pipe until he pinpoints the spot where the leak is coming from. Similar tools use sonic vibrations, pressure sensors and other tricks to get to the heart of the issue.

Professional methods require professional training, which is why you should call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing the minute you realize that there’s an issue. We have ways to detect leaks in underground water lines that go above and beyond the standards, and we stand by our work from the start of the project to the end. Be sure to schedule plumbing service in Lake Forest, CA as water lines should be checked after every earthquake and any time you suspect there’s trouble. Give us a call today and let us take care of the problem for you!

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Watch for Water Line Breaches after an Earthquake

Friday, April 11th, 2014

Earthquakes are a serious concern here in Southern California, and in Laguna Hills, water lines can often be breached following a significant temblor. As the ground shifts, rocks below ground might move, sinkholes could form, and other pressures may be placed on your pipe that weren’t there before. The good news is that there are plumbing services in Laguna Hills with experience repairing water line breaches. The bad news is that breached water lines are usually located below the ground, which means you need to look for subtle signs rather than expecting it to announce itself. Here are a few tips to help you watch for water line breaches after an earthquake.

  • No water
    This is the most obvious sign that something is wrong. If you turn on the faucet or flush the toilet and no water comes back, you likely have a serious breach with the line.
  • Puddles
    Another good sign that you have an underground breach is the appearance of mysterious puddles of water in your yard. Check your year and other parts of your property such as the basement after an earthquake to make sure those puddles aren’t forming.
  • Odors
    A bad odor can indicate a breach in the sewer line, but also a fracture or a back-up in the water line as well. If you small something strange emitting from your kitchen sink or other pipes, it’s time to take some action.
  • Sounds
    You may hear running water in a nearby storm drain or even in parts of your home, despite the fact that there’s no apparent source of the water. That’s usually a good sign that you’re looking at some serious problems.

If you spot water line breaches after an earthquake, call the experts at Saddleback Plumbing for help. We work in Laguna Hills, water lines are a part of our service, and we know how to move quickly when there’s an emergency. After an earthquake, the first thing you need to do is secure your family and your valuables.  We can be a major part of that, especially in the event of water line damage. Give us a call today and let us show you what we can do!

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Common Problems With Water Lines

Friday, December 13th, 2013

Sooner or later, every homeowner has to deal with common problems with water lines. Most of the time they lie under the ground in your yard, and since reaching them can be difficult, most problems simply go unnoticed until they actively interfere with the functioning of your plumbing. Here in Laguna Hills, water lines have to contend with our local atmosphere and other problems unique to southern Orange County. What kind of issues can you expect from your water lines?

Did you know Saddleback Plumbing works with water lines? Call us for help!

A few of the most prevalent are detailed below.

  • Clogs and blockages. Clogs are an inevitably as grease, waste, hair and food leavings slowly build up in your pipes. You can hire a plumber to handle basic clogs in your sink or shower, but build-up in the main water line can be a more serious operation.
  • Tree roots. Tree roots are instinctively drawn towards sewer lines, because the waste entailed often acts as a natural fertilizer.  Over time, they can instigate breaches or even infiltrate the pipe with micro-roots and clog it solid. Tree roots are among the most difficult water line problems to treat because you must often excavate the entire pipe to get at it.
  • General corrosion. Laguna Beach often contains a lot of corrosive material in the soil: salt from our sea air and similar components in the soil can wreak havoc with your pipes: creating breaches and leaks over time.
  • Shifting soil. The soil can change position over time, especially with our combination of hilly terrain and occasional earthquakes. When it does, your water line may be subjected to sudden pressures that can easily damage it, perhaps resulting in breach.

Unfortunately, common problems with water lines often require meticulous solutions, of the sort that only a trained professional can provide. Saddleback Plumbing works in Laguna Hills, water lines are a focus of ours, and we can apply modern technology (such as video pipe inspection) to address the issue. We have unique conditions in Southern California, and those conditions can affect your home plumbing in ways that you can’t always anticipate.

Give Saddleback Plumbing a call and make sure you have an experienced expert on your side!

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Plumbing Tip: Signs of a Broken Water Line

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Broken water lines are something that no homeowner wants to deal with. But with the near-constant use that your water lines get they will eventually need to repaired. Because your water lines are buried so far underground it can be difficult to tell when they start to leak or crack. But there are a few signs that homeowners should watch out for that could indicate that their water line is broken. Contact the plumbing experts at Saddleback Plumbing for any water line replacement or repair that you need. We wanted to help out our Orange County customers by putting together some of the most common signs to watch for.

Common Signs of Irvine CA Water Line Repair

From the time you wake up in the morning to when you go to bed your home’s water lines deliver fresh water to every faucet in your home. With all that use it should be make sense that they would eventually need to be repaired. Here are a few of the common signs that your water line is broken.

  • Watch your water bill – While you may not be able to see your water line, you can definitely see how much water is going through it. Keep a close eye on your water bill and make sure that there aren’t any sudden spikes in usage without a corresponding action on your part. This can indicate that you have water leaking under your yard.
  • Soggy or raised patches – If you notice that certain parts of your yard are soggy or if they are raised it could mean that you have a leak in your water main.
  • Low water pressure – The water that comes out of your home’s faucets is pressurized and if your water line starts to leak that pressure could escape. This would translate into lower water pressure in your home.

 

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