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How serious is a burst water pipe?

Not all burst pipes are noticed immediately, and those are the worst ones to have!  If you notice a water pipe busted, you can take steps to stop the damage from happening.  A burst water pipe that goes unnoticed or unrepaired can do a few things: 

• Water damage
• Water rot
• Water bill increase
• Water wasted

Along with the water damage, you can start experiencing an infestation of insects and critters. Mildew and mold form and spread, causing breathing issues and more. It is important to have burst pipe repairs done immediately, even if a temporary repair is better than nothing until you get a professional plumber on the job.

Can a broken pipe be repaired?

It depends on the location and severity of the break. Small issues like loose fittings, which isn’t a ‘break’, but can still cause water damage, tightening the fitting will typically fix the problem. This is something that many homeowners can do themselves, but if the damage is extensive or in a compromising location, call a professional plumbing service for burst pipe repair service.

What should you do if a plumber isn’t available immediately? 

If you can’t get immediate plumbing service you can do a temporary patch repair yourself using epoxy putty, rubber tape, or pipe clamps. How do you use tape for a burst pipe repair? Plumbing pipe leak tape can be used on common piping materials like metal, plastic, and rubber. 

Plumbing pipe repair tape comes in a variety of colors and sizes and is a strong adhesive. Silicone tape is the most recommended one for repairing pipe fractures.  leaks. It forms a watertight seal around the pipe that won’t break or allow leaking. 

The first step in using silicone burst pipe repair tape is to remove the old gasket. Next, measure a strip of the tape that will cover the problem area, then attach it to the pipe, followed by reattaching the gasket. 

How long does pipe repair tape last?

Using the proper silicone burst pipe repair tape makes a great temporary solution. It has been known to last for years. However, while this makes a great immediate burst pipe repair solution, it is only meant to be temporary. Follow up with a professional plumber to inspect the pipe and make any long-term repairs they recommend. There could be the possibility of something else causing the burst that should be repaired. 

What is the best way for a burst pipe repair?

A burst water pipe can lead to a lot of water damage that can become an expensive issue. As soon as you notice a burst pipe, turning the water off at the main is the first thing to do. This will top any further water damage and allow you to assess the problem. 

The following are the steps a professional plumber will take for proper burst pipe repairs: 

• Locate the Damage 
• Drain the Water Pipes
• Cut Out the Damaged Section 
• Clean Metal Burrs Off 
• Cut the Replacement Pipe to Length
• Clean the Pipe With Steel Wool
• Add Flux To Pipe & and Connect the Pipes
• Using Propane Torch, Heat the Fitting and Pipe
• Melt the Solder
• Turn On the Water 
• Check for Leaks

How long does a burst pipe repair take?

Several factors can affect the time it takes for a burst pipe repair job, like if the burst pipe is frozen, if is it underground or under the house, in the foundation, inside walls, etc. Burst pipe repairs can take between 4 hours and 24 hours.

What is the difference between a pipe leak and a pipe burst?

A pipe leak is the one that isn’t always noticed right away. They are caused by a small crack or hole, maybe a loose fitting. You will typically notice a leaking pipe by small amounts of water on the floor or inside the cabinet. A burst pipe is typically a larger opening and water is flowing or shooting out of the damaged area freely. In either situation, leaking or burst pipe repairs should be done as soon as possible, again, even a temporary patch until the plumber arrives. 

What does it sound like when a pipe is about to burst?

There is a thin line between a leaking water pipe and a busted water pipe, but the results can be the same if not addressed soon. When a water pipe busts, clanging and rattling sounds are often included.  If you suspect you have a busted pipe, burn off all the faucets and listen for dripping or rushing water sounds.  

How can a clogged shower drain be cleared? 

First, we need to stress to avoid using over-the-counter chemical drain cleaners. Is it safe to use chemical drain cleaners on a clogged shower drain?  No, with enough use of chemical drain cleaners, you can damage the pipes. Additionally, if not used with the utmost caution of eye and skin protection, any splash back can damage your eyes or burn your skin. 

Are there any natural ways to clear a clogged shower drain? 

Yes, in addition to avoiding the chemical products that claim to clear clogged shower drains, you can try the following methods: 

• Pour boiling water down the clogged drain after removing any hair in the drain. If that doesn’t clear the clogged shower drain, try the next step.
• Pour one cup of baking soda in the drain, followed up by one cup of white vinegar. Wait 30 minutes and then run hot water for 5 minutes. If that doesn’t work, the next step is: 
• Try plunging the clogged shower drain If that fails, next step: 
• Use a plumber’s snake and if that fails, call a professional plumber.

What are some signs of a clogged shower drain? 

There are three indications that you have a clogged shower drain: 

• Bad odor – a clogged shower drain will start to have an odor from the wastewater collecting in the pipes.
• Slow draining – if your shower is starting to drain slower and slower, you probably have a clogged shower drain and its starting to worsen. 
• Water puddles – if you have water puddling up around the shower, you may have a clogged shower drain or something worse. 

How can a clogged shower drain be prevented? 

If a clogged shower drain is a frequent occurrence for you, the following will help minimize, even eliminate, the problem from occurring again: 

1. Bar Soap
Bar soap is the biggest culprit in soap scum accumulating inside the pipes. When this build up starts, other substance like hair will cling to it, and in short time, you have a clogged shower drain. Plumbers recommend using liquid bath soap instead because it rinses down the drain faster.

2. Hair Catcher
On average, we shed between fifty and one hundred hairs every day, most of that during our daily shower.  That hair accumulates in the pipes, clinging to the soap scum we discussed above. By using a hair catcher on the shower drain, you eliminate one possible cause of a clogged shower drain. 

However, the short hair left behind from shaving will still flow into the shower drain, even with a hair catcher. Those short hairs will cling to the  soap sum and other personal care products you may use.  There are hair catchers with smaller holes that can eliminate this problem. 

3. Sand
When you get home from a day at the beach or lake, before you and your family members take a shower, rinse off outside. By removing any sand on the bodies will keep you from having a clogged shower drain. 

4. Body Scrubs
Body scrubs will coat the interior of the plumbing just like bar soap, contributing to a clogged shower drain because they exfoliate the skin, which is rinsed down the drain too. 

Washing Away Your Wastewater

By following the suggestions we’ve made in this piece, you can avoid having a clogged shower drain. Preventive measures can work better than any of the natural ways of clearing the clogged shower drains and avoiding chemical drain openers is the safest way to clear those drains! 

HC Edwards Plumbing can assist with your clogged shower drain in Red Oak, TX. Call 214-862-0225 to get a professional plumber sent straight away!

Is a leaking pipe an emergency?

While a simple drip might not be considered a plumbing emergency, anytime you have a leaking pipe, you should consider it an emergency, especially if it’s a burst pipe. Getting a burst pipe repaired as quickly as possible is critical. When a pipe bursts, you’ll pretty quickly experience flooding which leads to water damage and ultimately costly repairs. While plumbers can help with some water damage, depending on how saturated the area is, heavy flooding will require the help of a water restoration company to remove water, dry everything and provide mold and mildew remediation.

If you have a burst pipe, to minimize damage, you first want to shut off the main water line and open all the faucets to drain off the water. The shut-off to the main water line can be found at the street meter which is under the metal cover near often near the sidewalk in the front yard. You can shut off the line using a water meter box lid key, which opens the metal cover; and a curb key to shut off the water. Both of these tools are relatively inexpensive and can be purchased at hardware stores.

The shut-off process is fairly simple: Once the meter lid is taken off, check to see if the utility company has wired up the meter to assist in reading it. If so, gently set the wire aside without breaking it before putting the curb key on the shut-off valve and turning it clockwise 180 degrees until you feel the valve stop.

Follow up by calling an emergency plumber like the experts at HC Edwards Plumbing.

Is a clogged sewer line an emergency?

Many times, people consider clogs a minor issue, something that they might even repair themselves with a little drain cleaner (not recommended because it damages pipes) or a plunger. But, when your sewer line gets clogged, you have a serious plumbing emergency on your hands.

While sewer clogs are common, if they are not cleared out quickly, the sewer line could burst. Should your sewer line burst, you will need to act fast and get an emergency plumbing repair.

Besides creating an awful odor, blocked or burst sewer lines create a health hazard for you and your family. Try to avoid any areas where sewage has leaked or backed up to prevent illness and other health issues.

Emergency plumbing repair costs

As with any sort of service, the costs of plumbing repairs will vary. This will depend on what’s being done and how long it will take, among other factors.

HC Edwards Plumbing always puts our customers first. We know budgets can be tight. We want to maintain the strong reputation we’ve built serving the area for more than 40 years, so our plumbers make sure they provide accurate and honest assessments of the repairs you need. You can also count on our team to provide expert service. Our technicians know their job and are trained to use the latest equipment to ensure you get the best service available.

Most common plumbing repairs

Plumbers work on a wide variety of jobs from repairing dripping faucets to whole-house repiping. Common plumbing repairs include:

• Dripping or broken faucets: Often caused by a worn O-ring, it’s sometimes caused by corrosion that may require the faucet to be replaced. As with a pipe leak, before calling the plumber, if the water won’t shut off, you’ll need to turn it off using the shut-off valves under the sink to avoid water damage and loss.
• Pipe leaks: These could be simple dribbles that only require a few replaced parts or they could be a burst pipe that requires emergency repairs to avoid further damage.
• Running toilets: Often a simple repair of replacing a worn flapper, but a repair that can save money because a constantly running toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every day
• Clogged drains: Clogs need to be cleared as soon as possible to avoid serious problems in your plumbing lines, including leaks. Multiple drain clogs could indicate a problem with your sewer line and a good way to discover what’s wrong is through a video camera inspection.
• Water heaters: Most often the problem is cold water which could signify anything from broken heating elements to sediment build-up. If the water heater is more than 10 years old you might want to consider replacing it.

What should I do about a burst pipe?

If you have a burst pipe, the first thing you want to do before calling a plumber is shut off your water. Bursts pipes can quickly waste hundreds of gallons of water. Disconnecting the water not only saves you money on your water bill, but you’ll also prevent severe water damage to your home. You can shut the water off at the main water meter, usually outside near the sidewalk in the front yard. Additionally, open all the faucets to drain any leftover water and relieved water pressure. It’s also advisable to shut off electricity, depending on where the leak is located.

After the water is shut off, you want to call a plumber to fix the pipe. It’s best not to try to make the repair yourself, as this could lead to further damage. You can, however, start with the cleanup, grabbing mops and buckets or a shop vacuum to minimize the water damage. This will especially help prevent mold growth.

Once the broken pipe gets repaired, you want to finish removing any water that’s flooded the area. The longer water remains in an area the more likely it will damage walls, floors, and belongings, and lead to costly repairs. You might need to call in a water restoration professional if the flooding is extensive.

Is a broken pipe an emergency?

Broken and burst pipes are always considered an emergency situation and you want to get it taken care of as soon as possible to avoid serious issues with water damage. Never hesitate to reach out to the plumbing professionals at HC Edwards Plumbing for broken and burst pipe repair in Red Oak, TX and the surrounding areas. Our plumbers are on-call 24/7 and always ready to help in an emergency situation.

Can you claim insurance on a burst pipe?

Burst pipes can prove to be a worrisome and costly headache. Fortunately, to undercut the costs of burst pipe repair, many homeowners’ policies cover damage from burst and frozen pipes. In fact, according to the Insurance Information Institute, 22% of all homeowner’s claims result from freezing and water damage. Of course, insurance policies will vary, so contact your insurance agent to make sure you are covered.

How long does it take to fix a burst pipe?

Depending on the severity of the damage, it typically takes a plumbing professional two to four hours to complete a burst pipe repair. Most of this time is usually consumed trying to find the burst and determining the break’s size. Although many leaks occur behind walls, very rarely will a pipe burst through the walls of your home. Plumbers, however, may have to open the walls to get to the pipes and make the repair.

How common are burst pipes?

Burst pipes are actually some of the most common repairs plumbers make. While these repairs usually occur because the water in the pipe has frozen and caused the pipe to expand, pipes can also burst for the following reasons:

• Aged pipes: Whether metal or PVC, pipes that are 20 years or older can become corroded or brittle and break.
• Clogs: While you might think of clogs as innocuous nuisances, they can actually seriously damage pipes. Large clogs slow down the flow of water through the pipes, which increases water pressure and can cause the pipe to burst.
• Improper connections: Pipe connections are very vulnerable spots in your plumbing and if the connections have somehow weakened this can expose the pipes to high water pressure and lead them to break

How do you know if you have a burst pipe?

Repairing a burst pipe quickly is the key to minimizing damage and repair costs. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to detect a pipe burst, because they will rarely burst through walls. Some ways to find a pipe burst include:

• Spotting frost around a pipe: This usually indicates the pipe is already frozen and may end up expanding and bursting as it thaws.
• Stains appearing on walls, floors, or ceilings: Stains and discoloration often signify that a pipe is leaking.
• Low water pressure
• Pipe emitting foul odors: This usually means the pipe has burst from a clog.
• Higher water bills: Leaks are usually the culprit that’s causing your water bills to increase.

What damage does a burst pipe cause?

If a burst pipe goes unrepaired, it can cause extensive damage to your home. Hundreds of gallons of water can flood your home in a short time and that water can damage floors and ceilings as well as wood and sheetrock. Worse still, your foundation can be weakened and all this damage can lead to steep repair costs. That’s why it’s better to get the leak repaired as soon as it is discovered.

What are the most common problems with water heaters?

Water heaters are hard-working appliances. In use daily, over time the demand on them can lead to all kinds of issues. Below are the most common problems our plumbers encounter when it comes to water heater repair:

• Issues with water temperature: Usually water temperature complaints tend toward cold water, but if your thermostat is set too high, your water could come out scalding. Faulty thermostats and heating elements are the usual suspects causing cold water, although lack of power will cause the water to come out cold. Lack of power should be checked first by resetting tripped circuit breakers, replacing any blown fuses and checking power switches. Check the thermostat setting if the water is too hot. Ideally, the thermostat should be set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Leaks: Faulty temperature and pressure relief valves (T&P) often trigger leaks, although leaking water tanks, bad gaskets, and improper water pressure are common. If your tank is leaking, this is usually a signal that your water heater has reached the end of its lifespan and it will need to be replaced.
• Rusty or discolored water: Corrosion of the tank’s inner lining or a failing anode rod can cause water to look rusty or discolored. Failing anode rods also signify the beginning of the end of your water heater’s life. It will soon be time to replace the water heater when the anode rod is failing and corrosion is present.
• Strange noises: Odd noises usually occur because of sediment build-up. Flushing your water heater may help clear out the sediment. If flushing the water heater doesn’t help, contact a plumbing professional to determine if you need to replace the unit.

Is it better to fix or replace the water heater?

If you’re experiencing problems with your water heater, you might just need a simple water heater repair. But it might also be time to replace the unit. The decision to repair or replace it hinges on several factors. What needs to be repaired? If it’s a pilot light or a tripped circuit breaker, a stuck valve, a broken heating element, or a broken thermostat, then you’re usually better off paying for a repair.

One of the main reasons you replace your water heater is age. If it’s a standard tank unit somewhere between 10 to 15 years old, replacing it is probably a good idea. If you’re spending a lot of time and money on repairs, you’ll find it’s probably better to replace the unit and save money in the long term. Newer units are much more efficient and will often last longer.

What is the lifespan of a water heater?

Traditional standard tank water heaters typically last anywhere between eight to 12 years. Good maintenance will help your water heater last longer, but commonly as your water heater ages, key parts like the anode rod will begin to fail. The anode rod attracts corrosive particles away from the water heater’s inner lining but in time as the rod wears out, those particles settle on the water tank and usually cause it to corrode. This usually signifies the water heater’s last stages of life.

Tankless water heaters typically last about 20 years. Their lifespan usually comes to an end as well from corrosion.

What shortens the life of a water heater?

Your water heater is a pretty sturdy appliance but it gets used regularly. With regular use over time, sediment can build up inside the tank. This is especially true if you have hard water. When sediment builds up, it shortens the life of your water heater. To reduce sediment, it’s good to flush the tank ever so often. You only need to drain enough water into a bucket until it’s flowing clear, usually about two or three gallons. Make sure to open the drain valve slowly when flushing the tank.

Can I use my washing machine if my hot water heater is broken?

Because most washing machines use water drawn from the home, that means when you’re washing clothes in hot water, it pulls water from the water heater. If you’re planning to use hot water while doing laundry and the water heater is broken, you can still use the washer, as long as you don’t mind washing in cold water. That said, if the water heater is leaking, it’s best not to use the washing machine or any other appliances until the leak is repaired.

Tankless water heater repair and plumbing

While tankless water heaters often last longer than standard tank units, they can still malfunction. Like other water heaters, tankless units can experience problems with sediment build-up which will require repairs. They also usually have safety settings and shut off if they overheat. Overheating usually doesn’t signify a problem with the water heater itself, rather it usually indicates a plumbing problem like a clogged whole-house filter is present.