Sudden drops in temperature can have a major impact on your underground plumbing. Recent winter conditions in the Atlanta area are more than enough to contribute to a water main break outside your home if the pipes are old or damaged. Before the situation becomes an emergency, have a qualified plumbing team inspect and replace the plumbing that connects your home to the municipal water supply. Here’s how to approach water main replacement:
Assessing the Condition of Waterlines
Unless you have recently looked at the buried pipes outside your home, there is no way of telling their condition. As time passes, pipes become corroded from the buildup of sediment or general deterioration. Water mains are likely to rupture when they reach this point in their life-span.
To begin digging to check waterlines on your property, you’ll need to advise municipal authorities so you don’t hit a power line during the excavation. Contact a trusted plumber to advise whether your pipes are in sound condition or need to be replaced. If there is an emergency, request a team for immediate dispatch to shut off the water valve and protect your property.
Warning Signs for Water Mains
Once plumbers take a look at the plumbing connecting your home to the main water supply, they will be able to tell whether you have a need for immediate pipe replacement. Many homes from Woodstock to Buckhead and farther south have polybutylene pipes installed in and around the property. These pipes have a finite life-span and are known to be defective.
Checking for polybutylene pipes should be a priority for homeowners, whether you’re shopping for a new house or just are trying to keep your place in excellent condition. Plumbers qualified to excavate around your property can tell you whether warning signs for old waterlines exist. Ask them to check for defective piping at the same time.
A Water Main Break and Other Winter Hazards
Uncommonly cold winters in the Atlanta area create challenges for all types of plumbing lines and HVAC systems. It’s crucial to put winterization practices into effect to avoid breakdowns in plumbing or heating and cooling. While procedures like pipe insulation or HVAC filter changes are simple for homeowners to execute, ask a Reliable team member to give your home a more thorough extreme weather inspection.
If you’re having problems with your waterline, plumbers may advise a water main replacement to increase the flow of water to your home. Once complete, a waterline replacement can impact your home’s water quality, too. You will need to sterilize the water supply to make it safe for family members to drink and bathe in. There is no margin for error in this process, making it a job unworthy as a do-it-yourself project.
Reliable Heating & Air’s team of master plumbers are experienced with water main replacement and emergency services related to waterline problems. Whenever you have trouble with your plumbing, Reliable is on call 24/7 to come stop the water flow and get your home back to normal.
Image source: Wikimedia Commons