When the water main breaks, you may experience a disaster in your home or building. In addition to the risk of bacteria coming into your water and into your home, you also have to cope with a potentially devastating flood as a result of a leaking or burst water main. You want to avoid this at all costs, of course, and this means that you want to prevent a water main break from occurring.
To prevent a water main break from happening, the first step involves knowing exactly what is likely to cause a water main break. While sometimes such breaks just happen and you cannot anticipate them because there are few or no signs, there are certain factors that can significantly increase the chances of a water main break occurring. You need to understand what some of the risk factors are so you can better assess whether you are at risk of a water main break.
Some of the big factors that can contribute to the risk of a water main breaking include the following:
• Temperature changes. A 10-degree change in the temperature of either the air or the water can dramatically increase the stress on a pipe and can increase the chances of a water main break occurring.
• Low water temperature. When the water temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this can put more stress on the pipes and can result in the pipe becoming brittle and more prone to breaking or bursting.
• Low air temperatures. Air temperatures that are at freezing or below freezing can result in the ground above the pipe freezing. This increases the external stress on the pipe and ups the chances of a break occurring. Because the drop in water temperature occurs more slowly than the drop in air temperature, it is common for a water main break to occur just a day or two after a cold spell comes through.
• Pipe material. A cast iron water main is more likely to experience a break than water mains made of other type of piping material including copper or PVC.
• Soil erosion. Excavation and construction activity nearby can result in soil erosion and can increase the chances of a water main break occurring. A previous break in a pipe line is also a potential contributing factor that makes a water main break more likely to occur.
• Corrosion. An older pipe that is not lined with cement might begin to corrode both inside and outside. Of course, this increases the chance of a break occurring.
• Small pipes. When a pipe has a small diameter, there is a greater risk of breakage.
• Older pipes. When a pipe is 60 years old or older, the break rate of the pipe significantly increases. While older water pipes are not guaranteed to break, there is certainly an increased chance.
If you are in a situation where your water pipe is at risk of breaking, you may wish to consult with a professional to see what your options are before a devastating leak occurs.
Know more about Sewer Line Replacement visit our corporate website at http://harriswatermainandsewers.com/services/sewers.To prevent a water main break from happening, the first step involves knowing exactly what is likely to cause a water main break. While sometimes such breaks just happen and you cannot anticipate them because there are few or no signs, there are certain factors that can significantly increase the chances of a water main break occurring. You need to understand what some of the risk factors are so you can better assess whether you are at risk of a water main break.
Some of the big factors that can contribute to the risk of a water main breaking include the following:
• Temperature changes. A 10-degree change in the temperature of either the air or the water can dramatically increase the stress on a pipe and can increase the chances of a water main break occurring.
• Low water temperature. When the water temperature is below 40 degrees Fahrenheit, this can put more stress on the pipes and can result in the pipe becoming brittle and more prone to breaking or bursting.
• Low air temperatures. Air temperatures that are at freezing or below freezing can result in the ground above the pipe freezing. This increases the external stress on the pipe and ups the chances of a break occurring. Because the drop in water temperature occurs more slowly than the drop in air temperature, it is common for a water main break to occur just a day or two after a cold spell comes through.
• Pipe material. A cast iron water main is more likely to experience a break than water mains made of other type of piping material including copper or PVC.
• Soil erosion. Excavation and construction activity nearby can result in soil erosion and can increase the chances of a water main break occurring. A previous break in a pipe line is also a potential contributing factor that makes a water main break more likely to occur.
• Corrosion. An older pipe that is not lined with cement might begin to corrode both inside and outside. Of course, this increases the chance of a break occurring.
• Small pipes. When a pipe has a small diameter, there is a greater risk of breakage.
• Older pipes. When a pipe is 60 years old or older, the break rate of the pipe significantly increases. While older water pipes are not guaranteed to break, there is certainly an increased chance.
If you are in a situation where your water pipe is at risk of breaking, you may wish to consult with a professional to see what your options are before a devastating leak occurs.
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