Leaking Pipes
Plumbing leaks come in a variety of sizes.  Some can flood your home, while others are not damaging at all.  How you approach stopping a leak depends on the type of leak you are dealing with.  If your leak problem occurs at a joint, tighten the joint.  If your leak is in a pipe, remove the section that is leaking and replace it with a new section.  Unfortunately, this is more easily said than done, so most water pipe replacement jobs are best left to a qualified plumber.  However, if you are an avid, do-it-yourselfer, you may want to consider using a patch kit, found at most any hardware store.  Unfortunately, while a patch kit is an easy fix it may not stop your leak on a permanent basis if your pipe is damaged to begin with.

Quieting Noisy Pipes
Banging pipes, sometimes called water hammer, is only one of several different noises that can come from your plumbing system.  If you hear a banging sound when you turn on water, your pipes are probably striking against something. Solving a banging pipe problem is easier if you can see the pipes in question, so if you can manage to see the moving pipe, even if it is between the walls, you may be able to silence it by padding the ends of the pipes as they emerge from behind your wall, eliminating the need to tear your house apart.

If the knocking sound occurs only when you turn on the hot water, your water heater is set too high.  Turning down the heat setting may silence the pipes.

While drainpipes rarely clatter, they do sometimes make a sucking noise as water leaves a sink or basin.  If you hear this sound, it means that a vent, such as the hole at the top edge of a bathroom sink, is restricted or your drain has no vent at all attached to it. In either case, a potentially serious plumbing problem exists when you hear this sound because a non-functioning or non-existent vent can eliminate the water seal and allow sewer gases to back up into your home.  Try eliminating the problem with a plumber’s snake.  If that doesn’t work, call a licensed qualified plumber to make sure your system is functioning properly.  Don’t risk your family’s health if you aren’t sure of how to fix a noisy pipe.

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To be sure, pipe insulation in parts of the country where pipes have the potential to freeze and burst is a given.  Consequently, the time and effort put into seeing that your pipes are properly insulated far outweighs the possibility of a pipe bursting during a snowstorm.  While it’s obvious that your outdoor pipes need insulation, other pipes, even those in your home where the temperature is regulated, need insulation as well.  For instance if you have an electrical power outage, go on vacation or have a sudden temperature drop, you are susceptible to frozen pipes.  By properly insulating all pipes connected to your home, you can eliminate the possibility of an unexpected problem.

In addition, insulation of your plumbing can have a huge impact on your home’s energy use as well as the price you pay for that usage.  Insulation of your pipes improves the thermal efficiency of your home, limits heat transfer, provides a vapor barrier against moisture, eliminates condensation and decelerates pipe deterioration.  All of these results help keep energy prices down and contribute to environmental preservation. 

What Materials to Use
Materials used for insulation of pipes have recently moved from mineral and fiberglass products to flexible and rigid closed-cell glass materials.  The newest materials will block moisture that would normally collect in tradition fiberglass insulation and keeps pipes from getting wet even under the harshest of circumstances. Some methods of insulation use a wicking material, wrapped around the pipes that will absorb moisture and carry it outside of the jacket over your pipes where the moisture evaporates.  If you need to insulate underground pipes, you can buy a variety of polyurethane foam products that serve as excellent insulators and limit the impact of water on those pipe systems.

Take time this winter to inspect your pipes for exposed areas.  You can then insulate them yourself or call a local qualified plumber to do the job for you.  A small investment upfront on insulation may save you a lot of money over this winter season.

Blog post provided by:  Alpharetta GA plumbing services experts

Before you invest in a pressure booster, make sure you have a water pressure problem and not a flow-rate problem.  If your water line is obstructed, water may not flow properly and a pump will not help.  Have a licensed professional plumber inspect your water system for clogs and adjust your pressure-reducing valve before contracting the installation of a pressure booster. 

A booster pressure system consists of a pump that is connected to a pressure tank.  Just like a well tank, a booster has a shallow well jet pump mounted on the pressure tank that drives the system.  However, unlike a well, a booster system’s pressure can build very quickly.  You’ll have to install a bypass valve between the tank and the pump to keep the pressure in your tank from building up in the event that the cutout switch fails which will keep the pump primed without releasing water.

Pressure boosters should only be connected to a municipal water supply line where a minimum of 5 psig exists at all times at the tap closest to the location you chose to install the booster.  Call your local waterworks to find out what the pressure is at your particular residence.

Caution needs to be taken when working with a pressure booster system because even when the pump is turned to the off position, pressure remains in the system.  Therefore, pressure boosters should be installed where a tank failure will not damage property.  Also, the pump should never be used in series with another pump, should have a check valve installed to prevent backflow into the city water system, and have a pressure relief valve installed in case the limit switch fails.

Install a pressure booster yourself is probably not a good idea so contract a licensed professional to accomplish the installation to reduce the potential risks associated with booster pressure system.  And, remember that after the initial installation, your tank should never be re-pressurized.

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A common situation that results in cracked water lines and backed-up sewer lines is root infiltration.  Tree roots and large shrub roots can grow into a water or sewer line, expand, and fill pipes with fibrous root masses. These masses then capture toilet paper, grease and other debris that travel through them from your home and clog the main sewer line.  Consequently, as these roots continue to grow, the pressure they put on pipes will eventually cause the pipes to crack resulting in a major headache and expense for you as a homeowner.  

Once a sewer or water line breaks and puddles form in your yard, finding the leak can be difficult at best and may require the tearing up your well-manicured lawn to find and repair.  Thus, diagnosing a sewer or water line problem early is paramount and could save you thousands of dollars worth of hazardous backflow or property damage. 

To assure that your water and sewer lines are intact, plan a time every month or two to stroll around your property to catch any puddles of water on an otherwise dry lawn area before your water bill goes up or you are faced with a costly repair job.  And, should you observe standing water where it shouldn’t be or a sudden rise in your water bill, contact a licensed local plumber to evaluate your water and sewer lines for cracks or leaks.

Post provided by: Licensed Plumber Alpharetta GA