It is not unusual to have small problems with the plumbing system in your home. Kitchen sinks can get blocked with grease and cooking fat, shower drains with hair or soap build-up, and outside drainage pipes can become clogged with leaves, dirt, and other debris.
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Most of these problems can be quickly and easily resolved and oftentimes you can do it yourself without needing to call in the professionals. But there is one problem that is more difficult to fix and will cause more damage to your home if you don’t. And that’s a burst water main.
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A burst water main issue is a homeowner’s nightmare. Water is invasive and can quickly damage areas well away from the source of the problem. Water leaking from a pipe inside a cavity wall can creep along with wooden battens within the cavity and surface in different parts of the house. That smell of dampness in the bedroom or water stain in the hallway may be coming from a leaking pipe in the bathroom or kitchen. It can be difficult to know.
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Scheduling regular drain inspections to identify potential problems before they happen is one way of dealing with this problem and many people in Basingstoke routinely include a CCTV drain survey within their annual home maintenance. For this, Pro Blocked Drains are the best professionals locally to contact.
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But in addition to scheduling a regular drain survey, it is useful to understand what the main causes of leaks in the water main are and how to deal with them in an emergency.
What Are the Main Causes of Leaks in the Water Main?
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There are a few different reasons why mains water pipes leak and all the problems need to be solved differently. To help you choose the right solution, let’s review them.
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1. Freezing
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When water freezes, it expands in the pipes. This expansion of the water creates pressure inside the pipes, and they burst. To avoid this situation, the following are some precautions that you should follow:
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- Insulate the pipes
- Keep the house heated
- Prevent cold drafts from outside
- Run the taps regularly
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2. High Water Pressure
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High water pressure can also burst pipes. Typically, this may be caused by:
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- Clogged pipes
- High pressure from the utility company
- Improper adjustment of pressure valves
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If your mains water pipe has burst because of high water pressure, then you should use the following precautions.
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- Install a water pressure regulator if you do not already have one
- Adjust the water pressure valve
- Replace the affected pipes
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3. External Pressure
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External pressure on the mains water pipes buried underground can damage them. Often this can happen when you are undergoing a construction project on or near your property, especially if the pipes are buried at shallow depths or where the protective soil above them has eroded and left the pipes susceptible to such pressure.
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The best way to prevent damage to the pipes is to first check where they are and ensure your building workers are mindful of their location. Afterward, ensure soil is returned and the pipes properly buried again.
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Checking for Leaks in the Water Main?
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Before you start any plumbing work, it is important to understand what you are dealing with. Water leaks can be caused because of a small hole in the pipe, a compromised joint, or a breakage.
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Depending upon your own level of expertise you may or may not be able to fix the problem yourself and you take the risk of making it a whole lot worse. If you suspect you have a burst water main the best advice is to call in the experts.
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Pro Blocked Drains are available 24/7 and with fast, friendly service they will advise you of the best way to repair a burst water pipe.
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How to Handle a Burst Water Main in Basingstoke
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Before you pick up the phone and call in the professionals, there are a few things you can do yourself to control burst water main.
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1. Turn Off Water Valves
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Before you do anything else you should turn off the mains water valve to prevent the damage from getting any worse. The valve is usually located under the kitchen sink or next to the water tank through which the whole house gets its water supply.
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Sometimes it may be in the driveway or pavement just outside your home. By turning off this valve, you stop the water flow which makes it easier to repair the damage in the pipes without getting wet.
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2. Turn off the Electricity
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It goes without saying that water and electricity don’t mix, so it’s important to turn off the main breaker switch to avoid any chance of electrocution. Once the electricity is off you can work with confidence.
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3. Locate the Leaking Pipe
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Water can travel some distance from the source and it can be tricky trying to locate the source of a burst water pipe. Maybe it’s inside the wall or above the ceiling. You need to find it. Damp joints in the drywall may lead you to the exact location, or water pooling near the skirting.
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You may even be able to hear water spraying inside the ceiling or wall cavity or see a bulge in the ceiling. You can even touch the walls to feel any moisture.
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4. Use a Pipe Repair Clamp
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After turning off the water source, the next step is to repair the damaged pipe. To do so use a pipe repair clamp. You can easily get one from a D.I.Y. store. To apply the pipe repair clamp, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
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You can also make a pipe repair clamp at home if you do not have a sleeve clamp. All you have to do is to wrap the burst section of the water pipe with a strip of rubber. Then clamp this rubber wrap with an adjustable pipe-sleeve clamp, hose clamp, or C-clamp, whichever you have available at the time.
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5. Apply Epoxy Putty
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As a temporary repair, you can apply epoxy putty if the leak is near a joint. Afterward, get help from a professional plumber if you are unable to replace the damaged section yourself.
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Calling Pro Blocked Drains for an assessment and quotation to repair the damaged water pipes is your best option. As highly experienced professionals, they know all the tricks of the trade and will be able to repair your burst pipes in the shortest time.
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By contacting them, you can save money and prevent further damage to your home.
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Repairing a Burst Water Main in Basingstoke That is Guaranteed to Work
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To resolve any issue with the water main in Basingstoke, contact Basingstoke’s best professionals. With guaranteed work and the best service you could dream of, you can be assured of complete satisfaction, at affordable rates.
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And Pro Blocked Drains, despite being local, is part of a nationwide network of highly trained professionals so you can be assured of:
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- Fully Qualified Safe Contractor Approved Workers
- Quick Response Time
- State-of-the-art equipment
- Fully Insured
- Competitive Prices
- 24-hour blocked drain services
- No Call Out Fee
- 5-star rating
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All these services make it easy for customers. Our professionals first inspect the source of the leak and then repair it using the right tools and in the shortest time possible. Our professionals use CCTV drain surveys, also known as no-dig camera technology.
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With the help of this technology, we can inspect inside the pipe and locate all the damaged areas so they can choose the right tools for the work. We also provide services 24/7 so you can rely on us to help you at any time of day or night. So consult us at the Pro Blocked Drains company next time you have a water mains problem.
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Final Words…
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Always check the pipe leakage and if you can repair the pipe with the help of rubber wrap or a clamp, then make that fix before calling Pro Blocked Drains to ensure you don’t have this problem again. Learn more about Drain Unblocking in Lyme Regis.
