What Causes Water Pipes to Burst?
When a water pipe bursts, it can cause major damage to a home. For that reason, it is important to take every precaution to prevent the pipes from bursting. There are two major reasons for water pipes to burst: faulty materials used in the pipes or the water in a pipe freezes causing it to expand and crack the pipe. A respectable plumbing company can help homeowners to prevent water pipes from rupturing.
A reputable plumber will ensure that the home plumbing system is made of the proper material. If it isn’t, the plumber will replace it with the proper piping, which normally consists of copper, iron or cross-linked polyethylene. To help to prevent water from freezing and cracking the pipes, the plumber will check existing pipes for stressed areas that need to be replaced and will wrap the pipes with the proper insulation to help keep the water from freezing in cold temperatures.
On the other hand, no matter what materials the pipes are made of and the amount of insulation used, they can still freeze in extremely cold weather. Therefore, during harsh freezing weather conditions, professional plumbers suggest leaving a trickle of water running through both a bathroom and kitchen sink faucet. The continuous movement of the water running through the pipes further helps to prevent the water in the pipes from freezing.
