Plumbing issues should never be allowed to persist for long. They can lead to further damage, including significant water damage and mold growth. But it’s even more important to repair a damaged water main line as soon as you can because these pipes carry large amounts of water, and even a small leak can result in gallons of water lost every day. With your main line underground, you may be wondering how to even spot a leak in this pipe. Keep reading to learn the early signs that you might need water main repair in Sacramento.
Early Signs That Something Is Wrong with Your Main Water Line
Low Water Pressure
A drop in water pressure in one specific fixture probably means you have a problem with that fixture. But if the water pressure throughout your home drops, then there’s something wrong with the supply line. A clog in the water main can restrict flow to your home as a whole, making it hard to get good water pressure. And a leak in your main line can cause the same problem; if water is seeping out of the pipe, it has to work a lot harder to get sufficient water pressure to your home.
Puddles in the Yard
Do you have a constant puddle in one area of your yard? Rain is probably not the culprit. If you have an automated sprinkler system, the puddle could be caused by a leak in those pipes. If not—or if you’ve tested your sprinkler system and it’s not the problem—then it’s probably coming from your water main. Unless you’re trying to create your own backyard pond, you’ll want to have that area dug up and repaired as soon as possible.
Increased Pest Problems
A pest infestation doesn’t always indicate a water main leak. However, if you notice other symptoms along with this one (especially standing pools of water on your property), then the water main leak could be the culprit. Pests are always looking for an easy-to-access source of water, and a leaky water main is a great one. Insects and rodents will flock to the convenient little watering hole your leak is creating for them. So, if you can get the leak fixed, you just might be able to drive the pests away too.
Discolored Water
Nobody wants to turn on their faucet and see dirt-colored water come out. The good news is, your house probably isn’t haunted. The bad news is, you could have a serious leak in your water main line. When an underground pipe cracks, it does more than let water out—it lets dirt, debris, and other contaminants into the pipe as well. These contaminants are then delivered to your home through the pipes. If your water is discolored, get it fixed right away, so you can have a clean, reliable water source in your home again.
Water main leaks can lose dozens or even hundreds of gallons of water a day and lead to serious property damage if not handled quickly. If you notice any of the above problems in or around your home, contact Bullseye Leak Detection today. We’ll pinpoint the leak, then deal with the repairs or water line replacement in Sacramento, CA, quickly so you can get your home back to normal as soon as possible.
4 Signs You Need to Replace Your Main Water Line
Serious problems with your plumbing are not something you want to think about. Between the expense of major repairs, and the time and inconvenience that are required to fix a plumbing disaster, a lot of us would rather just live our lives without thinking about what’s going on within the walls of our house. The fact is, years of service and the strain of changing temperatures can cause significant damage to the pipes that run throughout your house, as well as your main water line. Here are some signs you need to be aware of, which you can detect beforehand, so you can avoid a major catastrophe before one occurs.
1. Clogs
We’re all familiar with clogged pipes. Most clogs are simply the result of hair or other debris getting stuck inside a pipe, preventing water from flowing easily down the drain. In these cases, a rooter will usually do the trick. However, clogs can also be the result of a disruption in the main sewer line. Waste and debris might be causing a clog, a tree root could be interrupting the flow, or your pipes could be severely damaged. If your pipes are becoming clogged on a regular basis, it could time to replace your main sewer line.
2. Tree Roots
Trees are important in supporting a livable urban or suburban environment. However, if you have a tree on your property near your house, and it’s encroaching on your main water line, you could be looking at some major repairs. Tree roots are always seeking out water, and if they are near your pipes, the roots are liable to squeeze their way into joints, literally breaking your plumbing apart. If this happens to you, you’ll have to hire a professional plumber to replace the damaged pipes with stronger ones that are designed to protect your plumbing from tree incursion.
3. Low Water Pressure
Your home’s water pressure can drop so gradually over time, you may not even notice. If you find that your showers are becoming less and less satisfying with each shower, you may have a leak in your plumbing system, or a damaged sewer line. The only way to tell for sure what’s required to fix the problem is to call for experts in leak detection in Sacramento. They’ll be able to diagnose where the leak is in your plumbing and determine if it’s a simple leak that can be repaired, or if you’re going to require a new main water line.
4. Water Pooling in Your Yard
If you notice any spots in your yard where the grass appears to be particularly lush, or where a small puddle is forming, that could be an indication of a leaking water line. Furthermore, it helps if you familiarize yourself with the shape of your home’s plumbing to see if such a puddle is over your main line. If you notice water pooling directly over your main line, it’s definitely time to call for help.
If any of these issues sound familiar to you, don’t hesitate to contact the professionals at Bullseye Leak Detection, Inc., to provide you with the reliable leak detection service in Sacramento, CA, you need. Give them a call today!
Signs of a Possible Main Water Line Leak in Your Home
Your main water line is what supplies water to your entire plumbing system. It’s essential that this line be unobstructed, undamaged, and fully functional. If the mainline develops a crack or a leak, it can impact the rest of your plumbing system—and, if left unrepaired, can lead to extensive damage to your property. Keep reading to learn the main signs that your water main has developed a leak, and you need water line repair in Sacramento, CA, as soon as possible.
Unexplained Puddles
Are you mopping up puddles on your kitchen floor regularly, uncertain who keeps spilling water? Have you noticed wet areas of your yard, even if it hasn’t rained? Are there wet spots on your sidewalk while your neighbors’ sidewalks are dry? Because your mainline runs under your home and property, a break in the line can cause puddling in any of these places—both inside and outside your home. If you’re noticing unexplained puddles anywhere on your property, you might have a break in the line.
Unusual Sounds
Sometimes plumbing—especially older plumbing—can make the occasional knocking sound when the water turns on. But if you’ve been in your home for a while, you’re probably used to the normal sounds of your pipes. When those sounds change to something you’ve never heard before, it’s time to be a little bit concerned. Hissing, whistling, gurgling, banging, and bubbling sounds from the pipes can indicate a broken water line.
Low Water Pressure
Has your water pressure suddenly dropped? While a clog can cause this, it can also be a sign that there’s a leak somewhere in your plumbing system—potentially in the main water line. Any time your water pressure drops unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to call a plumber. Whether it’s a mainline leak or not, something is amiss and needs to be fixed.
Discolored Water
Water that turns muddy or dingy in color isn’t always a sign of a haunted house; it can sign a mainline break. The main water line of your home runs underground, so if a crack develops in the pipe, dirt and other contaminants can begin to slip into your water supply. This will discolor your water, not to mention contaminate it. So grab some bottled water and call a plumber instead of drinking the dirty water from the tap.
Spike in Water Bill
It’s normal for utility bills to fluctuate a bit, especially between one season and the next. For example, you probably water your lawn a lot more in the summer than in the winter, so your water bill will be higher during that time of the year. Or, perhaps you had some house guests for a few weeks last month, and those extra showers drove your water bill up a bit. An increase in your water bill can be expected—so long as you know what’s causing it.
But when your water bill spikes unexpectedly and you have no explanation for it, this is usually a sign that something is leaking. Your main water line can spill out a significant amount of water every day from even a pin-sized hole in the pipe. So, if your water bill has jumped up and you don’t know why, it’s time to look for a leak.
A break in your main water line is difficult to repair. It requires a seasoned professional who can pinpoint the exact location of the leak, access the buried line with minimal demolition, repair it, and return your property to normal as soon as possible. If you suspect a break in your main line, contact Bullseye Leak Detection for mainline replacement in Sacramento, CA.
