A common reason to need an emergency plumber is when a pipe bursts and water is pouring out in your yard or in your home. A burst pipe releases a lot of water, and that will drive up your water bill fast. Even worse, all that water can cause expensive water damage to your house.

An emergency plumber will respond to your burst pipe disaster as quickly as possible and make the necessary repairs. Here are some reasons for a burst pipe and what steps you or a plumber can do to make repairs or prevent the problem from happening again.

Corrosion Makes Weak Pipes Burst

If you have metal pipes and they're old, corrosion could be an issue. When pipes get rusty, they get weak. The pressure of water rushing through a pipe could be enough to cause it to burst.

A burst pipe due to corrosion might be a cause for concern since that could mean all the pipes in your house are old and corroded too. The plumber may check your other pipes and let you know if you should repipe your home or if replacing a single pipe is all you need to have done.

External Forces Can Crush A Pipe

Pipes can burst open due to pressure from the outside. This might happen due to tree root growth, construction on your property, or hitting the pipe with a shovel when landscaping. Depending on the type of damage and the type of pipe you have, the plumber might be able to make spot repairs to the pipe rather than having to replace it.

High Water Pressure Can Cause Pipes To Burst

The water pressure in your home needs to be in a controlled range to protect your pipes. You can hook a meter up to a faucet and test the pressure or have a plumber check it for you. If high water pressure is the problem, a plumber might install a pressure-reducing valve so pressures stay lower once your new pipe is installed.

Frozen Pipes Burst Due To Expanding Ice

Your plumbing should be installed to withstand usual winter temperatures, but if the temperature drops much lower than usual, your pipes might freeze. When the water inside a pipe freezes, the ice expands and puts pressure on the pipe, and this is what causes the pipe to burst.

When temperatures are much colder than usual, you may want to let water drip from the faucet until temperatures return to normal. Letting the faucet drip reduces pressure on the pipe and keeps the water moving. You can also wrap the pipes in insulation so they tolerate freezing temperatures better.

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