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How to Tell If You Have a Cracked Pipe in Kelowna, BC

Posted in Damaged Pipes, Plumbing Repairs

Common Signs That You Have a Cracked Pipe in Kelowna

Is there something wrong with the plumbing system in your Kelowna home or commercial building? If you suspect a cracked pipe, you need professional help from a local plumbing company immediately. Whether it is your water lines or your sewer lines, a crack in your plumbing pipes can cause extensive damage in a very short amount of time.

You may think you know exactly what a cracked pipe looks like—water spraying everywhere and a flooded floor. However, the symptoms of a water leak caused by a cracked pipe can actually be a lot less obvious and more difficult to spot. If you know the signs of a cracked pipe, you can catch it early on and call a Kelowna plumber for pipe leak repairs before it spirals into a huge headache that will require stressful and costly water damage mitigation.

The plumbers at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. have found and repaired numerous hidden leaks in both water and sewer lines in Kelowna and nearby areas such as West Kelowna and Peachland. We have the skill and experience to repair or replace your cracked pipe with efficient, long-lasting repairs so you can get back your peace of mind.

Cracked Pipe in Kelowna: Water Line Symptoms

A busted water pipe is a serious problem that can cost you a lot of money on your water bill, and even worse, it can contaminate your clean water supply. Everyone needs access to ample clean water for drinking, cooking, and bathing. Therefore, contaminated water supply pipes are more than just an inconvenience, they can cause a serious hazard that jeopardizes the health of you and your family. Here are some of the key signs that indicate you are dealing with a cracked pipe somewhere in your Kelowna water line.

High Charges on Your Water Bill

Does your bill seem a lot higher than it was last month or a few months ago, even though you are using around the same amount of water as before? This is a big red flag that indicates there may be a leaky pipe in your supply lines. Instead of throwing money down the drain, your pipes are letting it seep away into the soil—or worse, somewhere inside your house.

One way to confirm this is by checking your water meter. Turn off all plumbing-related appliances and fixtures right before you go to bed, and note the position of the indicator on your meter. In the morning, before flushing the toilet or using any other water, check the meter again. If the indicator is moving or has moved position overnight, there is a strong possibility of a cracked pipe.

Discoloured Water

Your water should, of course, be coming out of your pipes completely clear. It may look cloudy at first from the pressure of your faucet, but it should quickly settle. If it has a brown or yellowish tinge, or you can see particles of rust or dirt in it, something is not right. It could be a cracked pipe, or it could be corrosion on the inside of the line. Either way, it needs plumbing repairs or replacement pipe service from a plumber who deals with cracked pipes in Kelowna.

Fluctuating Water Pressure

When the water pressure coming out of your fixtures doesn’t seem as strong as it used to be, or the pressure fluctuates randomly, it isn’t necessarily the fault of Kelowna’s water supply. It may be an indication that there is a cracked pipe causing pressure changes, which is really rough on your pipe fittings and can cause a lot of undue wear and tear, not to mention leaks.

Puddles Under Sinks

If you find a big puddle of water under or near your sink, the obvious conclusion is that there is a leak coming from the visible pipes or the fixture itself. If you do see a visible leak on an exposed pipe, put a bucket underneath it and call a professional plumber. Stopping up the leak with some duct tape or even a towel wrapped around the pipe won’t last long, but it is better than nothing until your plumber arrives. However, if you have inspected the accessible pipes thoroughly and can’t figure out where the water is coming from, take a close look at the wall near the pipe cover plates. It is possible that water is seeping through the wall and making it seem like it is coming from the fixture.

Dripping or Running Water Sounds

Most people find the sound of a dripping faucet irritating—but it is nowhere near as bad as hearing the sound of dripping or running water coming from behind your walls. This does not always mean you have a cracked pipe because there are some situations where dripping or running water may be audible while it is still contained inside an intact pipe. But if the sound just started recently, it should definitely be checked out by a licensed plumber to rule out the possibility of a cracked pipe or some other issue.

Moisture Damage on Walls or Ceiling

Signs of moisture damage on your walls or ceiling, such as brown stains, softened drywall, bubbling drywall tape, or peeling, flaking paint, indicate a severe problem that should be taken seriously. It is likely happening because of a cracked pipe, though it could also be rainwater seeping in from a damaged roof or siding. A cracked pipe inside your walls can cause gradual damage and encourage the growth of wood rot, which softens timber and causes structural instability. If you can see visible signs of moisture damage on a wall, there is probably mould and mildew lurking behind it as well.

Cracked Pipe in Kelowna: Sewer Line Symptoms

The signs of a broken sewer pipe are different from the symptoms of a busted pipe on the water line, and the resulting sewer line damage affects your property in different ways. If you get the news that you need sewage pipe repair or replacement, you may be dreading the thought of having a huge trench dug across your lawn to access the pipes, but don’t panic! 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. uses trenchless sewer line repair and replacement techniques that, as the name suggests, eliminate the hassle and damage of digging a trench to fix cracked pipes in Kelowna.

Slow-Moving Drains

One of the most common household issues is clogged drains, which you can tell mainly by slow drainage, whether it is a sink, shower, or bathtub drain. It’s obnoxious and frustrating, but it isn’t a sign of a cracked pipe—right? It’s true that water taking forever to drain out of fixtures is sometimes just a run-of-the-mill clog. But, it could indicate a cracked pipe in Kelowna, too, especially in combination with other signs that there is trouble coming down the pipe. Even if it is just a clog, it is making your kitchen or bathroom experience a lot less pleasant and needs to be dealt with.

Frequent, Stubborn Clogs

You plunge until your arms ache, pour entire bottles of harsh chemical drain cleaners down the drain, and even try a little prayer—but that nasty clog just won’t budge. Or, you think you’ve got it plunged away, only to have the fixture clog right up again the next time you use it. This aggravating problem could be related to a cracked pipe in Kelowna, and no amount of plunging is going to fix it. Frequent or incredibly stubborn clogs are often caused by tree root intrusion, and they’re best eliminated with an appointment for a professional drain cleaning service in Kelowna. It’s the best preventative maintenance for any type of pipe clog and minimizes any risks of leaks. We recommend that you check the pipe joints for any leaks; chances are the fittings and connectors are loose or damaged.

Foul Odours

If there is an unpleasant sewage stench wafting up out of your drains, or you smell sewage in your basement or yard, it’s not just gross; it is a big warning sign that you have a serious problem with your sewage lines. Bad smells are often one of the earliest symptoms of a problem, so it is a good idea to get it checked out as soon as possible before the issue (and the smell) gets worse.

Sewage Backups

If you see visible sewage backing up into low-lying fixtures or drains such as toilets, showers, bathtubs, and floor drains, or actually spilling out of fixtures onto the floor, well… it will come as no surprise to you that it isn’t a good thing. Sewer backups are disgusting and unsanitary and pose a serious health hazard. Your local Kelowna plumber will know what to do to get your plumbing system back in safe working order.

Cracked Foundation

It is fairly normal for concrete to suffer cracks over time from normal wear and tear, but if you notice new cracks in your concrete foundation or exterior basement wall, especially if they are concentrated along one wall or in one specific area, it could be a sign of a hidden leak. When a cracked pipe leaks underneath a concrete foundation slab, it erodes the soil that is supporting the concrete, and the building begins to slowly sink, which causes stress cracks on the concrete. While it can be difficult to detect a leak that is buried under a concrete slab, the expert plumbers at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. have specialized leak detection tools such as infrared cameras and acoustic listening devices that help us pinpoint the location of any cracked pipe in Kelowna.

Puddles or Lush Spots on Lawn

If you stroll across your lawn only to discover a huge, soggy wet patch in the grass, or you notice that the grass on one area of your lawn is suddenly a lot more green and lush than the rest of the yard, you should be suspicious. Unusual puddles and sudden lush spots are both signs that there is a cracked pipe buried under the yard that is leaking sewage—or, as your grass sees it, fertilizer. Aside from being unsanitary and probably not smelling too great, this can cause environmental destruction, sinkholes, and even structural stability issues with your foundation.

Rodent and Insect Infestations

Are rodents and insects invading your home? While they may not be getting in through a cracked pipe, it is certainly a possibility. Rats can squeeze into surprisingly tiny crevices and get into your house through a damaged sewer line, and insects can be attracted to a cracked pipe by the smell of sewage, which provides a breeding environment for them, along with easy access to your house. Once one pest finds a way in, dozens of their little friends will soon follow.

What Caused the Cracked Pipe in My Kelowna Plumbing System?

While we can’t say what caused your particular cracked pipe situation without investigating in person, it may be the result of one of these common causes:

• Tree Root Intrusion: Even if you don’t have any trees in your yard, far-reaching roots from your neighbour’s trees can wrap themselves around your underground pipes and constrict as they grow, eventually creating enough pressure to crack the pipe. Once the roots touch moisture inside the pipe, they begin to grow rapidly and partially or completely block the flow of sewage and wastewater.
• Frozen Pipes: When cold weather hits and your pipes aren’t adequately insulated, the water inside them freezes and expands, and the pipe bursts under the pressure of the expanding ice.
• Not Maintained Properly: Clogs can build up slowly over time inside your pipe, and if they aren’t removed with regular drain cleaning services, they can block the flow inside and expand to the points where they actually cause a cracked pipe.
• Old Age: While sewer lines are meant to last a long time, they don’t last forever. Over the decades, normal wear and tear takes its toll, and the pipe can eventually crack.

Worried About a Possible Cracked Pipe in Kelowna? Call Your Local Plumber at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd!

Have you noticed one or several of the above signs of a cracked pipe around your Kelowna property? Don’t let the problem fester and get worse, costing you time, stress, and money! Call the experienced plumbers at 911 Plumbing Heating Drainage Ltd. to get your broken pipes back in perfect working order quickly and efficiently.

Give us a call today at 250-801-0911 to schedule a service appointment. Need emergency service after hours or on the weekend? No problem! We are available 24/7 for emergency repair services.