Pipe stress can lead to plumbing leaks. If you don’t take steps to address the problem, you will have to face costly plumbing repairs. The more you wait to act, the greater will be the damage to the pipes. However, the right proactive steps can help you avoid plumbing disasters later on.
In this blog post, we’ll talk about what pipe stress is, and how Allbritten can help you avoid plumbing problems and find leaks.
What is pipe stress?
This isn’t your pipes being stressed about an upcoming exam or financial woes. Instead, pipe stress refers to pipes that are bearing too large of a load at too high of pressure. There are two primary drivers of pipe problems:
- Water Pressure: The water pressure in your home’s plumbing is too high, which stresses the pipes, gaskets, and seals of your home’s plumbing.
- Hard Water: As minerals from water leech out while passing through your plumbing, they collect inside pipes, forming hard calcification spots. Over time, this reduces the flow through the pipe, increasing the pressure and corroding joints.
The problems with pressure in pipes can be observed in your garden hose. Let’s say that you have the hose on at full capacity. If you were to then restrict most of the flow by pinching the end of the hose, the remaining water would shoot out of the end of the hose more forcefully.
That same phenomenon is happening in your home’s plumbing every time you turn on the shower or sink faucet or every time you start a load of laundry. Over time, that stress wears on pipes and fittings.
What happens when your pipes are stressed?
Excessive pressure on your home’s pipes over a long period will eventually lead to problems. First, it puts your pipes at a greater risk of cracking or bursting open. This will lead to a water leak, most likely hidden behind a wall or under the foundation. Such leaks can be difficult for a homeowner to locate and fix on their own, so you’ll need to bring in our plumbers to assist you with repairing them.
Any water leak in the home carries with it the potential for water damage and mold growth. The longer the leak goes undetected or resolved, the worse these problems become. Water damage repair and mold remediation can significantly increase the cost of cleanup and repair. Water damage attacks the floors, foundation, and structure of your home, while the growth of mold or mildew may negatively impact your health.
If you have reason to suspect your home has a hidden leak somewhere, you need to bring in a plumbing professional. Procrastinating on critical plumbing repairs will only make the situation worse.
How you can address pipe stress in your home
Your home’s pipes don’t have to be doomed to a future of leaks and problems. The professional plumbers at Allbritten can help ensure that your pipes are looking good and have a reduced stress level. Here are the two steps we take to address pipe stress problems:
Step #1: Have Allbritten check the pressure on your pipes
Water pressure over 80 pounds per square inch (psi) can lead to increased stress on your pipes, causing strain inside the pipe and damaging your fixtures.
High water pressure is particularly damaging to copper pipes. To avoid corrosion, copper pipes have an oxide coating on the interior pipe walls. This coating gets damaged when the water pressure is too high.
Water pressure should ideally be between 40 and 80 psi. If the water pressure is higher than the maximum threshold, it can cause plumbing damage.
Call Allbritten to have us measure your home’s water pressure. If the water pressure in your home is too high, we’ll likely recommend a solution such as a pressure regulator, a device that reduces the pressure of the water entering your home.
Step #2: Have Allbritten install a water softener
People who use well water or municipal water should consider using a water softener. Especially when drawn from wells and aquifers, water is typically hard, not soft, in the Fresno area. This water can damage the pipes and restrict the flow of water. It can also cause corrosion in the joints. Also, the fittings that keep the pipe together can corrode due to hard water.
You should examine faucets and shower heads to find out whether there are any white-colored stains and buildup. These are usually magnesium or other minerals that are found in high quantities in hard water.
Another way to know about hard water is to have your water tested by the team at Allbritten. Above 140 parts per million (PPM) indicates hard water. You can easily resolve the hard water problem by calling us and having us install a water softener.
Call Allbritten for more ways to reduce pipe stress
Allbritten is Fresno’s trusted name in plumbing. Our team is known for fast, friendly service and our honest approach to doing business. To learn more about our water testing services, give us a call at (559) 601-0833 or contact us online.
