As we reach the rainiest season in New Jersey, many homeowners are unaware of the tolls heavy rains and spring weather can have on their plumbing. Here are some impacts of spring on your pipes to be aware of, and how best to protect your home and plumbing.
Pipes Expanding and Contracting
Because our spring temperatures vary significantly, most homeowners’ pipes expand and contract with those jumps in temperature. This harms the pipe’s structure and makes cracks and breaks more likely. This can impact your water pressure and even cause severe leaks in your home.
Soil Saturation
During spring, it’s common for heavy rains to soak up the ground, leading to oversaturated soil that shifts very easily. Both your home’s foundation and your pipes can shift with the changing soil, and then settle in the drier season in the wrong place. Your home foundation slab can even settle on your main water pipes, causing excessive strain. Shifting and strain can also lead to cracks and leaks in your plumbing system, leading to slow water damage. It can also lead to burst pipes, which can cause major water damage.
Heavy Rain Debris
If storm and rain debris are being washed into your plumbing system, this can cause back-ups. This is most common when your home has outdoor drains. Debris from heavy rain and the excess water from rain can cause too much pressure in the pipes, which creates breaks and even burst pipes. If mud is washing down these drains, this can also cause issues.
Tree Root Growth
In the spring, blooming trees will search for necessary nutrients to help them grow. These nutrients are often present in main sewer and water lines. Roots can find small flaws in pipe walls, such as those caused by changing temperatures and shifting, and expand them as the roots grow. This can cause major damage that can lead to burst pipes or root clogs in the pipes, causing a severe plumbing issue with no warning.
Tree Root Growth
R. Poust, Inc. wants to help if you need any professional plumbing services. Contact us for professional drain cleaning, sewer line services, or leak repair.
