Plumbing in Calgary and signs of a ruptured pipe under your home

The pipes in your home are essential for smooth household operations, and when they are obstructed, they will always require extensive repairs that can be quite costly. One of the most damaging pipe ruptures that can occur within the home is the pipes below the foundation, and although pipes under the foundation are incredibly robust, they can still burst, and major repairs will need to occur. When it comes to this type of plumbing in Calgary, there are explicit signs that will tell you if the pipes under the foundation have burst, giving you a chance to retrieve professional repairs as soon as possible.

Find out the signs you should know that indicate the primal plumbing under your home’s foundation has burst.

No running water

When the water within your household discontinues running, that could be a sign that the pipes under your foundation have burst. In contrast, there are a couple of other reasons why your water services have stopped, including missing water payments and a scheduled interruption for maintenance reasons, typically a break in the pipes between the foundation and meter, which is the culprit of no running water within your home. Of course, you can ensure this is the case by contacting your local water company and checking to see if an outage has occurred. If an outage has not happened, you can assume that there could be a piping leak in some area, and you should turn your taps off to prevent any damage.

Discoloured water

When the pipes have partially burst under your foundation, water can continue to run, but you may notice that it is discoloured. The discolouration of the water may be due to soil from around the foundation seeping into the water line through the crack in the pipes. As the water continues to run through the pipes, muddled with dirt, it will culminate in brownish water running in your home. This discolouration will signal to you that there is damage along the water line somewhere that needs repairs.

Sputtering water

If the water coming out of your faucets is sputtering significantly, this is a sign that the water pipe has burst but has not completely deteriorated. A partially cracked water line allows air to come in, and the water pressure substantially reduces, resulting in the spitting water that comes out of the faucets. While there are other reasons your water might be sputtering when coming out of the faucet, leaving the water running for a bit and seeing if the sputtering does not eventually stop, you will know that the water line under your foundation has been ruptured.

Sewer odours

When a foul smell from your sewer begins to emerge and is potent either indoors or outdoors, a ruptured pipe and sewer line under your foundation could be the culprit. If a repugnant smell cannot be ignored around your home, you should look into whether or not your sewage line or septic tank has leaked and contact plumbing in Calgary professionals sooner rather than later to eliminate the smell and avoid any potential hazards.

Flooding

A definitive way to know if your pipes have burst under your home is if flooding begins to happen within the home. When the pipes burst under your foundation, the flooding will begin in the basement and will pool until the water line is completely off. Of course, when flooding occurs, you’ll want to contact a professional for emergency repairs.

Calgary Plumber and Drains is your number-one team of Calgary plumbers! Our success has been built on values such as honesty, hard work, affordable prices and superior customer service. We pride ourselves on offering clients throughout Downtown and surrounding areas with top-quality plumbing services, including leak repairs, installations, sewer and drain cleaning, toilet repairs, and water heater repairs in Calgary. As an emergency plumber in Calgary, we’re available when you’re in dire straits! For the number one plumbing company in Calgary, contact Calgary Plumber and Drains at 403-629-2920.

During the summertime, people don’t think much about their plumbing in Calgary. The assumption is that nothing needs to be done about it until the weather gets chillier. However, the warmer weather doesn’t exempt a plumbing system from any possible problems. You can avoid potential summertime plumbing issues by checking out a few tips and tricks below!

Summer Plumbing in Calgary: Tips & Tricks

Test Sump Pump

In summer, Calgary weather can be prone to sudden heavy rain. As a result, it can lead to flooding. It can devastate your home by having flood water fill up your basement and create water damage. In turn, it can lead to the deterioration of your house and risk to your health by creating a breeding ground for mold. Sump pumps prevent water from entering your home by pumping water out and through a discharge pipe outside. Keep water at bay and test your sump pump to ensure it’s working properly!

Check Sprinkler System

Sprinkler systems are in full swing for usage during the summer. Yet, some issues can occur if you don’t check its condition. Commonly, sprinkler systems end up getting leaks. Furthermore, sprinkler heads that aren’t working create clogs. In this case, you want to replace them to avoid such problems. An embedded sprinkler system on your lawn without clean heads can lead to flooding, backed-up water and lawn areas drying out.

Mindful of Root Growth

Once spring has passed, summertime is the time for most greenery to flourish and grow truly. Unfortunately, when roots spread out further for more nutrients, it can interfere with your sewer line. In turn, it can cause a sewer backup in your home. If you suspect an issue with your sewer line, it’s best to have a plumber in Calgary to see the level of damage you could be facing. Better to be safe than sorry if the tree near your home is impacting your sewer line this summer.

Be Aware of Sweating Pipes

What exactly are sweaty pipes? They’re the condensation on pipes, faucet heads, and other plumbing fixtures when cold water runs or has just run through them. Typically, these are temporary and are quite common. However, it becomes an issue if you see it constantly. Usually, the culprit is a leaky faucet, running toilet or improper main valve adjustment. So keep an eye out for sweaty pipes to avoid those plumbing problems!

Know the Main Water Valve

Are you aware of what your main water valve does? If not, it would be imperative for you to know! Your main water valve can cut off your water supply. In cases of leaks or bursts, you would want to know where to shut it off to prevent water from continuously spewing everywhere and causing potential damage. Typically, you can find them in a basement, garage or utility closet. Others have one outside or near the water main in the street, curb or sidewalk. If unsure, you can always consult a plumber to ask where it is.

Find the Right Pressure

During the summer, you get more usage out of your shower, washer and other water-based appliances and fixtures. That’s why you need to ensure your water pressure is right. According to the City of Calgary, “homes built after 1990 in areas of over 80 PSI are equipped with a pressure reducing valve (PRV).” If your home is older or the PRV is over five years old, the water pressure in your home will become too high, and you will need maintenance.

Calgary Plumber and Drains is your number one team of Calgary plumbers! Our success has been built on values such as honesty, hard work, affordable prices and superior customer service. We pride ourselves on offering clients throughout Downtown and surrounding areas with top-quality plumbing services, including leak repairs, installations, sewer and drain cleaning, toilet repairs, and water heater repairs in Calgary. As an emergency plumber in Calgary, we’re available when you’re in dire straits! For the number one plumbing company in Calgary, contact Calgary Plumber and Drains at 403-629-2920.

Nothing can make you sweat more than dealing with plumbing problems during the summer. As many Calgary plumbers know, the summer months in the city can result in heat waves that have many Calgarians increasing their water usage. However, in doing so, this stress on your plumbing can create a host of unexpected problems.

Learn what the top four common plumbing problems you encounter during the summer are. This way, you don’t need to sweat about any plumbing issues arising!

Problem #1: Various Types of Clogs

Summer is the time of the year when people are at home more often due to school being over and more work holidays. In which case, you can expect more usage out of your plumbing besides yourself and possibly your household. Friends and family come over more often during this time, which can cause unexpected plumbing problems.

For instance, you can expect clogs during summer to occur most likely from:

Your toilet
Your garbage disposal
Your shower
Your sink

Unfortunately, not every person is mindful of your plumbing system, so the increased usage can result in clogs in those areas of your home.

A woman is showing a leaking washing machine to a plumber.

Problem #2: Laundry Water Supply Line Leaks

Calgary is no stranger to heat waves. People end up dripping in sweat that soaks easily through clothes. On top of that, many generally get their clothes dirty more often because of various activities (e.x. hiking). As a result, many use their washing machines frequently to clean said clothes.

Continuous use of your washing machine over a period of time can wear down your water supply lines and shut off valves. It can also create leaks over time in your washing machine’s water supply line hoses, which can potentially lead to flooding. Avoid having to pay for potential water damage by changing your water supply hoses every couple of years. We recommend always using a braided water supply line.

Problem #3: Risk of Sudden Flooding

Beyond the heat, summer also comes with rain. In Calgary, rainfall can come suddenly and heavily. Depending on the severity, it can potentially cause your basement to flood. When you’re susceptible to flooding, the watery debris can bring in bacteria and germs into your home that can be a breeding ground for sickness. Furthermore, flooding creates significant water damage that would need repairing – which can get costly. You can prevent spending a fortune on repairs by ensuring your sump pump is in good condition. Once you know your sump pump is in working order, it can effectively help steer heavy rainfall water away from your home and prevent any flooding from occurring.

Problem #4: Possible Kitchen Leaks

Like with your washing machine, you can expect frequent use of your dishwasher during the summer. Social gatherings like having BBQs with friends and family mean a lot of dishes that need cleaning. The most convenient way to clean up is generally with a dishwasher, but having so much demand can lead to system leaks. A tell-tale sign there is something wrong is if you see water pooling around your dishwasher or your dishwasher will not drain . In which case, you want to reach out to plumbing in Calgary that can directly assess and fix the issue.

Calgary Plumber and Drains is your number one team of Calgary plumbers! Our success has been built on values such as honesty, hard work, affordable prices and superior customer service. We pride ourselves on offering clients throughout Downtown and surrounding areas with top-quality plumbing services, including leak repairs, installations, sewer and drain cleaning, toilet repairs, and water heater repairs in Calgary. As an emergency plumber in Calgary, we’re available when you’re in dire straits! For the number one plumbing company in Calgary, contact Calgary Plumber and Drains at 403-629-2920.

With chilly conditions that can go well below -30°C, the icy Calgary weather can do a number on the plumbing in a home.

Keep winter’s icy embrace from your outside drain pipes by learning how to prevent freezing from occurring!

How Does Freezing Impact Your Plumbing?

You would be surprised to find how cold temperatures can significantly affect your plumbing.

When temperatures drop, water can expand resulting in pipe blockages. Once blocked, this can lead to being unable to access running water. Even worse, pressure from the blockage can lead to a pipe bursting and needing plumbing repairs.

Even when winter ends, freezing on your outside pipes can result in foundation water damage, exterior wall cracks, and leaks into your basement or crawlspace.

Signs of Freezing in Your Plumbing

Now you know what could happen if you don’t prevent freezing from occurring. But how can you spot the signs of freezing?

Temperature – This is a pretty obvious indicator. However, many don’t know the exact temperature of when water freezes. When temperatures drop to under 0°C, it can eventually lead to frozen pipes. Keep in mind weather reports on potential freezing conditions.

Frosted Pipes – If Jack Frost left his mark on your outside drain pipes, then it’s a clear signal to implement preventative measures. If you’re unable to know the exact temperature, this sign is quite obvious to see.

No Water – As stated, freezing can lead to blockages in your pipes. When this happens, you might find yourself without water. As a basic human need, being without water for too long isn’t ideal. Instances like these may require an emergency plumber.

Sudden Smells – Odd smells from pipes are never a good sign. It’s more worrisome during winter. When frozen pipes are blocked, odours can’t escape and end up back in the direction of your home.

How Can You Prevent Freezing from Occurring?

There is not much you can do about the cold. However, you can take control by preventing freezing from occurring.

Insulation – A sure-fire way to prevent freezing is to insulate as it promotes heat retention. It’s recommended to use polyethylene insulation when wrapping it around your outside drain pipes. If you’re still uncertain, insight from a licensed Calgary plumber is helpful.

Snow Removal – Calgary is no stranger to heavy snow. By getting rid of the snow surrounding your pipe, you can effectively reduce the chances of freezing from happening.