You already know how to prepare your plumbing for frigid winter weather. But what causes a pipe to burst in summer? Although it’s a rare occurrence, it can happen when you least expect it.
Champion Plumbing offers top-rated emergency plumbing in New Castle, Oklahoma. Our team came together to share the reasons behind burst pipes during warm seasons. Find out what to keep an eye on below.
What Causes a Pipe To Burst in Summer?
Many property owners exercise caution during Oklahoma’s frigid winters. For example, temperatures in Newcastle can dip below freezing. However, summer plumbing problems often fly under the radar.
Fortunately, plumbing advances with deep learning help plumbers identify and solve problems faster. They can easily address concerns like poorly installed pipes before they become big issues. Your plumber might find the following summer plumbing problems.
Intense Heat
Just as icy temperatures can freeze water in pipes, extreme heat can threaten your plumbing. Hot temperatures cause materials to expand. When pipes expand, the material becomes thinner and weaker. The stretched pipe becomes more susceptible to perforations and other damage.
Mineral Buildup
Hard water contains higher mineral levels than soft water. The minerals can stick to the pipe’s interior, encrusting the material with a stubborn clog. This increases the resistance the water meets when traveling through your plumbing network.
Mineral buildup can affect your household in numerous other ways. Shop for water filtration solutions from providers like Champions Plumbing in New Castle, Oklahoma, if:
- Your glassware looks chalky and scratched rather than crystal clear
- Your clothes feel limp and unclean despite numerous wash cycles
- Your hair feels limp and oily, or your skin is always dry
Although water treatment plants remove numerous contaminants, minerals can still maneuver into your freshwater supply. They gradually wreak havoc on your plumbing appliances and fixtures.
Old Plumbing Components
Most materials gradually wear away with time and erosion. You might think your pipes will last forever. However, the water and debris moving through them slowly erode pipe particles. Plus, some pipes become corroded when introduced to harsh substances.
Property owners should replace old pipes every 50 to 70 years. The network’s lifespan depends on its material. For example, copper lasts longer than PVC.
Moisture Fluctuations
Newcastle, Oklahoma’s climate dramatically varies from semi-arid to humid subtropical depending on the seasonal drought patterns. That means moisture is inconsistent and unpredictable. These volatile fluctuations can impact your pipes’ integrity.
If you want to know what causes a pipe to burst in summer, consider how your local humidity patterns look. Even though manufacturers design pipes to securely contain and transport water, the materials still absorb and release moisture on a microscopic level. When the soil surrounding underground pipes stays dry for long periods, the exterior pipe layers become brittle and more prone to breakage.
High Water Pressure
Everyone loves a hot shower that massages the day’s stresses out of their shoulders. You get that intense comfort from the water pressure. Low pressure makes water move at a slow trickle while high pressure pushes water out faster.
If you adjust the pressure to a level that is too high, you can accidentally make your pipes burst in the summer. Some pipe materials and joints can’t handle extreme force. The pressure could disconnect the joints or shove seals out of place, causing a leak.
Intense Clogs
What causes a pipe to burst in summer? Another factor is blockages. Clogs come in numerous shapes, sizes, and materials. The summer heat causes the debris to expand, which increases its pressure on the pipe walls.
Water can’t move through clogged pipes as easily. You already discovered that minerals are a hidden culprit in the clog above. Other concerns to look for include:
- Invasive tree roots: Tree roots move toward moving water. Sometimes, your trees might mistake the water moving through your pipes as a water source. Their roots can wrap around and infiltrate the pipes, creating a leak and a clog simultaneously.
- Grease and oil: Using olive oil or bacon grease when you cook makes the food more flavorful. But pouring these substances down the sink drain spells disaster for your plumbing network. Grease buildup clings to the pipes instead of rinsing down the drain.
- Gelatinous food substances: Potatoes, rice, and other starchy snacks can expand when they mix with water. If you drain hot water down the sink, they can expand even more.
- Fibrous materials: Hair, celery, and other thread-like substances become entangled with other debris, forming a dense, net-like blockage that easily entraps other materials.
- Inappropriate sanitary products: Your toilet can only handle toilet paper. Paper towels, wet wipes, and sanitary pads are often too big and dense to move quickly through the pipes.
When excessive quantities of these materials build up in your pipes, they keep water from flowing. The pressure can burst a drain pipe, releasing nasty wastewater into your home or lawn.
Poor Repair Attempts
DIY plumbing fixes and services from cut-rate, unqualified contractors lead to substandard repairs. Cheap materials, incorrect methods, and a lack of professional training are harbingers of a poor repair attempt. When a poorly installed pipe or patch expands from the intense summer heat in Newcastle, Oklahoma, it can rupture or bulge, resulting in a burst pipe and extensive property damage.
No Plumbing Maintenance
Your plumbing network needs consistent maintenance, just like your HVAC and electrical systems. Otherwise, you won’t know about lurking issues that have huge consequences. Annual inspections from a reputable plumbing service keep you informed about weakened pipes and burgeoning blockages.
Time for an Inspection? Call the Champs at Champion Plumbing!
Now that you know what causes a pipe to burst in summer, schedule a plumbing evaluation with Champion Plumbing in Newcastle, Oklahoma. Our plumbing champs can diagnose plumbing problems in old homes and other concerns that need timely repairs.
Call for an appointment. Since we stay open 24 hours, you can also depend on us for emergency assistance. Partner with us today.
