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Most homeowners never pay attention to their plumbing until something goes wrong. To them, water automatically flows in and then flows out the drain. Until they need 24/7 plumbing service, Alpharetta homeowners don’t even maintain their pipes and drains. These are the most common problems they will experience due to the lack of maintenance. Frozen Pipes There are two main causes to busted pipes. The first comes from low temperatures and the pipes running through unheated areas. Everybody knows that water freezes when the temperature gets low. And homes with a basement usually don’t have a problem. Even without a heat source, the basement holds at a temperature well above freezing. But, a crawl space that is open to the weather will reflect the low temperatures and the pipes will freeze. Or, if a hose is left connected to an exterior faucet, the ice can expand into the house and burst the pipe. Even older hose bibs can develop a drip that freezes over. Busted Pipes The other cause of busted pipes happens from the inside of them. Over time, sediments build up inside the pipes. The build-up can build pressure that splits a weak pipe or seam. As the pressure builds, the water expands the soft copper until it bursts open. While frozen pipes are the most common cause, even a sudden increase in pressure from the source can rupture the pipes. Overflowing Sewage While burst pipes can flood the entire house, it is always clean water with no health issues associated with it. A backed up drain is quite the opposite, especially if it is one of the toilets. Most plumbing issues are for clogged drains that are overflowing into the house. The toilet is backed up but just keeps filling until it overflows nasty water into the bathroom. Sometimes, higher levels of ground water or human error at the treatment plant can reverse the flow of sewage into many neighborhood homes. This not only brings extra water into the home, it brings bacteria and other pathogens that contaminate the entire house. Water Heater A water heater is the one part of the plumbing that benefits most from regular maintenance. Whether it is electric or gas, the tank can develop a build-up of sediment that makes heating the water difficult. As with the pipes, this build-up can rupture the tank, flooding the area with hot water. The tank also has a relief valve for the pressure that builds when the water is heated. If this pressure cannot escape, the holding tank could turn into a very dangerous bomb. Natural Gas Many people may not realize that plumbers are the tradesmen that are responsible for any gas lines in the homes. As with water, the gas is supplied to the various parts of the house through pipes. And many of the principles of water, like flowing downhill, are the same with gas. Gas can escape through connections that are not completely sealed. Or, it can build up pressure, like water, that ruptures the pipes and seals. A gas leak can be lethal if not fixed quickly. There are many serious issues caused by different parts of the plumbing. While all of them can cause serious property damage, there are a few things that can be lethal. If they feel like they need 24/7 plumbing service, Alpharetta homeowners should not hesitate to protect their homes and their health.
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