As a property owner, a water line break is one of your worst nightmares. The flooding caused by a water line break can result in severe damage to the building, flooring ceilings, walls and other structures, including your property’s foundation. When a water line break occurs, prompt action is critical to minimize the damage and prevent additional serious issues from developing down the road.
At Just Right Cleaning & Construction, we provide comprehensive water damage restoration services and have extensive experience addressing damage caused by water line breaks. Our team offers 24/7 emergency response services for residential and commercial properties, and our team will arrive shortly after receiving your call to begin work.
Common Causes of a Water Line Break
Water line breaks can occur due to a variety of factors. Some of the most common causes include:
- Aging Infrastructure – Pipes aren’t meant to last forever. Once water line pipes become old, they’re more prone to cracking and breaking.
- Temperature Changes – Freezing temperatures can cause water inside pipes to expand, leading to ruptures. Very hot temperatures can cause the soil to shift, placing excessive stress on the water line that may cause a rupture.
- Soil Erosion – Over time, hard rains, strong winds and flowing water can result in soil erosion that causes the ground to shift. This may potentially cause a water line to break.
- Corrosion – Over time, chemical reactions between the pipe material and the environment can result in corrosion that weakens the pipes, making them more prone to breaking.
- Human Error – Accidental damage during excavation or construction can also lead to water line breaks.
- High Water Pressure – Sudden increases in water flow or pressure can stress the pipes in your water line, potentially leading to failure.
Common Problems Caused by Broken Water Lines
If the water line in your property breaks, it might result in extensive damage to your home or business. Some of the most common problems that might develop after a water line break include:
- Water quality issues
- Structural and property damage
- Plumbing and pressure problems
- Financial issues
Water Quality Issues
After a water line break, you may experience a variety of water quality issues, including:
- Contamination of your water supply from dirt, bacteria and pesticides entering your water line
- Discoloration or a musty odor in your water due to contamination
- Health risks associated with contaminated water, including acute gastrointestinal illness and other waterborne illnesses
Structural and Property Damage
Water damage associated with water line breaks can cause significant damage to the building and its contents, including:
- Cracked foundation
- Damage to walls, ceilings, floors and other structural elements of your home or business
- Damage to furniture, electronics and other personal property
- Sinkholes
- Water puddles on the lawn or ground
- Mold growth
- Soil erosion
Plumbing and Pressure Problems
Water line breaks often result in reduced water pressure due to water escaping through cracks in the line. You may also develop other problems throughout your plumbing system since water line breaks compromise the overall integrity of your water distribution system.
Financial Issues
Broken water lines can cost you money in several ways. You’ll likely experience higher water bills due to the significant water waste that occurs when you have cracks in your water line pipes. In addition, the water damage associated with broken water lines can require extensive and costly repairs.
Common Warning Signs that You Have a Broken Water Line
There are a variety of warning sings that may indicate you have a broken water line on your property. These include:
- Brown or rusty water due to soil and/or rust entering your plumbing system through the cracks in your water line
- Pools of water on your property that develop in the absence of a significant rainstorm
- Low water pressure
- Significant increase in your water bill that can’t be explained by regular fluctuations in monthly usage
- Flooding to your property that results in extensive water damage to walls, floors, furniture, electrical systems and personal belongings
- Strange noises such as bubbling or gurgling sounds when faucets are used and toilets are flushed
What Is the Difference Between a Water Line Break and a Main Water Line Break?
Water line breaks and main water line breaks are two separate issues, and both of them can cause serious damage to your home or business. The main difference between these two issues involves the location and scale of the problem.
Water line breaks occur in the service line connecting your property to the municipal water supply. This issue generally only impacts a single property or a small number of adjacent properties. Water line breaks usually result in localized issues such as reduced water pressure or water damage to your property. In most instances, the property owner will be responsible for repairs to a water line break occurring on their property.
Main water line breaks refer to situations where there is a break in the larger, central pipes of the municipal water distribution network. Main water line breaks affect a wider area, potentially resulting in damage to multiple properties or entire neighborhoods. The damage caused by a main water line break is generally more extensive and can include widespread loss of water pressure, contamination of the water supply and the creation of sinkholes. In most instances, the local water utility or municipality is responsible for the repairs to a broken main water line; however, they will generally not be responsible for the cost of repairs to your home or business.
What to Do if You Have a Broken Water Line
Due to the serious consequences associated with water damage, it’s critical that you act fast when you have a broken water line. Call a plumber at once to fix the broken pipes in your water line. If the issue is associated with a main water line break, contact your local water utility or municipality so that they can make all necessary repairs to the pipes as quickly as possible.
If you notice any signs of water damage in your home or business, contact a professional water damage restoration company. Working with restoration experts is critical to ensure the entire process is handled correctly and all health and safety issues have been addressed. Failure to have a water damage restoration company perform all repairs after a water line break can potentially increase the risk of additional damage down the road.
JRCC Damage Restoration Experts Can Help After a Water Line Break
If you’ve sustained water damage from a water line break or a main water line break, JRCC Damage Restoration Experts can help return your property to its original condition. Our technicians are fully licensed and certified in Wenatchee and the surrounding areas, and they have extensive experience handling jobs involving water line breaks. With our 24/7 emergency response services, you can call our team day or night, and we’ll send a crew out right away to begin the cleanup process. This prompt response time is critical to minimizing the damage to your property.
As part of our comprehensive water damage restoration services, our team will handle every aspect of the process from initial assessment through all final repairs and reconstruction work. This ensures a seamless process and gives you peace of mind that everything is handled properly. In addition, we work with insurance companies all the time, and our team will handle all interactions with your insurance provider to facilitate a smoother claims process. We’ll make sure all damage is documented in the manner required by your insurance company to ensure you receive the maximum benefits to which you’re entitled.
