Posts Tagged ‘Water Line Repair’

Millburn Water Line Tip: Advantages of Using Video Pipe Inspection

Monday, January 9th, 2012

If you have any problems with the drains, sewer lines, or plumbing fixtures in your Millburn home, it’s important to locate the source of the problem as quickly as possible to prevent further damage to the plumbing system.

Video pipe inspection enables professional plumbers to locate blockages, check for cracks or leaks, and determine the best approach for making any needed repairs as efficiently as possible without damage to your property.

If you have any problems with your plumbing, call one of the qualified plumbers at Resolve Rooter today and set up an appointment.

Here are some reasons plumbers use video pipe inspections and the advantages to this technique.

Less Invasive Investigation of Plumbing Problems

Instead of hours of costly digging to locate and repair pipes, a video pipe inspection makes it possible to insert a small, fiber optic video line into a drain pipe and check for issues without tearing up large chunks of your property.  A video inspection line is fed inside your drains to look for leaks, blockages, or other problems that can only be detected with a camera. Once our qualified plumbers find the cause of the problem, we can use the camera to determine the best repair methods.

Detecting Root Penetration and Overall Plumbing Inspections

Video pipe inspection is typically used to check for small leaks and blockages in residential plumbing systems, but it can be used to look for any roots penetrating the sewer and drainage lines. If you own an older home, video camera inspections are ideal for inspecting the overall integrity of your plumbing system. Additionally, video inspections can locate issues when other techniques, such as water jetting, have not been successful at cleaning debris from a pipe or sewer line.

Leak Detection and Lowering Water Bills

Older pipes, or pipes that are exposed to extreme weather conditions, can have leaks that you could be unaware of. Even a minor leak adds up over time, and detecting and repairing leaks will lower your water bills and overall energy costs. Monitoring the water bills for your home can help with leak detection. If there’s been an unexplained rise in your bills recently, there could be a hidden leak inside your pipe system.

The advances of video inspection technology have made it easier for plumbers to inspect the plumbing system in your Millburn home and determine the best solutions to any issues. Call Resolve Rooter if you have questions or would like to set up an appointment with one of our qualified plumbers.

Causes of Sewer and Water Line Obstructions: A Guide from a North Plainfield Plumber

Friday, December 2nd, 2011

One of the most common causes of a sewer or water line problem is obstruction. While much more common in a drain or sewer line, obstructions can occur in any pipe in your North Plainfield home and in the past, diagnosing the problem was not always easy. How can you be sure where the obstruction is or how it was formed if you can’t see it?

Today, that problem has been remedied by trenchless technology which allows a plumber to look inside your pipes through a specially designed video inspection line. This works with any of the pipes on your property, including those buried under your lawn such as the sewer line. So, what could be causing your slow draining, potentially clogged sewer line? Here are some possibilities:

  • Grease and Food – If you put grease down the drain in your kitchen, it can build up anywhere in your pipes, including in the sewer line. Combined with the food particles and paper products regularly put down the drain, this can create a bulky blockage that stops up the water flowing out of your home.
  • Unflushables – Very few things are designed to be flushed down the drain. Toilet paper is designed for it, but almost no other type of paper fits the bill. Napkins, paper towels, tissues – none of them should go down any drain because they don’t break down in water. In fact, most paper products are designed to absorb water, which will lead to a sure clog.
  • Roots – Water lines under your property are subject to infiltration by roots from nearby trees and shrubs if not carefully maintained. It could have been a design flaw when the house was built or it could be a tree or shrub you planted since without checking where those pipes were located. Either way, the damage those roots can cause is substantial.
  • Mineral Build Up – High mineral levels in your water can lead to build up in the pipes over time. If your pipes are more than 40 years old and you have water pressure issues, this might be the source. Water testing will determine if your water is hard.

Whatever the cause, if you notice your drains slowing, your water pressure dropping or if any leaks spring in your water or sewer lines, a thorough video inspection is called for to pinpoint the problem.

Common Scotch Plains Water Line Problems

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Everyone needs water in Scotch Plains. It keeps us clean, provides us with a clean drinking source and helps us cook food and wash clothes. So, when a problem occurs with the water line, it can be disruptive to every aspect of everyday life. Here are some common water line problems and solutions you can implement to solve them as fast as possible:

  • Burst Pipe – The biggest problem you can have is a burst pipe. This is a major problem and one that needs to be solved immediately. If your pipe bursts or starts to leak, turn off the main water supply immediately and call an emergency plumber. You’ll want to have it patched as soon as possible to return normal water service to your home.
  • Noisy Pipes – Noise in the pipes is a slightly less disastrous problem but it can lead to bigger problems down the road if not dealt with. Usually, it is due to air in the pipes which can create a loud banging sound. If your pipes are vibrating or banging, the easiest solution is to turn off the water supply and drain your pipes completely, then fill them back up to remove the air build up.
  • Water Pressure – Low water pressure can be due to a number of problems, from a small leak somewhere to an issue in the incoming water supply. If you notice water pressure dropping in your home, call a professional to inspect the problem and offer potential solutions.
  • Sediment in the Pipes – If suddenly you are seeing excess sediment, rust, or other debris in your water it is probably from an aging pipe. While this doesn’t necessarily signal that your pipe is about to burst, it can be a sign of potential problems in the future. Build up from hard water or erosion can both be major problems if not fixed right away.

Water line problems can range from small nuisances to major disasters that threaten your entire home, but they should all be treated with equal import. If something happens to your water line, don’t waste time trying to track down a solution. Turn off the water supply and call a professional and ask about trenchless water line replacement.

Common Sewer and Water Line Problems: A Guide from Scotch Plains

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Your sewer and water line are the most important pipes in your Scotch Plains home. They bring in fresh water to your fixtures and remove waste water from your drains. So, a problem with either of these lines will put a serious kink in your daily routine. That’s why you should keep a close eye out for these potential problems.

Clogging

The most common problem you are likely to see in your pipe lines is clogging. This happens more often in the sewer line and is usually due to things being put down drains that don’t belong there. For example, toilet paper is designed to be flushed because it disintegrates when wet. Paper towels, however, absorb water and take a very long time to disintegrate. The same goes for most napkins and tissues. Use those instead of toilet paper or flush them when cleaning and you create a potential clog.

Only flush items that specifically say “flushable” on the packaging. Anything else should be thrown in the trash.

Root Infiltration

Because your water line and sewer line are located underneath your property, there is always a chance that a nearby tree or shrub’s roots will grow toward it, attempting to absorb water from the line. If this happens, the roots can eventually break through the pipe and create a leak. And if there is already a small leak or crack in the line, roots will rip it open like a tin can.

Mineral Build Up

Water is filled with various minerals that can have a negative impact on your pipes if not properly removed. Hard water in particular can damage pipes and create blockages that will eventually stop water flow completely.

Fortunately, hard water and other mineral problems are easy to solve with modern filtration devices. The key is to recognize that there might be a problem and move to fix it before it gets too bad.

Things to Watch For

If you suspect a problem in your water line or sewer line, watch for spikes in your water meter or a sudden increase in your bill – both sure signs that there is a leak. Additionally, check slow drains to make sure they are localized. If all the drains in your home are suddenly slower it may be in the sewer line.