Plumbing – How to fix a Burst Pipe

Plumbing refers to a skilled trade of working with pipes, tubing and plumbing fixtures for portable water systems and the term plumber refers to someone who installs and repairs piping systems.

The plumbing industry is a basic substantial part of every developed economy due to the need for clean water and the proper collection and transport of waste products. Plumbing systems are distinguished from water and sewage systems as a plumbing system serves one building while water and sewage systems serve a group of buildings or a city.

Plumbing fixtures are designed for end users i.e. through the use of toilets, showers and kitchen sinks. Basically through any appliance we use in the home for the distribution of water or the clearance of waste.

Plumbing can become a complex issue if you don’t know what you are looking for or the correct materials and measures you need to use to maintain your plumbing work. This is why it is highly important to keep in mind that if you experience any problems with your plumbing work you call in the help of a professional plumbing contractor. By enlisting the help of a professional you are guaranteed that the work you have carried out on the plumbing work within your property will be of the highest standard and your problem will be resolved in a timely manner, allowing you to get on with your day.

Emergency situations and your plumbing work sadly happen on a frequent occasion, especially within the winter months. In the cold weather the water within your pipes has a tendency to freeze if you do not insulate your plumbing system to protect against this. Frozen pipes can cause a multitude of problems; one of the most common being a burst pipe.

When water freezes and changes into ice it causes an expansion of about 10%. This creates pressure within the pipe and if this pressure can’t be relieved; if the ice can’t travel down the pipe, the resulting pressure can split the pipe or force a joint to come open. Within this situation it is important that you fix the problem straight away. If you can fix the pipe yourself and the split is fairly small you should cut out the damaged part and slide the slip end of the coupling onto a pipe end. Then push it onto the other end. Unscrew the compression nuts and slide them, together with the olives, at each end along the pipe. Apply pipe-jointing compound before refitting the nuts and olives by screwing them tight using your fingers. Then use a spanner to tighten further. Once the repair work has been carried out you should run the water through the pipes again and feel the area or wrap with a paper tissue and check whether there is any leakage before leaving the site.

If you can’t fix the pipe yourself you should turn your water supply off and drain your pipes and the get a water hose and cut down the length of it then wrap it around the pipe until the damaged part of the pipe is covered. Once this is securely in place you should call a plumbing contractor to fix the problem on a long term basis.

Helen is the web master of ARCH Building Solutions; specialists in all of your Plumbing Solution needs.

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