Most homeowners never give plumbing a second thought until a loss of pressure or worse occurs. Leaks can be very cheap to repair or very expensive depending on where the leak occurs. If a leak occurs after closing the valves under the sinks or toilet, it should only cost a few dollars to repair. The homeowner can be in trouble with a costly and destructive leak if it occurs within a wall, foundation, or within underground pipes.

100% of the time, newer home construction should never leak at all. As time passes, normal wear and tear, aggressive chemical pipe cleaner, and debris can affect pipes, be it older cast iron pipes, copper pipes, PVC pipes, etc. Some houses actually have clay pipes that may need service and / or replacement, but this type of pipe is generally used for sewage. Most regions have different building codes from each other regarding the depth of burial of a pipe, the type of pipe material, and even how the pipes are joined.

Many times when a home has been built, the site inspection may not have been done with due attention to detail. Some pipes may not be buried according to building codes and could be damaged by the weight lifted from above. In many northern climates and older buildings, where clay pipes have traditionally been used, lack of compliance with building codes may not even be a factor. What poses problems for clay pipes is time.

Clay pipes have a tendency over time to become more brittle over time. Combined with cold or even icy temperatures, clay or terra cotta pipes can fracture. Another common problem with clay sewer pipes is that because the pipes can expand or contract with extreme changes in temperature, the joints will wear out. Again, it is not about whether they will fail, but when they will fail. Eventually, the joints will degrade. When this occurs, it is quite common for the roots of shrubs or trees to infiltrate the joints and continue to grow further in the pipe. In moderate to extreme cases, the roots can even grow through a solid section of clay sewer pipe.

There are several ways to handle this specific type of problem. Most solutions require specialized tools or industrial equipment. Some methods can be very expensive and involve replacing old sewer pipes by digging trenches. There are some newer alternatives that are a little less economical, but not all plumbing companies are equipped to handle this exact problem.

If a home plumbing problem is being experienced, it can be time consuming and frustrating for the homeowner to discover the cause. However, a little detective work can save you hundreds of dollars. If the problem is not obvious, a professional plumbing repair company is usually the smartest course of action.

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