Commercial pipes burst for various reasons. Some bursts are as a result of negligence and others just accidental. But mostly, bursting of pipes is easy to avoid if only the right precautions are taken. Sometimes it only needs pipeline corrosion protection services to guard against bursting of the pipes.
These are 5 reasons why pipes would burst and cause untold water damage and loss.
1. Excessive water pressure
It’s a common cause of water pipes bursting and results from build up of pressure to a point the pipe cannot handle. The excess pressure is often caused by pipes clogging and letting only a little water through. Since more and more water is being pumped from the source, the pressure created has to find a way out and, it eventually leads to a burst.
A warning sing for this kind of danger would be taps that suddenly start to trickle water at unusually low pressure. If this happens, there’s a high chance that there’s a blockage somewhere and very soon a pipe burst will occur somewhere, usually at a point where the pipeline is weak.
2. Freezing weather
Cold winters usually cause pipes to burst. Water in the pipes starts to freeze. Freezing causes the water to expand, and when the pipe cannot take in the expansion, it bursts. This can be prevented by having insulation all around pipes to prevent the water inside ever reaching freezing point. Pipes that are exposed to the weather are, especially, vulnerable.
3. Exposure to weather and other activities
Pipes that are not laid underground are prone to damage both from natural factors and human activities. They’re exposed to the sun and other weather elements which cause them to deteriorate over time and in the long run cause them to corrode and crack. Pipeline corrosion protection methods such as insulation against the weather would go a long way to prevent damage and eventual loss.
Activities like construction can also lead to accidental bursting of pipes, especially if the pipeline is not conspicuously a labeled.
4. Poor quality pipes
Pipes that are manufactured out of poor quality materials or which were faulty at the time of leaving the factory are a disaster in waiting. Before laying them in the pipeline, they should be adequately inspected for quality and faults. It’s better to prevent than to have to do costly repairs.
5. Tiny cracks in the pipes
Cracks that a tiny and almost invisible are a cause of future pipe burst. They enlarge over time and when the start to let water enough to allow the pressure of the water to vent through the pipe bursts. This is why pipes should be inspected for cracks, right from the initial installation to during routine maintenance inspections. Neglecting a small crack can lead to expensive and inconvenience causing major repair, not to mention the damage the leaked water may have caused.
Burst pipes cause water damage to property around the area the burst happens. It can lead to costly water damage restoration. It is easier and better to prevent it; most of it is caused by not taking adequate prevention measures. Knowing the possible causes is the first step toward it. And taking action is the next.
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