Everyone knows about wrapping your pipes and protecting your home from burst pipes due to freezing in the winter, but what about summer? While far less common, extreme heat and increased demand for water can lead to burst pipes and flooding in homes and businesses. Here are a few reasons pipes burst in the summer, and some tips to help prevent it from happening.
Extreme Heat
Sever heat and lack of rain can lead to extremely dried out land. Dry soil is much looser than moist soil, so pipes have more room to shift and move around in land affected by extreme heat. This can lead to older pipes breaking as they shift and move more than usual. While unlikely to happen inside your house, pipes bursting on their route from the road to your home can definitely mean trouble. You can’t control the weather, but you can cut back on your water usage during extreme heat to relieve some of the pressure on your system.
Increased Demand
Summer heat means filling pools, watering the lawns and garden, washing cars, and playing in sprinklers. All that increased demand can lead to failing pipes if your system hasn’t been updated or check recently. Make sure there wasn’t any warping of your pipes during the winter to make sure they can keep up with the summer demand.
Clogged Pipes
The clear risk for a clog is in your sewage pipes. Sewer backups are, unfortunately, a common and messy problem in the Baltimore area. Since sewage pipes have an outlet to release pressure (your toilet), the chance of a backup and flooding are much higher than a burst pipe. Other pipes in your house can become clogged, though. Water pumps can become clogged, leading to a buildup of pressure and a burst pipe. Be sure to contact a plumber at the first sign of a clogged pipe.
Water Damage Restoration with ServiceMaster of Baltimore
If your home floods and you have damage that needs to be repaired, you can count on the professionals at ServiceMaster of Baltimore to be there for you. As an IICRC-Certified company, ServiceMaster of Baltimore technicians are trained to identify moisture sources, evaluate mold growth, contain damage, remove contamination, and dry structural materials in an effort to reduce your loss and preserve your property. Contact us for a quick estimate, or to get immediate help with your residential or commercial disaster restoration. Hopefully you have found our blog, “Why Do Pipes Burst In the Summer?,” informative and helpful. Continue to check back weekly for more helpful tips.
