While the town of Normal, IL, is replacing many main water lines to improve service, it doesn’t mean you’ll see better water flow coming from your system. If your water lines are old or damaged, you won’t benefit from the new installations. To ensure you’re getting the most out of your plumbing system, contact Platinum Plumbing for fast, efficient main water line repair.
On-demand hot water is a service you can’t afford to be without. Call on us for same-day water heater services.
Signs That Indicate You Have Water Line Problems
Because main water lines are often buried, it’s not always apparent when there’s an issue. However, here are a few things to watch for that indicate the trouble you’re experiencing may lie in your main water lines.
- Spike in Water Bill: Older water lines degrade as they age and can shift as soil changes, which leads to pinhole leaks that aren’t noticeable right away. As these leaks go undetected, they become more prominent, and the water eventually finds its way to the ground’s surface. All of this leaking water leads to skyrocketing water bills. If you see a sudden spike in your water bill and haven’t changed your water usage habits, call a professional plumber for an inspection.
- Water Leaking Through the Foundation Wall: If you notice water leaking through the foundation wall, it could mean that the trouble comes from your plumbing or a neighbor’s. To quickly diagnose the problem, call Platinum Plumbing and let our experts handle it.
- Rumbling or Hissing Sounds: If you hear these sounds when the water is shut off, it could mean that water is escaping the pipe from somewhere in the house, the city’s water main, or the street.
- Reduced Water Pressure: A sudden decrease in water pressure could mean you have a leak in the main water line or other plumbing damage.
Our highly trained technicians use state-of-the-art equipment and technology to quickly get to the root of the problem so we can develop the perfect solution.
Common Causes of Main Water Line Clogs
When you have water that backs up out of a floor drain, it usually means that you have a clog in the main water line rather than the drain itself. When there’s a blockage in the main water line, water running down from an upper fixture has nowhere to go and backs up in the drain until it finds a way out.
Fortunately, clogs in the main water line are primarily preventable with some common sense and diligence. Here are the leading causes of water line clogs and how you can prevent them.
- “Flushable” Wipes, Napkins, Etc.: Many people treat their toilet as a trash can and flush everything that can fit down the drain. However, one of the biggest culprits of clogs today is the advertised ‘flushable’ wipes. These personal wipes don’t break down like toilet paper, which means they get clogged in the toilet and the main water line. If you like using these products, put them into the trash instead of down the drain. The same goes for feminine products, paper towels, and anything other than toilet tissue.
- Tree Roots: Another common culprit of main water line clogs are tree roots, which naturally seek out accessible water sources. So, if your main water line has pinhole leaks, these tree roots find their way in one way or another, and once inside the pipe, they continue growing until the water flow comes to a halt. To solve this, remove trees and other vegetation away from your main water line, and consider hiring a professional plumber to clean the line regularly.
- Collapsed Sewer Lines: Older homes are susceptible to sewer lines cracking and breaking because of the materials used during construction. Pipes made from cast iron rust from the inside out as they age, and clay pipes are susceptible to cracks and tree root intrusion. If you have cracked or collapsed water lines, the water can’t drain adequately, which means you need main water line replacement ASAP.
If you experience frozen pipes this winter, you may be facing significant water damage if those pipes burst. Call us immediately for frozen pipe repair.
What to do During a Main Water Line Break
If you think you have a leak in the main water line, there’s some basic information that can save you time and money before you call in a professional for repairs.
While it’s true that a reduction in water pressure can result from a leak in the main water line, it’s only usually in extreme cases that the decrease in water pressure affects the entire house. Typically, it’s the sound of running water that indicates a leak in the main water line.
Another thing you can do is to call the local water department to report a line leak or find out if the city is currently working on any of the city’s water lines that may be causing your issue.
Lastly, you can usually test for a leak in the main water line by watching the dials on your water meter. First, close the valve on the house side of the meter, and if the dials stop moving, it means there’s no water running through the meter. Also, you can listen to the water main by putting your ear up to the pipe or using a metal rod between your ear and the pipe if you can’t get to it quickly. If you hear running water, you have a leak in the main water line.
