Underground pipes that lead to your home are an integral part of your plumbing system. If you notice an unusual spike in your water bill, spotting on your lawn, or water performance issues, there is a good chance that your underground pipes have been damaged. If you fail to act swiftly to address the problem, it may snowball into a major concern and you may end up spending hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars on repairs.

While it is common for dated underground pipes (especially Orangeburg pipes and copper and clay pipes) to develop problems, even new pipes installed as early as within the last decade can fall apart prematurely due to excess and continuous exposure to the elements.

Some Environmental Risks to Pipe Systems

Before evaluating pipe repair options, Santa Rosa plumbing contractors must get to the root cause of the problem. In properties along geological fault lines, pipe damage, more often than not, is a result of stress caused by different environmental factors such as earthquakes and tremors. Sudden environmental changes can damage pipes that are already affected by other factors such as corrosion and age.

Environmental stress on critical joints can result in cracks and severe fractures. Additionally, other factors such as poor pipe structure, human errors, and high surface pressure can cause severe damage to pipes. If you fail to take corrective action in a timely manner, things can get from bad to worse overnight resulting in full collapse.

A sudden drop in temperature during winter months can also spell doom for underground pipe systems. Excess pressure build-up can result in pipe bursts. This is a serious threat for pipes made from different materials including clay, PVC/plastic, cement, copper, cast iron, and cement.

Another environmental factor that can impact the structural integrity of underground pipes is intrusion by animals and underground plants. Irresponsible and unplanned digging can also jeopardize the integrity of your pipes.

When repairing underground pipes, Santa Rosa plumbing contractors do not just focus on fixing the problem, but also look for ways such as relocating plants with intrusive roots and removing animals that dig in the ground from the property to prevent problems from recurring.

Common Solutions for Pipe Damage

● Pipe and lateral lining: The method is usually used for repairing damaged water pipes and laterals internally.
● Manhole-to-manhole lining: This trenchless solution is usually used for repairing severely damaged pipes. Manhole-to-manhole lining can be completed through existing manhole entry points.
● Sectional point repair: The method is primarily used to address minor repair problems such as minor cracking.

Is your pipe system falling apart? Ignoring the problem will only make things worse. Our plumbing experts at Holman Plumbing know a thing or two about underground pipes. Instead of looking for quick fixes, these professionals focus on getting to the root cause of the problem and eliminating it. To talk to one of our experts, call us at 707-495-5002.