Many homes and businesses in Minneapolis, MN, have issues with their water lines. Leaky, defective pipes may be hard to locate and fix. However, ignoring the problem can skyrocket your water bill, cause a sinkhole on your property and damage your foundation.
At Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains, we believe in sharing information to help our customers learn how to identify their water line repair issues. Some signs indicate a leak or blockage. Learn more about how to detect them and let Paul Bunyan plumbing technicians solve the problem quickly and affordably.
What Is a Water Line?
The water supply line connects your residential or commercial plumbing to the main supply line from your city or rural location. Because most lines lie 3 feet underground, you can have a hard time finding them. However, our licensed, professional plumbers bring the tools and technology needed to find the pipe quickly so that we can begin repairs.
What Is Water Line Repair?
To get to the water supply line, we use manual and automated excavation techniques. Our priority is always to disrupt your daily life or business operations as little as possible. We also understand that sometimes you’ll need our immediate assistance. That’s why our plumbers respond quickly to emergency water line repairs after hours and weekends.
Signs of a Water Line Leak
The following signs may indicate that you need the expertise of Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains:
- Wet areas or pools of water
- Soft, green or mossy spots surrounded by dryer conditions
- Drop in water pressure or volume
- Dirt or air comes out of the drains
- Rusty waterÂ
- Irrigated areas become brown and dead
- Cracked pavement
- Sinkholes
- Leaning structures
- High water bills that spike suddenly
- Our trained technicians can diagnose and complete your water line repairs.
What Are Sounds That Water Leaks Make?
If your water supply pipes make certain sounds, it may indicate an issue that requires the attention of our plumbers.
These sounds include:
- Whoosh or hiss deriving from a reduction in pressure that causes the pipes to vibrate
- Splashing sound of water hitting the open cavity wall
- Clinking sound of stones and debris hitting pipe walls
- The whoosh or hissing sound is a great diagnostic tool and the one that often guides our plumbers to uncovering the problem.
If you notice any of these symptoms, it’s helpful but not necessary to let us know when you call for an appointment or emergency services.
Common Factors
The frequency and prevalence of these sounds depend on the following factors:
- Water pressure
- Pipe diameter and composition
- Soil type and density
- Coverage of soil over the pipe
- Surface above pipe: concrete, stone, soil
We examine all these factors to come up with the best water line repair plan for your plumbing system.
Leak Detection in Minneapolis, MN
When Paul Bunyan plumbers come to your home or business, you can count on courteous and professional treatment. We find and evaluate the leak to determine the cause.
Most water pipes are made of copper or PVC. The composition impacts the water line repairs required. In the case of root incursion or damage that cracks or breaks the pipe, we use soldering, epoxy or a rubber sheet to fix each leak. In some cases, the pipe may need to be replaced.
Draining the Pipes
We switch off the water supply to the property and turn on faucets to drain water from your plumbing system. The pipes must be empty for us to conduct the necessary water line repairs.
Water Line Repair
For copper pipes, we can apply soldering flux to cracks, seams and small holes. The repairs are conducted with a soldering torch. Another common repair method involves applying epoxy over the damaged area and around the joints to seal the pipes and prevent further leakage.
For smaller leaks, a rubber sheet clamped around the pipe can stop the leakage. It’s best to leave these repairs to trained plumbers to avoid further damage and more expensive repairs.
Replacing Water Line Pipes
You can count on Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains for more complex water supply line jobs, such as replacing the copper or PVC pipes. In some cases, it’s better to replace the damaged portion of the pipe completely. To do this, we determine the size of the damaged section, remove it and replace it.
We come prepared with the tools needed for the job to save time and complete the task efficiently. For example, we use a pipe cutter or saw to remove the leaky section of pipe. A power tool sands down the edges for a snug connection.
For PVC pipes, PVC primer and glue secure the added piece to the existing pipe. For copper pipes, we use soldering flux and a propane torch to weld the new section in place.
Quality Control
After we replace the pipe or perform water line repairs, we test the system to ensure everything works as expected. This involves turning on the water supply and running water through the plumbing system.
If necessary, our dedicated technicians turn the water back off to conduct any necessary adjustments.
Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains
By catching water line repairs early, you can prevent damage to your property and huge utility bills. Contact Paul Bunyan Plumbing & Drains as soon as you suspect a problem to keep repair costs under control.
We often recommend an annual maintenance check to ensure that your plumbing system continues to operate smoothly. Of course, we welcome your call regarding water line repairs and other plumbing issues that you may face in Minneapolis, MN.
We value both our residential and commercial customers and strive to provide the best service available. As a local business, we understand that customer satisfaction is the key to our success.
