Is Pittsburgh Water Pipe Damage Unique?
Founded in the colonial era, there are a few things noteworthy about plumbing issues that stand unique in the city of Pittsburgh. So then, how can plumbing issues in one city be distinctive from those in another, like perhaps Sacramento, California?
The answer to that question is why not? After all, it’s common knowledge that each city has its own unique character, both geographic and demographic. So why would it end there?
The truth is that it doesn’t, and all you have to do is take a moment to talk to some Pittsburgh plumbers to find this out. They will tell you that there are peculiarities that make Pittsburgh water pipe damage that they repair on a regular basis different from the damage they encounter when they travel to other cities to work.
Many of the buildings in and around Pittsburgh are well over a century old. Then when you consider that back in that earlier era, cast iron water pipes were the preferred option because steel and copper at that time were far more expensive.
Most of these centuries-old cast iron water pipes have long since been decommissioned and replaced but believe it or not; some still remain underground. These would be old cast iron sewage and drain lines that, although rare, are still functioning to this day.
Then the Greater Pittsburgh area is all too well known for its unusually hard water. The term hard water refers to water that contains a high level of dissolved minerals, with calcium being the most predominant. It’s the calcite deposits that are responsible for so many repair costs for Pittsburgh water pipe damage.
How to Know If You Have Water Pipe Damage?
Who among us hasn’t seen the classic movie cliche that has a car running over a fire hydrant and the resulting geyser of water shooting into the air? So there can be no doubt about it but that this is for sure water pipe damage, even if it’s presented with a dramatic flair.
So then, how do you detect water pipe damage in and around your home or business when it’s a slow leak. Perhaps it’s just a pinhole leak in an old degraded steel pipe?
The answer here is that the smell of mold is one of the most common red flags that a slow leak is hidden inside a wall. What you’re smelling for is black mold that may not even be visible on the outside surface of the wall.
Meanwhile, on the backside, inside a warm and closed-up area, black mold can go on unnoticed indefinitely, living off of water provided by a small pinhole leak.
Just How Dangerous is Water Pipe Damage?
The word has been out for some time now on black mold, but what you may not be aware of is it there are also lesser-known varieties of orange and yellow mold that can be just as toxic.
So, just how dangerous is water pipe damage? In instances where it leads to mold problems, it’s dangerous enough to cause serious illness.
Then as it pertains to calcite deposits, there is still more danger to consider. If you take a look at your water heater, you will see on the side that there is a small pressure relief valve.
Its job is to release pressure if, for some reason, there is a malfunction that causes the unit to become over-pressurized. A buildup of calcite deposits in this alone can cause it to malfunction and, in turn, bring the possibility of your hot water exploding.
How Do You Maintain Your Water Pipes?
If you’re like most people, you probably take the out-of-sight means out of mind approach to your water pipes. You basically keep your fingers crossed and hope for the best. For those who are wondering how do you maintain your water pipes, though, there are a few proactive measures that can be taken.
The first one is to have your water pipes inspected. If you are wondering how this can help, it can by detecting potential problem areas before they become a source of a water leak.
What you need to understand is that it’s the water damage to a home or building that is the most expensive to repair. Repairing pipes is relatively simple in most instances.
However, mold and dry rot damage are another story altogether. Homes have become so infected with black mold that they have had to be completely torn down.
Is a Damaged Water Pipe Covered By Insurance?
Another common question that home and business owners reach out for an answer to, is if a damaged water pipe is covered by insurance? There are two answers to this question, and the first one is yes, if you have a comprehensive policy where water pipe damage is covered in the contract.
But then there’s another thing to consider for those who question if a damaged water pipe is covered by insurance. That answer is that even though the pipe itself may not be covered by a policy, it may cover the water damage to a home or building.
What comes to mind when most people think of water damage coverage it is a flood or rain coming through a degraded roof. But in fact, most policies don’t differentiate between that and damage caused by a broken water pipe.
A Few Handy Tips to Prevent Water Pipe Damage
In so many ways, when it comes to water pipes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. What this means is that there are things that you can do to prevent water pipe damage.
The first tip is to turn off the main water valve and open outside faucets when the forecast calls for freezing weather. There are foam covering products available at your local hardware store to insulate water pipes, but it’s easy to get caught off guard.
So if freezing weather is predicted, don’t be surprised if the shelves are empty when you go to find these types of insulators at your local hardware store.
Then another handy tip to prevent water pipe damage is to avoid trying to do any plumbing work yourself. The light plastic hose on do-it-yourself irrigation systems that you can pick up at the hardware store are one thing. But trying can learn on the fly while doing your own interior water pipe plumbing is just asking for trouble.