For many homeowners, plumbing problems and the
outdoors don't seem closely related. Common plumbing problems often are indoor
leaks behind walls or under sinks, all of which can have disastrous
consequences for your home. While these problems can be serious, be aware of
plumbing issues that can arise outside of your home.
Like indoor plumbing problems, outdoor
problems can cause significant damage to your house. They can also potentially
impact your yard, your foundation, or even your water supply. Being aware of
how and why these problems arise can help you to discover them early before
they create severe issues. Discover three common issues that many homeowners
experience with their outdoor plumbing.
1. Leaky Exterior
Faucets
Your home likely has one or more faucets along
the exterior for attaching garden hoses. While residents of sunny Santa Barbara
rarely have to worry about freezing temperatures destroying these faucets over
the winter, they can still spring leaks. Like any other piece of metal
plumbing, time and exposure can lead to corrosion and eventual failure.
When an exterior faucet fails, it will usually
begin to leak water into the ground below. Leaving a leaky faucet running for
too long can saturate the land nearby and even flood your basement. If you
catch the problem early enough, you can temporarily resolve the situation by
locating the interior shut-off valve. While shutting the water off solves the
immediate crisis, you should still plan to replace the faucet.
Depending on the style of spigot found on your
home, this may be a relatively easy job or a somewhat challenging one. If you
have a threaded spigot that has not rusted to the line, you may be able to
tackle it yourself. Otherwise, consider calling in a professional to save
yourself some time and frustration.
2. Well Pipe Leaks
If your home uses well water, then a well pipe
leak can be a frustrating and potentially costly failure. Typical residential
wells consist of a drop pipe and casing that extend below the water table and a
discharge pipe that brings water to the pressure tank. Leaks can occur in the
drop pipe, the housing, or the discharge line.
When your drop pipe or discharge pipe leaks,
you may notice water around the well cap or the section of your yard between
the well and your home. Leaks of this kind can result in extra water usage,
higher utility bills, and reduced pump lifespan. Since the signs are subtle,
small leaks can be especially tricky to detect.
A potentially more hazardous issue occurs when
the well casing cracks. In these cases, groundwater may be able to contaminate
your well water. Residential wells pull water from below the water table, low
enough that the ground above can act as a filter. Leaks in the casing bypass
this natural filtering, leading to contamination risks.
3. Sewer Lateral
Failures
Your sewer lateral is the portion of the sewer
line that runs through your property to the municipal sewer main. When a
problem occurs in this part of the sewer line, your responsibility is to fix
it. Unfortunately, sewer laterals can suffer from many issues ranging from
clogs to tree root infiltration.
When your lateral has a problem, you will
usually notice foul odors from drains on the lower level of your home. In some
cases, you may experience slow-running drains or water backups. If the problem
is severe enough, your drains will eventually stop working altogether. Because
sewer problems can be so messy, deal with them before they result in water
damage to your home.
Fixing exterior plumbing problems is no less
vital than fixing interior ones. If you notice an issue with your outdoor
plumbing, Lewis Plumbing can help you to diagnose and repair it. Give us a call whenever you're ready to set up an
appointment.
