Have you got a burst pipe? Our plumbers offer burst pipe repairs at low prices, no matter what the time of year Go Assist can help.
It is a piece of home maintenance advice every homeowner knows - if you don’t keep your central heating ticking over in the coldest months of winter, even if you’re not at home, you risk your pipes freezing and bursting.
This is very true. But so commonplace is the association between bust pipes and cold weather that it catches many a homeowner out when, out of the blue, their pipework fails in the middle of summer. What is much less well known is that high temperatures can be just as much of a threat to your pipes as the harshest winters.
The problem with this is that the season can have an impact on how quickly homeowners realise they have a burst pipe. In the height of summer, because people don’t associate warm weather with this issue, they may misdiagnose the sudden appearance of water or damp patches, looking for some other kind of explanation.
By the time they realise what is actually happening, considerable damage might have been done.
Why would a pipe burst in the hot weather?
So what kind of threat does hot weather pose to your plumbing? Well, the first thing to say is, much like the risk of frozen pipes, it usually requires exceptional weather to do significant damage. In the UK, prolonged periods of truly hot temperatures are few and far between. But that is not to say they do not happen. And if your plumbing is in a poor state of repair anyway, the chances of problems occurring are all the greater.
Probably the biggest threat to pipework during the hottest months is the potential for there to be a sharp contrast between hot, dry spells and then a sudden deluge as summer thunderstorms hit. High temperatures can cause pipes to warp or even start to crack a little, while protracted dry spells may lead to joints seizing up. Intense rainfall causing high volumes of water to rush through your drainage systems all at once may be too much for your pipes to handle.
Why would a pipe burst in the dry weather?
Another factor is the way in which contrasts between dry and wet weather cause pipes and also the ground to move. In very dry weather, the earth shrinks and cracks, and may create spaces around underground pipework. When heavy rain then hits, two things happen which could cause damage. One, the flow of water through them could cause the pipes to move in the spaces created in the dried-out soil, leading to joints working loose or cracks expanding. Second, the saturated earth will expand as it fills with water, putting pressure on the pipes again - which may now sit in a slightly different position.
Blockages are also another common factor in pipe bursting. Especially with outdoor systems, it is sometimes assumed that this is more of a risk in winter again after the autumn leaves have fallen. But arguably a bigger risk to underground pipes are tree roots, and their threat increases in hot, dry weather. If they are short of water, roots will push out to find whatever they can. If any pipework is spilling water from tiny cracks or loose joints, it could soon find itself wrapped in thirsty tree roots.
Fast reliable repairs
If you suspect you could have a burst pipe or any other damage to your plumbing, the key whatever the time of year is to act fast. Call Go Assist for free today to book a local emergency plumber call out straightaway.