Why South Texas Homes Frequently Need Plumbing Repairs
Experienced plumbers make connections between the local environment and predict potential plumbing repairs in that setting. This phenomenon is very true in South Texas, as water quality, salty air, and soil composition create conditions that affect plumbing and appliances in a similar manner from house to house. Here are some very predictable plumbing repairs in our area that result from environmental features.
Understanding the Need for Plumbing Repairs in Our Area
1 Mineral salts in the water supply
Most municipal water has groundwater aquifers as a source of water. Rainwater filters through hundreds of feet of soil and rock to find underground rivers. Local streams, rivers, and lakes also charge the aquifer. Rock serves as a filtering system which takes out most harmful organic contaminants but adds traces of minerals. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, and potassium are some of the most common chemicals that enter the water supply.
The Texas Department of Natural Resources has exacting standards for water quality to keep the public safe from contamination. Municipal utilities work very hard to remove the vast majority of these chemicals, along with any remaining organic compounds. Trucks haul the brine to evaporation ponds and recycle the chemicals when possible. However, a few parts per million of these mineral salts (allowable by DNR standards) remain in the water supply.
Until recent developments, copper tubing was the premium material for residential water supply lines. Copper is rigid, very stable, and does not give off contaminants. However, since mineral salts tend to be ions, the ions slowly pull content from the copper pipes, resulting in microscopic pinholes in the pipes. These pinholes are a common problem, and plumbers are frequently called to repair leaks in 30+ year old copper supply lines.
Mineral salts have the same effect on water heaters. While water heater manufacturers apply coatings to resist corrosion, the ionic compounds contained in the water supply cause similar corrosion in water heaters. Usually, it is more cost-effective to replace a heater than to repair the same.
2 Soil composition leads to movement
The general soil composition in this area is thick black clay. When the soil is wet, it swells by as much as 10%. During dry conditions, the same soil will shrink; we are familiar with visible cracks in clay-based soil in our yard. Scientists are aware of the shrink-swell capacity of clay, but so are plumbers. This swelling and shrinking of soil causes structures to move. Moving rigid structures, such as single-family residences, does not take well to the movement of soil.
The water table in this region is also very high, so most homes are built on slabs, not crawlspaces. The water and sewer pipes are often installed in the concrete slab to keep them out of the way and safe from potential freezing. When the soil under a slab moves due to the shrinking and swelling of soil, the same pipes are susceptible to shearing during movement. This is a major problem, requiring thermal or acoustic imaging of the slab, jackhammering the floor, repairing the leak, and restoring the floor and surrounding area.
3 Root invasion of sewer lines
Sewer line material has changed over the years. PVC has replaced clay pipe, a brittle material susceptible to cracking and breakage. PVC is less susceptible, but any breakage results in the growth of roots from nearby trees and shrubs. Eventually, the roots completely close the movement of wastewater through the sewer line. Repair usually involves digging up the lawn for repairs.
Don’t Let Environmental Elements Wreck Your Pipes—Schedule Your Plumbing Repairs Today!
Don’t wait for a microscopic pinhole leak or a shifting foundation to turn into a costly residential disaster. The unique soil and water conditions of South Texas are constantly wearing on your pipes, making proactive maintenance and timely intervention essential. Call Doctor Cool and Professor Heat today for all of your plumbing repairs needs and keep your home’s system running smoothly.