Often the first indication that you have a damaged underground pipe may be a letter from your water service provider, advising that your consumption rate has been much higher than normal.
While receiving a notice like this may be alarming, there could be a simple explanation, for example if:
- you had recently laid turf, and had been diligently watering it to help it get established;
- you’ve had extra people staying in your home, meaning more water has been used for washing, cooking and cleaning;
- or perhaps you just have a teenager or two, in the habit of taking long showers!
But if it all seems a bit of a mystery, chances are that you have a broken pipe which is allowing water to leak away undetected.
Checking for an Underground Water Leak
At this point, it’s a good idea to make sure all taps are turned off in your home, and then check your water meter to see if the numbers are still clicking over. If they are, then you know you have a problem.
So how can you find and fix a problem that could be buried deep underground?
While you might think that a regular plumber is the person to call, in cases like these it’s best to contact a plumbing and drainage specialist. Your everyday, garden variety plumber can help with installing and repairing household plumbing fixtures, including toilets and taps – but underground pipework requires a whole different level of expertise (pardon the pun!).
The good news is you don’t have to dig up your whole garden to try and find that water leak, as CCTV drainage cameras make it a much simpler process.
Surgery for Broken Pipes
Once the problem has been identified, you might think that you would still be up for the major cost and inconvenience of removing and replacing the damaged pipe – but you would be wrong.
Instead, the pipe could be repaired using a method known by various names, such as:
- pipe resleeving;
- pipe relining;
- CIPP (cured in place pipe).
Much like a cardiologist inserting a stent to open up blocked or damaged arteries for a patient, a suitably trained plumbing contractor can perform surgery on your pipes. The process requires using one access point to instal a “sleeve” – a bit like a deflated balloon – which once in place, is expanded and cured to seal the pipe.
Pain Free Pipe Repairs
So instead of receiving a quote that is likely to lead you to need heart surgery, due to the expense of excavating and shoring – nowadays the problem can be solved quickly and efficiently, making it much more affordable!