The one plumbing service you absolutely need
We’ve probably all seen the images on TV. Floods, traffic jams, destruction – these are all casualties of an all too common plumbing problem known as a water main break.
Of course, Santa Monica residents aren’t immune to this relatively simple but powerful problem. Essentially what happens is a pipe bursts underground, which doesn’t sound too harmful on the surface. But if your business resides on Main Street, or you live among the heavily trafficked thoroughfare of Ocean Park Boulevard, then the aftermath can be devastating.
It not only inconveniences people, but the damage can cost up to tens of thousands of dollars.
This is not a problem you want to have on your property.
To ensure the safety of your yard and home, you’ll want to take a few precautions.
Preventative Inspection
Leaky faucets and clogged toilets may be problems you can fix on your own, but water mains aren’t projects you should take on yourself.
To determine if you’re at risk, the best thing to do is have your pipes inspected by a professional, especially if your home is old. For the best water main repair Santa Monica has to offer, call Hammer Plumbing and Drain.
We’ll not only be able to locate your water main (it’s typically hidden underground and hard to find by anyone who’s not accustomed to looking for it), but we can tell if it needs to be repaired.
The main is the major artery pipe that connects your home’s plumbing to the community supply. A disturbance can not only wreak havoc on you, but also your neighborhood. If you suspect a problem, call us immediately.
Monitor Water Usage
Short of a major explosion or flood in your yard, how do you know if there’s a leak? One subtle way to tell is by keeping an eye on your water bill. It should reflect how much water you’re using on a month to month basis. If you detect a sudden spike, or even a slowly increasing number of gallons consumed, then the main may be responsible.
Don’t hesitate to contact a professional if the bill indicates strange activity. Otherwise you may be liable not just for the pipe repair, but for the damage inflicted by the leak.
Watch Your Yard
A more obvious way to identify a break is through the presence of a large and sudden puddle in your yard. This could be the result of a deluge coming up from underground.
However, sometimes ground saturation can be caused by other factors, so you may want to eliminate other possible culprits first. For example, observe your sprinklers in action. Do they fully cover the lawn, or are they soaking the area where you noticed the puddle?
Likewise, do you detect any foul smells? In this case, you may actually have a sewer line issue – not that that’s necessarily more comforting.
If you’re still unsure, contact Hammer, and we’ll come out to diagnose the problem.