Water Line &
Pipe Repair 🔧

Frequently Asked Questions: Pipe Problems Plaguing You? Speedy Answers from Dennis, Veteran Plumbing Services!

Water Line & Pipe Repair

Q1: Pipe leaking! Drip… drip… drip… driving me nuts! Leak SOS!

A: “Drip torture? Yeah, leaks are sneaky. Pipe leak means a hole somewhere. Small drip = big water waste & damage. Find the leak, shut off water ASAP.”

Q2: Burst pipe! Water gushing everywhere! Plumbing apocalypse!

A: “Burst pipe? Plumbing volcano! Burst pipe = major emergency. Shut off main water valve now! Call plumber immediately before your house becomes an indoor pool.”

Q3: Copper pipes – heard they’re good, but… do they ever leak? Copper pipe myths?

A: “Copper pipes, fancy schmancy, still leak. Copper pipe leaks. Corrosion, pinholes, age, freezing – copper ain’t leak-proof magic. Leaks happen to everyone, even copper snobs.”

Q4: PEX pipes – plastic pipes? Seem kinda… flimsy. PEX pipe worries?

A: “Plastic pipes, not flimsy, kid, modern plumbing. PEX pipe benefits. Flexible, freeze-resistant, fewer fittings = fewer leak points, cheaper install. PEX is good stuff, get over the plastic fear.”

Q5: Galvanized steel pipes – old house plumbing dinosaur pipes?

A: “Galvanized steel, plumbing dinosaurs indeed. Galvanized steel pipe problems. Rusts from inside out, clogs with rust & minerals. Low water pressure, rusty water, leaks. Replace galvanized = smart move for old houses.”

Q6: PVC pipes – white plastic pipes, for drains only, right?

A: “White plastic = PVC. PVC pipe uses. Mostly for drains, waste, vent lines. Not for hot water supply. PVC melts with hot water. Drain pipes are PVC’s happy place.”

Q7: CPVC pipes – cream-colored plastic, different than PVC?

A: “Creamy plastic = CPVC, PVC’s hot-blooded cousin. CPVC pipe for hot & cold water. Handles hot water better than PVC, but still plastic. Less common than PEX or copper now for supply lines, but seen in some houses.”

Q8: Frozen pipes – winter plumbing nightmare! How do pipes even freeze?

A: “Frozen pipes, winter plumbing war. Frozen pipes cause. Cold temps, uninsulated pipes in unheated areas (exterior walls, crawlspaces). Water in pipes freezes, expands, bursts pipes. Insulate, heat tape, drip faucets in extreme cold to prevent.”

Q9: How to thaw a frozen pipe – hair dryer? Heat gun? Plumbing defroster tool?

A: “Thaw frozen pipes, carefully, gently. Thawing frozen pipes. Hair dryer or heat lamp – best DIY method. Low heat, slowly, gently. NEVER open flame! Plumbing defroster tools – for pros. Patience is key thawing pipes.”

Q10: DIY pipe repair – small leak, can I patch it myself? Plumbing patch job hopeful?

A: “DIY patch job hopeful? Small drip leak, might DIY. DIY pipe leak repair – temporary fix. Pipe clamps, repair tape – temporary bandaids. For serious leaks or permanent fix, call plumber. DIY patches often fail later.”

Q11: Pipe clamp – just clamp it and leak stops, magic clamp?

A: “Magic leak clamp? Not quite magic, just mechanics. Pipe clamp use. Band-aid fix for straight pipe sections. Clamp squeezes rubber gasket around leak. Temporary, not permanent. Plumber’s quick fix or homeowner patch.”

Q12: Repair tape – wrap it and leak’s gone? Tape miracle cure?

A: “Tape miracle? Duct tape for plumbing? Nope. Pipe repair tape. Emergency temporary leak seal. Wrap tightly. Not a permanent fix. Water pressure often defeats tape over time.”

Q13: Solder copper pipes – plumber’s torch and fire! Soldering scary?

A: “Plumber torch and fire! Soldering copper. Soldering copper pipes. Permanent joint if done right. Needs skill, practice, safety precautions. DIY-able for experienced handymen, but plumber preferred for reliability.”

Q14: PEX crimping – those crimp rings and special tool? PEX tool mystery?

A: “PEX crimping, modern plumbing magic. PEX crimp tool. Special tool to crimp metal rings onto PEX fittings, making watertight joints. Relatively easy to learn DIY, faster than soldering, reliable joints.”

Q15: SharkBite fittings – push-fit fittings, no soldering or crimping? Too good to be true fittings?

A: “Too good to be true? SharkBites. SharkBite fittings. Push-fit, no soldering/crimping. Easy to use, quick repairs. More expensive than crimping. Good for DIY quick fixes, emergency repairs, tight spaces. Plumbers use sparingly, crimping often preferred for cost and long-term reliability on whole-house jobs.”

Q16: Epoxy putty – plumber’s putty stick, magic leak stopper goo?

A: “Magic putty goo? Epoxy putty. Epoxy putty use. Quick patch for small pinhole leaks in pipes. Knead putty, apply to leak. Temporary fix, like pipe tape, not permanent.”

Q17: Water pressure suddenly dropped – pipe problem sign? Low pressure plumber puzzle?

A: “Low pressure puzzle? Pipe problem sign. Low water pressure causes. Major leak somewhere in your system (big water loss). Clogged pipes (mineral buildup). Pressure regulator valve failure. Low pressure = investigation time.”

Q18: Water hammer – banging pipes when water turns off. Noisy pipe poltergeist?

A: “Banging pipes, pipe poltergeist! Water hammer cause. Water pressure shock when water flow stops suddenly. Pipes bang against walls. Water hammer arrestors – install them to cushion the shock, quiet the pipes.”

Q19: Water discoloration – brown, rusty, red water from pipes. Rusty water yuck!

A: “Rusty water yuck! Discolored water causes. Rusty pipes (galvanized). Rust in water heater. Sediment disturbed in pipes. Rusty water ain’t drinkable or laundry-friendly. Pipe inspection & flushing time.”

Q20: Blue-green stains around copper pipes – blue pipe goo?

A: “Blue pipe goo = copper corrosion clue. Blue-green stains on copper pipes. Copper corrosion. Water chemistry issue, acidic water. Can lead to pinhole leaks. Water test & plumbing inspection.”

Q21: Pipe corrosion – pipes rusting from inside out? Pipe rust monster?

A: “Pipe rust monster, inside job. Pipe corrosion process. Water chemistry, age, pipe material. Corrosion weakens pipes, causes leaks, clogs, discolored water. Replace corroded pipes.”

Q22: How long do water pipes usually last? Plumbing pipe lifespan lottery?

A: “Pipe lifespan lottery, kinda true. Water pipe lifespan. Copper: 50-70+ yrs. PEX: 40-50+ yrs. PVC: 50-100+ yrs (drains). Galvanized: 40-70 yrs (often fail sooner). Lifespan varies by water quality, installation, luck of the draw. Nothing lasts forever.”

Q23: Whole house repiping – ripping out ALL the old pipes? House repipe horror?

A: “House repipe horror? Major job, yeah. Whole house repiping process. Replace all old water supply pipes in house with new PEX or copper. Big job, walls opened up. Necessary evil for old, failing plumbing systems. Messy but fixes problem permanently.”

Q24: Cost of pipe repair – small leak vs. burst pipe vs. repiping – price range panic?

A: “Price range panic – plumbing ain’t cheap. Pipe repair cost. Small leak repair: $150-$500+. Burst pipe emergency repair: $500-$1500+. Whole house repiping: $5,000 – $15,000+ (big range). Depends on leak size, pipe type, location, plumber rates, and how much panic you cause.”

Q25: Okay Dennis, bottom line – pipe problem… DIY or call a plumber ASAP? Plumbing wisdom needed!

A: “Pipe problem crossroads! DIY pipe repair vs. plumber. Small drip leak, easy access, confident DIYer? Maybe DIY patch temporary fix. Burst pipe, major leak, behind walls, soldering, repiping, unsure what to do? Contact our plumber immediately. Water damage is expensive. Don’t flood your house trying to be a plumbing hero. Plumbing pros exist for a reason. Use us!”