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Four Common Outdoor Plumbing Emergencies in San Marcos, CA

August 2, 2023

Broken Pipe at The Park

Plumbing emergencies aren’t just limited to the inside of our homes. In San Marcos, CA outdoor plumbing emergencies can cause the same headaches as indoor ones. Like indoor plumbing problems, outdoor plumbing problems in San Marcos, CA need to be addressed as soon as possible. Not only do outdoor plumbing problems waste water and raise your water bills like indoor emergencies, but they also have the potential to cause structural damage to your home and foundation.

The Four Most Common Outdoor Plumbing Emergencies We Encounter

At 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration, we’ve been repairing inside and outside plumbing emergencies since 2012. Our team of San Marcos, CA plumbers has tackled outdoor plumbing problems all over San Marcos, CA, and surrounding communities. These are the four most common outdoor plumbing emergencies we encounter:

Exterior Faucet Leaks

Exterior faucet leaks are one of the most common outdoor plumbing problems in San Marcos. Constant exposure to the elements weakens the metal piping, causing the faucet to leak. The good news is that these types of leaks are usually remedied by simply replacing the faucet.

Depending on where the faucet is located, the dripping water could damage the concrete of a driveway, walkway, or patio, or begin to saturate the soil, creating a pond or carving a channel through your yard. It could even flood a basement. While the standing water may be good for your yard, it can provide a home for harmful microorganisms and the larvae of insects like mosquitoes.

In addition to leaks, the threads that allow a hose to be securely attached to an exterior faucet can become damaged, making it difficult to attach the hose or causing leaks when the water is turned on.

Slab Leaks

Slab leaks are one of the most serious plumbing emergencies any homeowner could face. Slab leak refers to a leak in the pipes running underneath your home’s concrete slab. These leaks can erode and wash away the soil beneath your home’s foundation. As the soil beneath begins to weaken, it places pressure on the foundation. This pressure can damage the foundation, causing it to shift, crack, and worse.

Root Intrusion

Root intrusion is another serious outdoor plumbing emergency. Root intrusion occurs when a tree root is able to penetrate into a sewer line through a pinhole leak or hairline crack. The sewer line has just what the root’s looking for: water and fertilizer.  As the tree root grows, it causes the hole or crack to expand and enlarge. Eventually, more tree roots begin to tap into the sewer line. This can impede or even stop the flow of waste water out of your home.

In a lot of cases, we’re able to replace a pipe damaged by root intrusion using trenchless sewer line repair methods such as re-piping. This saves homeowners the time and expense of ruining their yard to dig out a damaged pipe.

Sewer Line Blockage

Root intrusions are just one of the things that can block your sewer line. Over the years, your sewer line can become obstructed to the point where it can no longer transport waste water away from your home. This can cause some serious problems, especially if the sewage begins to back up into your home.

Plungers and drain cleaners can’t budge one of these deep sewer line clogs. We used video inspection equipment to locate the clog, and then apply hydro jetting technology to break the clog up. The hydro jetting process is so effective it can leave your pipes looking brand new.

Outdoor Plumbing Repairs in San Marcos, CA

If you’re experiencing an outdoor plumbing emergency in San Marcos, CA give 1st Choice Plumbing, Flood & Restoration. Our team of licensed San Marcos plumbers is available 24/7 to tackle whatever plumbing emergency you’re experiencing. You can reach us through our website or phone us at 866-437-0205 to schedule a service call.