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In most cases, pipes burst without a warning. They also burst in areas where you can’t easily find out. Dealing with burst pipes can be quite frustrating.
One of the toughest bursts to deal with is one that occurs beneath the foundation. If any supply pipe bursts below your home’s foundation, it’ll demand major and expensive repairs from an after hours plumber in Sydney.
You might need to dig out the affected area to get to the burst pipe for repairs. You can only know the location of the burst pipe by seeing it. However, there are other ways you can tell that an underground pipe is burst.
Lacking Water Supply
One of the initial signs that a water pipe is probably burst somewhere within your home is by lacking water supply. Unless your area has a scheduled water supply interruption or you haven’t paid your water bills, then you should be getting water from the faucets.
If not, then the main supply pipe is probably burst. The burst should be probably between your home and the main water meter. In worst cases, the burst pipe may be located below your foundation.
You can confirm with your local water supply company on whether there’s an unscheduled water outage in your area.
If not, then you most likely have a major leak somewhere. Start your search by turning off the main water meter to prevent further damage and water wastage.
Dirty Water
In case there’s some little water pressure available, especially when the burst is partial, then you’ll most likely get dirty water from the faucets. The dirt will come from the soil surrounding the pipe.
The soil will seep into the pipe through the crack. Thus, you’ll get brown and muddy water upon turning on a faucet. Thus, any time you notice dirty water from the faucets, then you likely have a burst supply pipe somewhere along the supply line.
Else, there are other materials within the supply line causing the water discoloration. In case you have a burst pipe, it’ll be accompanied by other symptoms like weak water pressure or sputtering.
Sputtering
At times, a burst pipe doesn’t open up completely. In this case, water may still flow through the pipe. However, the cracks will allow some water to escape the supply pipe and draw in some air. The air will be carried along with water to different plumbing fixtures.
The air results in spitting and sputtering from the faucets. It can also result in rattling. However, sputtering can also result from other issues. Thus, it doesn’t mean that sputtering only results from burst underground pipes.
You can leave the faucet running and check whether the air will clear out after some minutes. If the sputtering doesn’t stop, then you probably have a ruptured supply pipe.
Odours
Sewer smells are unmistakable and unpleasant. Thus, you can easily notice them. If you happen to notice any foul smells around or within your home, then a sewer line has likely ruptured.
A ruptured septic tank or sewer system can allow sewer gases to leak from beneath your home. Sewer odours can be noticed quickly after a sewer line burst.
Flooding
If the lower floors of your home are flooding, especially the basement, then you surely have a burst supply line. Unless you turn off the main water meter, water will continue flowing and flooding your home.
The basement would be the first area to get flooded in case the burst pipe is beneath the foundation.
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Related Article: Signs of a Burst Supply Pipe