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You know the saying “out of sight, out of mind”?  Unfortunately, it often rings true for many properties when it comes to their plumbing systems.  Since most of your piping is hidden behind walls, it’s all too easy to disregard the warning signs and symptoms of an impending problem that could lead to a costly catastrophe.  To help you identify if a pipe problem might be brewing behind your walls, below are the top six indicators you can’t ignore:

1) Poor Water Pressure:  Low water pressure is a tell-tale sign of severely corroded pipes. As corrosion builds up inside the pipe, water flow is drastically reduced to faucet sinks, showerheads and more.

2) Drain Backups: Corrosion of your drain, waste, and vent (DWV) pipes can cause major blockages and even complete structural failure. Slow-draining water, odors, and backups (particularly in ground floor units) are all symptoms of a corroded and failing DWV piping system.

3) Extremely Hot Water or Excessive Temperature Fluctuations: Hot water supply lines are known to corrode faster than cold water supply lines.  As these pipes begin to corrode, debris becomes trapped and lodged within the anti-scalding components built into sinks and tubs/shower valves, causing extreme fluctuations in hot water temperature.

4) Discolored Water: Brown or red tinted water is a telling sign that your pipes are corroding. As the interior of the pipes rust, metal flakes off the pipe causing the water to become discolored.

5) Chronic Leaks: As pipes begin to fail, either from age or defective products, leaks can become continual headaches for maintenance and property staff.  No matter how big or small, reoccurring leaks can cause lots of problems and are the primary reason for moisture buildup behind walls – leading to drywall deterioration and mold infestation.

6) Noisy Plumbing: Your plumbing system and fixtures are designed to be quiet. Clanking, clicks, thuds, and moans from your piping system caused by variances in pressure or temperature are a common signal that something isn’t quite right.

If you are experiencing any of these issues, be proactive and contact SageWater for a free consultation before catastrophe strikes.