Having an outdoor plumbing issue can be very frustrating. Whether you’re having
sewer backup from a broken or root infested line to a river forming in your yard
from a broken water main, we have a solution for you. Please take a look to see
what services we offer.
,
In east Tennessee we tend to see a large quantity of broken water lines. Most of
the time, these leaks are hard to find. Most people don’t realize they have a broken
water main until they receive their water bill. One broken water main can easily
waste up to 30,000 gallons a month without showing a single trace. United Plumbing
can offer many solutions to assist with broken water mains. We offer water line
repairs, replacements, or we can help find the leak with leak detection services.
Below are your most common materials for water service piping.
 |
Copper tubing has been used in plumbing since 2750 BC. There is an example in the
Berlin State Museum taken from the Temple of King Sa-Hu-Re at Abusir in Egypt. It
formed part of a pipeline nearly 100m in length, made up of separate sections, each
about 750mm long. Today copper tubing still is a very reliable pipe to have outside
your home. Most of the time, leaks are caused by the earth moving with the pipe
and getting holes from contact with rocks. In most cases we recommend a repair.
|
 |
Galvanized water piping is very common in east Tennessee. Most galvanized water
mains are sections of piping approx. 20 feet in length. Galvanized water line leaks
are very common. Most of time the leaks are due to the pipe rusting. Over time the
galvanized pipe rusts from the inside out. This is why you may find discoloration
in your water. In most cases we would recommend replacement although sometimes repairs
can be made.
|
 |
PVC has been around a lot longer than most people think. Invented in the 1930’s,
PVC was used in Germany for water distribution. Slowly PVC was used in America in
the 1950’s but became more popular in the 1970’s. PVC comes in many forms. The most
common PVC used in residential is Schedule 40. Most of time, this is a 20 foot section
that is solvent welded together. The primary cause of PVC failure is the fittings.
All leaks come from fittings that are being put under stress from the earth shifting.
In most cases we recommend replacement. A repair can be done with a warranty.
|
 |
PB has been used in east Tennessee since the late 1970’s. This material has been
known to fail much quicker than other materials. PB was thought of “the pipe of
the future” due to its low cost and easier installation. This tubing was sold in
rolls so it needed very few fittings. Most of the outdoor tubing is blue in color
while the indoor tubing is grey. In all cases we recommend replacement though repairs
can also be done.
|
 |
Polyethylene is also common in east Tennessee. This material is commonly found outside
for main water services as well as irrigation lines. Polyethylene is black tubing
that is very similar to Polybutylene. This was installed due to its low cost and
ease of installation. This material has a high risk of failure. In all cases we
recommend replacement though a repair can also be made.
|