4 Signs Your Water Main May Need Replacement

The main water line is, in a sense, the most important part of any home's plumbing. Problems with the water main will often affect every other faucet and fixture in the home, and may even cause problems that you wouldn't expect. While it always takes an inspection from a licensed plumber to determine the health of the water main with certainty, there are a few symptoms you can watch out for that commonly point to water main problems.

1. Low Water Pressure

The water pressure that you experience in your home is directly correlated with the pressure level in your main water line. If there is a leak or blockage in the water main, this limits the amount of water that is available to the rest of your plumbing system. In this case, low water pressure will likely be worse on higher floors in your home, as they are further from the water main.

Before you start to suspect a problem with your water main, you should first determine whether there are water pressure issues throughout your entire home. If there is only low pressure in one area of your home, there could be a blockage in only the water lines that lead to that faucet or fixture. The next thing to check is whether your main shutoff valve is open completely.

2. Dirty or Discolored Water

Have you ever turned on a faucet only to find that your tap water appears brown or rusty, or that there are small flakes floating in it? This is often the result of your water picking up particles of corrosion as it flows through your plumbing. Your water main is subject to corrosion and sediment buildup over time, just like any other pipe as well as your water heater.

In addition to contaminant buildup inside the water main, a breach in the line could be allowing contaminants from the surrounding soil to infiltrate your plumbing system. If your water is dirty or discolored, try running a faucet for an hour or so to see if it eventually clears up on its own. If it doesn't, it's time to hire a plumber to determine the source of the contamination.

3. Increase in Pests

Roaches, mosquitoes, and virtually all pests and insects are drawn to moisture. A water main problem can lead to pest infestations if left unchecked, and these infestations can sometimes appear in places you wouldn't expect. However, pests such as gnats or roaches in your drains is one of the most common signs of a leak in your water main or elsewhere in your plumbing.

A leaking water main can create moisture buildup in your yard or around your home's foundation that can also draw pests. Keep an eye out for a higher amount of mosquitoes in your yard than normal, especially around unexplained puddles of standing water. Pests in the basement could be making their way into your home through cracks in your basement walls that have been saturated by a water main leak.

4. Rising Water Bill

If your home's water usage habits don't change, your water bill should remain relatively stable for the foreseeable future. Any leak in your plumbing can cause your bill to creep upward, but a water main leak will often release water at a higher rate than elsewhere. A main leak may be to blame if your utility bill has suddenly spiked compared to last month.

No homeowner wants to deal with a water main leak, but, on the bright side, a single repair or replacement could eliminate plumbing issues throughout your entire home. Contact Mike's Plumbing today if you suspect water main damage or are having any other problems with your home's plumbing.