In the process of operating a private house, sometimes you have to deal with faults in engineering systems. One of them may be a breakdown of the water supply system. Often the problems are solved on their own, there is no need to spend money and time on calling and waiting for plumbers. Repairing water supply in the private sector is different from carrying out similar work in an apartment. First you need to identify the cause of the malfunction.
Violation of the integrity of pipes
Most often, the integrity is violated in metal pipes due to their corrosion or decay. To eliminate the leak, first of all, it is necessary to shut off the centralized water supply in a private house. Further:
- Determine the location of the leak. If the branch pipe is fastened with threaded connections, the best solution to the problem is to replace it. To carry out independent work, you will need a section of metal pipe and connecting elements, fittings cut off with a grinder with a saw. Using a Swedish key, unscrew the accessories and remove the damaged pipe. Using new fittings, assemble the area at the threaded joints.
- For temporary sealing in a metal water pipe, a glass cloth winding is used, which is impregnated with epoxy resin. With a special brush, the paint is brushed off to the surface of the pipe. Then you need to tightly wrap the winding around the water pipe with a stretch. It is important to press tightly, not allowing air to enter between the windings. After the end of the screwing process, everything should be fixed with a clamp.
- As an emergency measure, a bandage is used to repair a water supply system from metal pipes. A rubber patch is applied to the leak, which can be taken from a bicycle or car camera, and tightened with clamps.
Pipes made of polymeric materials and metal-plastic do not have the property to corrode, therefore, the violation of integrity most often occurs due to mechanical damage. To repair the water supply, cut off the damaged section of the pipe using a metal hacksaw and insert a new one, welding the connecting fittings with a soldering iron.
The sequence of actions for metal-plastic will be the same as in the case of polymer pipes, but push-fittings or press-in sleeves are used for connection.
When using patches to eliminate leaks, check the tightness of the connections. For this, the seam between the patch and the pipe is wrapped in paper. If it doesn't get wet, the work is done correctly.
Violation of the tightness of joints and threaded connections
The tightness of threaded connections is often broken in metal water pipes. The main reason is a violation of linen winding, corrosion, as well as depressurization of welded seams.
- If it is necessary to replace the linen winding, it is necessary to unscrew the threaded connections, remove the damaged plumbing flax and replace it with a new one, placing it between the locknut and the fitting (or other connecting element). After that, turn a few turns along the thread, impregnating with silicone sealant or quick-drying paint. Instead of linen winding, you can use Tangit Unilok thread or fum tape.
- Corrosion on the connecting elements occurs due to the fact that the paintwork at the joints is broken. In this case, replacement of the threaded connections is required.If a leak is found in a non-separable section of the water supply system, to repair it, the entire section will have to be replaced.
Repair of plastic water pipes is less labor-intensive and is carried out in a short time. Tools and components for polymers are more affordable and budgetary. A separate plus is the absence of the need for gas and electric arc welding.
Equipment breakdown
The main reasons for equipment failure are:
- Water with high hardness and foreign impurities. If the repair of the water supply system is necessary for this reason, it is necessary to change the treatment equipment, replacing it with a more powerful one.
- Power supply voltage drops. In this case, it is necessary to equip the pump with an additional energy protection device and a transformer.
- Often equipment breakdown occurs due to the fault of the owners, who begin operation without strict adherence to the manufacturer's instructions. Install the equipment in accordance with the rules for its use.
For wells and pumping stations, in addition to the tools necessary for repair, it is necessary to have devices for diagnosing the state of electrical appliances. With proper operation and timely prevention, you can significantly extend the service life of the equipment.
Pipeline blockages
The reason for the decrease in water pressure is often a blockage of the system channels. As a result, the throughput of the water supply deteriorates, and the water pressure in the house drops. In metal pipes, blockages appear due to corrosion, accumulation and deposits of limescale. To remove the blockage, you need to remove the pipe section along the threaded connections and clean it with a plumbing cable. The process takes a long time and requires considerable energy consumption, therefore, in most cases, the owners prefer to replace metal pipes with polypropylene ones.
If the reason for the poor water pressure is a clogged aeration filter, it must be removed and rinsed with water.
Freezing pipes
Repair of the water supply system in the private sector has to be done regularly due to freezing of individual elements. The HDPE pipe breaks and water stops flowing into the house. We'll have to replace the pipe, and if it is above the freezing depth of the soil, it should be wrapped with tubular insulation in several layers or mineral wool. After that, make sure that there is no water in the pipes during the cold period.
Pipes made of metal-plastic are subject to deformation due to temperature differences. Due to the fact that the connecting elements of this type of water supply systems are used from metal, after several freezing cycles, the connecting nodes are deformed and a leak is formed.
