In this article…
- How To Repair Residential Plumbing Systems: 3 Ways To Repair A Leak
- Which Plumbing Repair Plan Is Right For Me?
Have you recently had foundation repair on your home? Was a hydrostatic test recently performed, indicating leaking in your drain system?
If there are potential leaks in your home’s drain system (especially following foundation repair), it must be addressed immediately.
So, you contact a professional plumbing company to have them inspect your plumbing and provide you with a solution to fix any leaks properly.
Because plumbing repair can be a costly expense, it’s important you understand how your plumbing issues will be resolved and what goes into this process.
At Jim’s Plumbing Now, we strive to educate you on all things plumbing, especially when it comes to your specific project.
We understand that anytime your home requires construction and repair, it can be nerve-wracking.
Knowing what to expect beforehand not only helps ease your anxieties but allows you to better prepare for your project and ask the right questions when you have them.
This article will outline three ways your plumbing is repaired, their pros and cons, and when each repair plan is the right solution.
After reading, you will have a robust understanding of the different plumbing repair options, how they are performed, and when one option may be better than another.
How To Repair Residential Plumbing Systems: 3 Ways To Repair A Leak
Whether you know there is a plumbing leak under your home or have noticed signs of a potential leak, having a professional plumber assess your home as soon as possible is crucial to avoid further damage.
To determine if there is a leak in your home, a hydrostatic test is performed for both your potable water system and sewer system.
If a leak is detected, the plumber will present a repair plan, which can consist of one of three ways to repair your plumbing.
- Tunneling from the exterior
- Interior breakout for repair
- Rerouting the plumbing system
There are benefits and drawbacks to each of these types of repair, and sometimes one may be a better option than the other.
Let’s look at each of these repair types, what they are, and when each option is best for you.
1. Tunneling From The Exterior
The first and most popular way to repair your plumbing is by tunneling from the exterior of your home to get to the leak from under your foundation.
This type of repair is most popularly done after foundation repair when your home is slightly lifted off the ground. However, exterior tunneling can still be performed without having foundation repair prior.
Exterior tunneling is exactly what it sounds like. It consists of digging tunnels from the exterior of your home and underneath your foundation to get to the plumbing leak.
From there, the leak is repaired and retested to ensure its integrity, then the soil is backfilled to completion.
*It is important to note that not all soil that was under your home will be put back. Once the piping is repaired, the soil is backfilled to compaction, which may not require all the soil that once was there. Leftover soil will be hauled off the property.
Now, we understand that some homeowners may hesitate to have tunnels dug under their foundations. You may wonder if it is dangerous to the foundation or can potentially hurt the integrity of your home’s foundation. However, this is not the case at all.
Exterior tunneling plumbing repair is most common when a leak is near the perimeter of your home. This repair plan provides the plumber with the most convenient way to access and repair the leak in the least invasive way to your home.
Pros and Cons of Exterior Tunneling Plumbing Repair
Exterior tunneling for your plumbing repair is one of the most common repair plans plumbers use when a leak is found in your home. However, it does have several benefits and potential drawbacks you want to be aware of.
Some benefits of exterior tunneling repair are
- It is the least invasive plumbing repair plan
- It won’t disrupt your day-to-day life
- It’s the easiest and best way to get to the leak
Some potential drawbacks of exterior tunneling are
- It’s a more expensive repair plan
- It can be more difficult and take longer depending on where the leak is
- It can take up to two weeks for final completion
Although tunneling outside and under your home may sound a bit daunting, this type of repair is best when a leak is found near the perimeter of your home. It allows the plumber to get directly to the source of the leak and properly repair it without having to create a breakout inside your home.
Exterior tunneling is also ideal for the plumber to ensure your drainage has proper fall and is draining correctly.
If a leak is detected through a camera pinpoint test in the plumbing system near the outside of your home, a plumber will most likely propose exterior tunneling for repair.
2. Interior Breakout For Repair
The next most common way to repair your plumbing is an interior breakout. This consists of going directly to the leak from the interior of your home.
With an interior breakout, typically the plumber will jackhammer through the floor and foundation of your home to easily get directly to the leak.
Once the area is opened up, the dirt surrounding the plumbing is removed into buckets to access the plumbing.
From there, the leak is repaired from the inside of your home and retested up to that point to ensure there are no other leaks present in the drainage. Then, the concrete foundation is poured to grade to create a smooth, even surface for your flooring to be reinstalled upon.
This type of plumbing repair is most common when the leak is closer to the middle of the home and the homeowner does not want tunneling dug under their home. However, it’s important to consider the invasiveness that comes with this type of repair.
Pros and Cons of Interior Breakout Plumbing Repair
Like with exterior tunneling for plumbing repair, there are several pros and cons of an interior breakout repair.
Some of the benefits include
- It allows the plumber to get directly to the source of the leak
- It only takes about 1-3 days to complete
Some of the drawbacks of an interior breakout include
- It is very invasive to your home
- It creates a lot of dust and debris
- It can disrupt your daily life
It is also important to note that if there is no proper fall or drainage where the leak point is or the piping is in a beam, exterior tunneling may be required to address these issues.
Overall, an interior breakout for plumbing repair may be the best option if your leak is in the middle of your home and you aren’t too concerned about having construction inside your home.
Interior breakout repairs are also the least expensive option for plumbing repair, so if you are looking for a more budget-friendly repair option, this may be the route to go.
3. Rerouting the Plumbing System
The third most common type of plumbing repair is completely rerouting your system around the home. This type of repair is the most time-consuming type of plumbing repair.
Rerouting your plumbing is most common if you have outdated cast iron pipes that need complete replacing or if there are numerous plumbing issues near the perimeter of your home.
If your plumbing system is not draining properly from the middle to the perimeter of your home, this would be another scenario in which rerouting the system would be the proper solution.
The process of rerouting your plumbing system is similar to exterior tunneling repair. However, rerouting takes the plumbing from the middle of your home to the perimeter. This makes the plumbing easier to access for future inspections and aids proper drainage.
This type of plumbing repair is the least common due to the extensive work required. It is also less likely to be the best repair plan for your home depending on the location and severity of the leak.
Pros and Cons of Rerouting Your Plumbing System
A plumbing reroute can be one of the most extensive types of plumbing repair. Because of this, you need to know what some of the pros and cons are to understand what to expect if this repair plan is proposed to you.
Some of the benefits of a plumbing reroute are
- It improves the drainage of your home
- It allows you to get rid of old, outdated piping
- It can be less costly than total exterior tunneling
Some potential drawbacks to be aware of for plumbing rerouting are
- It can take a few weeks to complete
- It’s not always an option for all plumbing systems
This type of repair may be proposed if you have numerous leaks and drainage issues around the perimeter of your home or if your outdated pipes need replacing and rerouting.
Smaller individual leaks are most likely repaired with either an interior breakout or exterior tunneling.
Which Plumbing Repair Plan Is Right For Me?
Now that you know three common types of plumbing repair plans, what they consist of, and some of their pros and cons, you have a better understanding of when each repair type may be best for you and are best educated when working with a professional plumber for your repair needs.
Each of these three common plumbing repair plans depends on the unique situation of your leak.
- Tunneling from the exterior is one of the most common types of leak repair. This repair plan works best for leaks that are found near the perimeter of the home.
- An interior breakout for repair is needed for leaks found in the center of the home. This allows the plumber to get directly to the leak from the inside as opposed to tunneling underneath the entire home from the exterior.
- Rerouting the plumbing system is the repair type for pipes that are not draining properly and causing water to build up under the foundation. This consists of taking the piping from underneath the home and rerouting it near the perimeter of the home to allow for proper drainage.
To determine which repair plan is best for your home, a professional plumber will thoroughly assess the location of the leak and your home. They will then provide you with a proper repair plan and quote so you can fully understand how your leak will be repaired and your home will be taken care of.
To first find a potential leak in your plumbing, a hydrostatic test must be performed followed by a camera pinpoint test to find the exact location of the leak.
Hydrostatic tests are most commonly performed following foundation repair to ensure your plumbing is intact after the construction of your home’s foundation.
Want to learn more about what a hydrostatic test is, why it’s important, and how it is performed? Check out this article that goes into depth about hydrostatic testing and its purpose.
Does your plumbing need inspection or repair? Submit photos of your plumbing issues here and let Jim’s Plumbing Now take care of the rest!
