Most people never think about the pipes that run everywhere under a home. At least, not until something goes wrong with one of them. Most often, this happens because over time, pipes that are not supported may begin to sag. That is why most homes use a pipe hanger in areas where they may sag, but still yet, as a home ages, sagging may still occur. Do the pipes under your home have enough support?
The Pipe’s Job
The pipes you have under your home are what takes water to each faucet inside of your home. Some may be copper pipes and others may be PVC pipes of various sizes depending on whether the pipe takes cool water into the home or waste water out of it. Every time you turn on your water, water surges through the pipes and out of a faucet. There may be changes in water pressure and other factors that change the way the water flows. You also have water that sits in the pipe when you are not running water out of a faucet. This means that the pipes under your home are constantly weighed down. The more weight, the heavier it is, and ultimately, the more likely it will be to sag.
Why Sagging is Bad
Sagging will first occur in any area that is not supported over a distance. For instance, a pipe that runs from your kitchen sink to the septic tank. Therefore, depending on how far water must travel, you may want to ensure you have several pipe hangers. Overtime though, in shorter areas, you may also notice a sag, typically around joints or elbows because they are slightly heavier as well. When this occurs, the further it sags, the more likely it will be to develop a leak. The glue that holds PVC pipes together with an elbow or joint is able to withstand a lot, but it may weaken. The added weight of water combined with a pipe that is not hanging properly, could all combine to make the glue weaker.
If the pipe separates from the glue and water begins to drip out, you can repair it easily. However, if the pipe is leaking and you have a floor under it, such as a second story bathroom or a basement, the damage could be extensive before you even realize there is a problem. At that time, you will wish that you had properly secured the pipes with enough pipe hanger to keep it stable throughout the years.
How Close Should Pipe Hangers Be?
As a good rule of thumb, your pipe hangers should be no more than 7ft apart if you have a thin water line. This is true for PVC, steel, and copper pipes. If you have a larger diameter pipe, you may be able to have hangers that are a little further apart. The best thing that you can do, is if you are unsure of how many pipe hangers you need, you should ask a professional for advice.
