Common Plumbing Problems in Green Bay and Why

Plumbing problems in Green Bay follow a pattern, and most of it comes from the place itself: a long, cold winter, heavy red clay soil, water drawn from Lake Michigan and a large stock of older houses. Knowing why a problem happens here makes it easier to spot early and simpler to deal with. Our team has put the main causes in one place for homeowners in Green Bay, De Pere, Ashwaubenon and Howard. If something on this list sounds familiar, call (920) 247-2089 today for a quote.

Soil and slab leaks

Much of Brown County sits on calcareous red clay, either glacial till or old lake-bed deposits, and soil surveys map series such as Kewaunee, Manawa and Oshkosh across the area. Clay drains slowly, holds water against foundations and moves as it freezes, thaws, wets and dries. That movement stresses any pipe buried in it: water lines under a basement floor or a slab addition, and the sewer lateral in the yard. Basements are common here, so true slab leaks are less frequent than in the South, but they do occur. Our team is fully committed to reliable slab leak repair in Green Bay.

Water hardness and scale

Green Bay Water Utility draws its water from Lake Michigan and reports hardness of about 130 milligrams per litre, roughly 7.5 grains per gallon. The utility calls that neither soft nor hard and treats a softener as a personal preference. Even so, minerals settle in water heaters and collect in aerators and shower heads over the years. De Pere and Howard receive Lake Michigan water through the Central Brown County Water Authority at about 7.6 grains; before that switch, local well water ran 13 to 16 grains, and older fixtures can still show it. We will ensure that your water heater maintenance in Green Bay is handled by professionals.

Older neighbourhoods and old drain lines

About 13.7 percent of Green Bay's housing was built before 1940, and the median home dates from 1971. In older neighbourhoods such as Astor, Navarino, Fort Howard and Olde North, houses of that age commonly have cast iron drains inside and a clay lateral to the street. Cast iron corrodes, clay joints let roots in, and the City of Green Bay notes that many backups start with roots or deterioration in the owner's lateral. A camera inspection settles the question. Our team is focused on high-quality drain cleaning across Green Bay.

Weather and burst pipes

Green Bay's normal January low is about 11 degrees, the city averages around 19 nights a year at zero or below, and the record low for January 31 is 26 below zero, set in 2019. Water expands as it freezes, and a pipe on an outside wall, over a garage, in a crawl space or behind a kitchen cabinet can split. The leak often shows only when the pipe thaws. Frost here normally reaches four to six feet at its deepest, which is why water mains are laid about six feet down. When you need burst pipe repair in Green Bay, our team is ready to help.

Local corrosion factors

The corrosion our team looks for in Green Bay is mostly a matter of age. Galvanized steel supply pipe rusts from the inside and chokes water pressure. Cast iron drains thin along the bottom and eventually crack. Old shut-off valves seize. One concern has been removed: Green Bay Water Utility replaced its last lead service line in October 2020, after a programme that covered about 1,781 utility-owned and 247 privately owned lines. We are committed to making repiping in Green Bay simple and reliable.

Storm season and flooding

Spring is the risky season. In March 2019, snowmelt and heavy rain over frozen ground sent the East River over its banks, flooding basements on the east side and forcing evacuations. Green Bay's plumbing code requires each foundation drain to connect to a sump pit with an approved pump, and it bars clear water such as roof and foundation drainage from the sanitary sewer. A sump pump that works, with a discharge line that is not frozen or blocked, is the first defence. Our team is fully committed to reliable sump pump repair in Green Bay.

Fix it yourself or call a plumber?

A plunger, a new flapper, a cleaned aerator or a tightened packing nut are reasonable jobs for a homeowner. Wisconsin law lets an owner do plumbing in a one-family home they own and live in, and the City of Green Bay will issue that owner a permit, but rental properties require a licensed contractor. Call a plumber for anything involving the main drain, gas, a water heater's fuel or venting, a buried pipe or a leak you cannot find. We will ensure that your plumbing repair in Green Bay is completed properly.

Signs to act on today

• Sewage or water at the basement floor drain
• Several drains slow at once
• No water at one tap during a cold snap, which suggests a frozen pipe
• A water bill that jumps without explanation
• Rusty hot water or a rumbling water heater
• A sump pump that runs constantly or not at all

Our guide on how to find your water shut-off is worth reading before any of these happen. When you need a plumber in Green Bay, our team is ready to help.