Have you ever walked out into your yard, only to find a surprise sinkhole forming? It can be a bit unnerving, to say the least. Why is this hole forming? What's causing it? Let’s dive in and swim you guys through some of common causing culprits. Now, you might be scratching your head and wondering, "Plumbing? How does that relate to sinkholes?" Well, let's dive in and find out!
1. The hidden world beneath our feet
What lies beneath your garden? Underground there is a whole network of services and drainage systems that are crucial to keep maintained to keep things flowing. Overtime these pipes will crack, deteriorate and sometime collapse due to not being maintained properly.
2. Water, water everywhere
Water…..We love it but when it doesn’t flow where we want it to, it can become an absolute nightmare and open up a complete can of worms to get things back operating smoothly. Excess water that escapes the pipeline can erode the soil, washing it away and can start to create an underground “canal”. Guess what happens when the weight of the ground above cannot support itself……BINGO!!! SINKHOLES.
3. Gradual vs. sudden
Sinkholes can gradually form overtime or appear overnight. Gradual sinkholes could be caused from slow leaks in your plumbing system. It’s not necessarily always your stormwater drains that have failed, it could be the sewer or even your main drinking water supply. Sudden sinkholes most likely are from rapid soil erosion. Generally speaking something big has shifted or moved underground.
4. Things to look out for
Keep an eye out for these warning signs: Pooling water that never seems to dry up, puddles in unexpected areas, large cracks or deviations in your paths/driveways and overflowing stormwater gutters/pipes in storms.
5. What can you do?
The first step for sure is call a licensed plumber to investigate what exactly is going on. It is quick to jump to conclusions and think worse case scenario. It could be something really simple like a shallow broken pipe that needs repairing. Firstly, I would be getting all your stormwater lines inspected to check the state of them.
Additionally, consider investing in routine plumbing maintenance to catch any issues early on and avoid costly repairs down the line. And don't forget about proper drainage around your home to ensure that water is directed away from your property, reducing the risk of soil erosion.
In conclusion...
Sinkholes can cause a bit of a headache but there could be a simple solution to stop them. You need to get a professional team in and get a proper game plan together. Filling the hole every few days is not the answer to fixing it. Get Koalafied Plumbing to sort this issue out so you can get back to kicking the ball on the grass with the kids without worrying someone is going to roll an ankle in the sinkhole.
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