Why are steel braided water supply lines broken?

1/2/2022 (Permalink)

Why Are Steel Braided Water Supply Lines Bursting At The Seams?

If you have discovered a water leak under a sink or behind an appliance at one time or another, you are no alone. According to experts, a water supply leak is found by thousands of individuals each year. Though the leaks may take you by surprise, they are more frustrating when the tubing that ruptured was supposed to have a lifetime warranty. Hoses causing supply line damage are generally hidden, and that can be the root of the problem.

Where Are the Lines?

Supply line hoses, whether made of plastic or steel braids, connect the city water line coming into your residence in Berlin, NJ, to each appliance in your home. That includes:

• Washers
• Water heaters
• Sinks
• Ice makers

Why Do the Lines Break?

Stainless steel is a high-end choice for plumbing lines in modern homes and typically replaces the more common plastic tubes. While it is not widely known, stainless steel reacts with chemicals in household water. That means the lifetime guaranteed steel braided water supply lines are probably not going to last a lifetime, and supply line damage will probably occur just a few years after it is installed.

What Is the Problem?

The problem is chromium. Stainless steel has chromium added when it is created to help resist the corrosive influence of oxygen in the water. However, chromium is highly reactive to chlorine, and therein lies the problem. When the common household cleaner dissolves into the humid air of your home, it can attack the tubing because hydrochloric acid is formed. Sadly, even the strongest stainless steel is not immune to the acid, and a bathroom leak can occur.

What Can You Do?

If you find a leak caused by a water line, call in a professional water mitigation team. The professionals can provide you with the latest replacement plumbing lines that technology has to offer. They can also help you clean up any supply line damage in your home and check for lingering mold that may have grown.

Be kind to your home and check the water supply lines twice a year. Find the leaks early and save yourself the headache of an extensive home repair.