The distinctiveness of living in Lakewood comes from the chance to experience, with some intimacy, all four of nature's seasons. But that also means our plumbing systems contend with a full slate of seasonal plumbing problems. If you picture "plumbing problems," say, in the same way that "spring plumbing problems" are pictured, then you're probably thinking about your pipes bursting or cracking due to the atmospheric pressure changes that occur as the weather makes those all-too-familiar swings between warm and cold.
Yet are these really the seasonal plumbing problems we're looking at for the next few months here? Obviously not. Still, it's tough to get super excited about the prospect of plumbing problems without picturing the waterworks becoming unexpectedly insistent and audible.
A quick fix sometimes used in repairing a minor plumbing leak is the patch or clamp, which works by securing the pipe in the damaged area with materials engineered to deal with water pressure and temperature changes. It's a method mostly used in "stopgap" situations, where something has to be done right away to keep water from pouring out of the pipe and causing all sorts of bad things to happen. There's not really anything wrong with using a patch or a clamp; they work quite well for the applications in which they're used. But you should keep in mind that these are short-term solutions, and if you have a clamp or a patch on your pipe, you're going to want to get it fixed properly as soon as you can.
When the plumbing is really damaged, and there's no getting it back into shape, the best bet is to call in a pro. Pipe replacement is a common recommendation from plumbers when a pipe has sustained too much damage to be repaired. The old pipe is cut out, and the new pipe is fitted in. Replacing a pipe is a significant operation, and it has to be done right for the plumbing to hold.
Homeowners in Lakewood also need to consider the type of plumbing material when determining a repair method. The plumbing in an older home might be made of galvanized steel or copper, which necessitates a different method of repair than the PVC or PEX piping more commonly found in newer construction. All of the materials have their advantages and disadvantages, which means a local plumbing outfit needs to evaluate the situation before making a determination. That local outfit—if it is worth the time and money—will also offer some insight into how to prevent the problem from happening again, since plumbing systems are very much like people: if the same section of a plumbing system bursts more than once, it is a prime candidate for preventive life measures.