We are well aware of the mess that plumbing problems can create for us. Be it water damage, mold problems or clogged sewers, you don’t want a friendly visit from any of these. It is therefore important that you keep a vigilant eye out on the plumbing related issues around your house. The best remedy for a smooth and seamless plumbing system is the regular and timely maintenance. Besides calling a plumber for a regular inspection at least once a year, little things such as avoiding throwing things down the drain can help you keep out of troubled waters. Furthermore, a plumber will guide you to make inexpensive repairs ahead of time and save you the costly mess and repairs later on.
It is important that you keep an eye out for the common plumbing problems around the house so they can be timely dealt with. Below are some of the common plumbing problems that shouldn’t be ignored.
Dripping Faucet
The first in line is the dripping faucet. The regular drip-drop sound is hard to ignore unless you do so deliberately. The dripping water can over time lead to hundreds and thousands of gallons of water wasted, add unnecessarily to your water bills, invite mold and damage your floors etc. Lucky for you, it is quite an easy fix. Find out if it’s the hot water or the cold water tap that is the source, then simply remove the handles and tighten the bolts. If this doesn’t solve the problem, then it is the washer. This is can also be a DIY job but if you’re not feeling handy you can always call a plumber to take care of it for you.
Kitchen Sink Draining Slow
Do you have a single sink or a double bowl sink in your kitchen? If it’s the latter and connected to garbage disposal it could be either of the two scenarios:
The blockage could be the result of grease and other waste material such as bones and peels etc.
Or it could be that the trap is blocked
You could first try the hot water and baking soda to clear it out. If that doesn’t seem to work, go on and call your plumber.
A Clogged Bathroom Drain
The bathroom drains clogged can create a particularly messy situation when your bath tub starts throwing up sewerage water. The culprit in most such scenarios is the hair and the greasy products such as the shampoos or conditioners that together cause a blockage within the drains. A snake, as they call it in plumbing terms, can fix this for you. You can do it yourself suing a household hanger to create a snake and thrust it down the drain to unclog it. If that’s not helpful, do not hesitate to call your plumber.
Faucet Water Running Red
This is when you turn on the faucet to find some red water gushing out. The cause is the galvanized old pipes that are now so full of rust that it substantially mixes with the water that passes through. There is no DIY solution to it, you will have to make that call to the plumber before the pipes burst and cause any further damage to the plumbing system.
The Running Toilets
The overcharged water bills, the toilet tank that is never full and the constant sound of the water running are some of the problems that this will introduce you to. So do not ignore it. It’s theoretically quite a simple fix. It is the flapper that doesn’t go all the way down to the bottom of the tank which means that the tank never fills up and the water keeps flushing down into the bow constantly. However, if you’re not feeling particularly handy yourself, it is always easy to call the professionals and have them fix it for you.
Leaking Toilet
This could a sneaky one. The toilet bowl leaks the sewerage water from the cracks in it or through the defective floor seal. However, it is often mistaken to be the clean water from the tap or shower. Run a dye test to ensure if the water is actually leaking from the toilet. If you find blue water around the toilet, then it’s the toilet that is leaking. This should be taken care of immediately as the leaking water is laden with bacteria that are harmful.
Slow Water in the Sink and Shower
When you have slow water in the sink and the shower, it is very easy to ignore this symptom or not even notice it in the first place altogether. However, you should be wary of this plumbing problem as this is usually the case when the pipe line has burst due to cold water. Close the main water valve to avoid a flooding situation before you call the plumber for the water line repairs.
Sewer Gas Smell
This one is a plumbing problem. You don’t have to accept that awful smell as your fate and continue to live with it. It is a plumbing issue and a plumber can fix it for you. This smell usually originates in the U pipe located under the sink or the toilet. This cannot be one of your DIY tasks and calls for professional hands.
All in all, these make up some of the common plumbing problems that you should be well aware of as a home owner. Even when you’re out house hunting, being aware of these plumbing issues can serve you well during house inspections in locating any potential plumbing problems with the property. Moreover, recognized earlier, they can be easily fixed, often using DIY fixes. Otherwise, you can always acquire our dedicated plumbing services to take care of all your plumbing related needs.