The most common plumbing problems include running toilets, leaky taps and pipes, hot water system troubles, clogged drains – mainly in toilets, and low water pressure. And for your convenience, we have discussed these common plumbing issues and how to act as a homeowner to avoid them.
It’s natural for your home’s plumbing to develop problems as it ages, whether it’s a leaking faucet here or a slow drain there. Some of those residential problems can easily be resolved on your own without too much difficulty. Various others carry certain possible risks and are best left in the hands of experts.
Knowing the typical plumbing issues and their fixes or solutions enables you to decide whether to reach for the tool belt and when to call a plumber. And to assist you with these specific plumbing issues, we have outlined common plumbing mistakes to avoid.
Table of Contents
Common Plumbing Fails You Want to Avoid
● Toilets And Drain problems with Blockage
You have clogged drains when you drain a sink or take a bath and see water coming back up. It’s one of the most common plumbing problems in bathroom.
Signs of a toilet being clogged are frequently more apparent right away. The water is backing up and possibly overflowing in the toilet bowl instead of being flushed regularly.
Your toilet or drains will typically return to normal after removing the obstruction with some simple DIY effort or a plumber’s visit. When something partially or totally obstructs the drain, it results in clogged or slow drains.
Hair is frequently the problem in sinks and showers, but other objects, like a shampoo cap or a small toy, can get down the drain and clog the pipe. The issue with toilets frequently arises when non-dissolvable waste is flushed into the bowl.
Also Read: Clogged sewer line? Here’s what a tenant should do
It is challenging for the water to get through the obstruction and the pipes because those heavy objects cannot pass through the pipe and remain there.
You can fix this plumbing issue issue easily.
- Start by using a plunger to unclog the pipe. A plunger can be used on drains and toilets.
- The straightforward plumbing device uses air pressure to break off obstructions.
- Move the plunger up and down to produce suction by placing the open end completely over the drain.
If the obstruction is close enough, you can grasp it with tweezers or other pliers and pull it out of the drain. If you cannot remove the block with a, chemical drain cleaners or plungers are a choice.
By just flushing soluble garbage down the toilet, you can avoid clogs. Keep an eye on kids to prevent them from flushing bulky items into the toilet to avoid this from happening again.
● Leaky Pipes And Faucets
Fixing leaks within your home might save you up to ten percent on the water bill, even if dripping taps are more of an annoyance and a monetary waste than just a plumbing disaster.
A faucet that drips once every second wastes 180 showers’ worth of water annually, or more than three thousand gallons. Plumbing leaks may be responsible for more than 10 billion gallons of water nationwide.
Also Read: Types of pipes for plumbing of your house (Pros & Cons)
A leaky faucet often results from damage to the washer that creates the seal on the tap. Tearing, stiffening, or perhaps dislodging are examples of damage.
As a result of this damage, the washer can no longer be tightly sealed, allowing a few drops of water to trickle from the tap. The valve seat itself could wear or tear in the long run. The pipes’ joints are actually where leaks are most likely to occur.
Leaks will develop due to tear and wear, high water pressure, movement and other types of damage. Even if you only need to repair a straightforward U-joint, it can be simpler to let a pro do the task to prevent a major problem.
Natural tap issues from frequent use are frequently challenging to avoid. Slowly opening and closing the faucets and applying light pressure to the handles can reduce possible damage.
Although it is difficult to avoid a plumbing problem like a leaky pipes, you can find the primary issue early with a proper routine examination. It may be possible to detect leaks by looking for visible corrosion or white lime deposits.
In faucets, the issue is resolved by swapping out the washer causing the leak. Although you can do this yourself, it’s easier with specialized gear, so you should contact a plumber. Pipe leak detection can be an easy or difficult task.
For better understanding, you can also hire plumbers or experts on plumbing, and before you hire one, it’s important to see reviews for plumbers when deciding who to get estimates from.
● The issue with Water Heaters
Water heater problems are typically simple to identify. When you go to have that lovely warm shower, the water is ice cold. Some problems with water heaters can be resolved by self-diagnosis, but many are too problematic and potentially hazardous, requiring professional care.
Sometimes leaks are the root of water heater issues, such as insufficient hot water. Water heater issues can also further be the result of mineral deposits.
The deposits will lower down the water heater’s efficiency, decreasing the hot water available throughout your house. When the stored sediments heat up and explode or maybe when scale is built up on the heating elements, very different noises may come from the water heater.
You can do the following things to troubleshoot the issue.
- If the water heater is gas-powered, check the pilot light. The appliance won’t create hot water if the pilot light isn’t lit.
- Verify the temperature setting to ensure it wasn’t mistakenly lowered.
- Drain the water tank to clear the silt if you believe mineral deposits are the problem.
- Call a plumber if you notice water collecting on the floor because the tank is probably leaking and might need to be replaced.
The water heater will function more smoothly if you keep up with maintenance.
- Regularly check the pressure valve.
- Periodically flush the tank to get rid of sediment.
- Check the water tank from time to time for drips and leaks that can be signs of a major issue.
● Water Pressure Is Low
Low water pressure is a small plumbing problem in older homes, but it can also occur in newer homes. Low water pressure can appear suddenly or gradually over time, depending on the source.
There are various reasons why water pressure may be low. If your neighbors suddenly start experiencing low water pressure, there may have been a water break, which might lower the pressure at the tap.
If a pipe inside your house leaks, the pressure will decrease similarly. Turn off every faucet, look at the water meter, and wait for a while using no water to search for leaks.
You most likely have a leak if your water meter changes. Sediment and minerals build-up in the pipes, showerheads, and faucet aerators are also potential causes. Due to the build-up, the water flow is reduced, resulting in low pressure.
If you believe that buildup is the culprit, start with the showerheads or aerators where you are experiencing low water pressure. To clean the faucet end, unscrew it. Soak the aerator in vinegar for a whole night to remove the buildup.
To prevent future build-up;
- Install a filter solution to prevent minerals from entering your pipes.
- Check the pipes regularly to find out leaks early as well as fix them.
- It is also recommended that a proper house design sometimes automatically helps prevent builds up as such.
● Leaking Toilet
A leaking toilet is among the problematic issues in plumbing. The toilet may be functional enough even after the leakage but it will keep running, wasting water, and making a loud noise.
When the internal mechanism of the toilet stops functioning properly, this frequently results in the toilet having frequent water flow. If the flapper valve isn’t fitting properly, water might frequently flow through it.
A leak, an unbalanced float, and a loose fill tube are potential culprits.
Also Read: P-trap vs S-trap – Features – What’s the difference (With Pictures)
Examine each component to identify the precise issue. Check that the fill tube, a small, flexible tube within the tank, has still been attached and is pointed in the direction of the overflow tube.
It could be essential to replace all of the tank’s internal parts if straightforward modifications are unsuccessful. To guarantee that the fill valve shuts off precisely, adjust the float. Check it on the flapper to verify the chain is the right length and is not tangled.
Conclusion
Overall, plumbing issues are something we all wish to avoid since the hassle of repairing them is often irritating. And we hope that the information we provided above on common plumbing mistakes to avoid in your home has helped resolve your plumbing issues.
Being a homeowner, knowing how to fix common plumbing problems can you save you some bucks and hassle down the road.
