Your home’s plumbing system is a highly-complicated part of your house. So many forces need to work in concert to make it work properly. However, with time and wear and tear, some segments will eventually fail, or at least not work correctly. For professional plumbers, here are seven of the most common plumbing problems you will typically encounter at home:
Dripping Faucets
Not only are dripping faucets annoying, but they will also eventually cost you a lot in your water bill. The painful part is that you will be paying for water you won’t use! The cause of dripping faucets is usually straightforward, such as a worn-out washer or an o-ring. Both are easily replaceable—corrosion and improper faucet installation cases are more severe. If your faucet is dripping, you may replace worn-out washers or o-rings. Just make sure they are the proper sizes that will fit your faucets. However, seeking help from professional plumbing (click here) services can help you in the long run for more substantial cases of dripping.
Running Toilets
Running toilets is a plumbing issue you need to address immediately. If you leave a running toilet without fixing it, you can lose up to at least several gallons of water a day. The most common causes are worn-out toilet internals, including the refill tube, flapper seals, improperly sized or corroded toilet handles, and chains. Replacing the toilet internals will solve the vast majority of running toilets.
Leaking Pipes
One of the most common household plumbing issues that relate the most to the age of a plumbing system is leaky pipes. The most common causes of leaky pipes are corrosion, joint pipe damage, excessive water pressure, worn-out seals, or cracked pipes. Especially in colder states, you might expect pipe damage if the laying of lines did not consider exposure to cold temperatures, as some metals will crack when carrying freezing water. In the case of leaky pipes, call a plumbing professional immediately to replace these.
Clogged or Slow Drains
We may classify this problem depending on how many drains clog. If only one drain clogs, the clog is localized. The cause could be an accumulation of materials that are hard to dissolve, such as soap, hair, and other foreign objects that build up over time. A drain de-clogger can solve this. However, if multiple drains are slow to drain, the issue could be a sewer line problem. In this case, you need the help of professional plumbers.
Low Water Pressure
The cause of low water pressure varies. Leaky pipes on the main plumbing line are one of the most common causes of low water pressure, especially if these are hidden somewhere in your home. A clog or a cracked sewer line also contributes to low water pressure. The exact location that causes low water pressure is challenging to detect. Professional plumbing professionals with specialized equipment can quickly find the precise location of what causes low water pressure.
Water Heater Issues
Most homes utilize water heaters. Water heaters have a finite lifespan and may last you for around ten years without issues. However, if you feel you are having water heater problems too soon, the following may have caused it:
Heating element issues
Corrosion and sediment buildup
Mismatched systems for your requirement
Broken electrical connections
Sump Pump Failure
A sump pump is a rugged machine that can last for ten years without issues. Should your sump pump fail, you may have a problem with clogged discharged pipes, or the amount of water overwhelms the system, especially after heavy rains.
Takeaways: A Professional Plumber Can Help You Solve All These
If you want to DIY your plumbing maintenance, quick-fix solutions can solve most of the most common plumbing issues. However, there will be instances when hidden segments of your plumbing systems fail, especially for decades-old homes. There are also exceptional instances, such as a major storm, that overwhelm your plumbing and sewer systems. It pays to have a dependable professional plumber to help you in all of these cases. They can provide more substantial value than the amount of money you pay them.