15 Common Plumbing Problems Every Homeowner Needs to Watch Out For
Dripping Faucet
The most obvious detriment of having a dripping faucet is wasting water. Assuming a faucet drips only once a second, that’s 86,400 drips a day. At 15,140 drips per gallon, that’s a total of 5.7 gallons of wasted water a day. That’s more than 2,000 gallons a year, which is about 8 tons of water literally going right down the drain. These are the numbers for just a single faucet. If the home has more than one leaky faucet, the waste quickly multiplies. Even if you have a slow-drip faucet, you’re wasting a whole lot of water.
That’s in addition to the fact that water and metal surfaces don’t generally go well together. All that excess water can create patches of rust in pipes and other fixtures. This could lead to even more leaks — many of which might be undetectable until it’s too late.
Similarly, water and wood don’t mix well, either. Instead of rust, rot becomes the enemy. Wet, rotting wood can also breed mold, which can cause many health issues. A combination of rot, rust and mold can be disastrous for the structural integrity of your home.
Fixing a dripping faucet — and preventing all these issues — can be as simple as putting in new O-rings, but it also depends on the type of faucet you have.
Running Toilet
A running toilet is an even more wasteful version of the leaky-faucet problem. How bad can it get? Well, a small toilet will waste about 20-30 gallons of water per day. A medium-sized toilet will waste more, while a running bidet will waste a dozen tons of water a month. If your toilet is running and a couple of quick handle jiggles don’t get it to stop, then you should call a plumber.
Of course, the running toilet could be as simple as a leaking flapper. That still wastes water, albeit at a much-reduced rate.
In either case, a plumber will be able to set you right. Sometimes, the toilet will run only for a second or two, intermittently. This is the famous “haunted toilet” that seems to have a ghost flushing it. Most of the time, however, the reason it does this is all too real: a worn-out stopper. It would be a good idea to replace all the inner workings of the toilet when replacing one. That way, you won’t have to have two service calls in quick succession.
Clogged Toilet
Clogged toilets can be annoying. They overflow. They smell bad. They get waste all over the floor. And worse, yet: They can be a symptom of a much more dire situation than you might initially suspect: septic system damage.
Fortunately, clogged toilets aren’t usually a sign of faulty plumbing or impending catastrophe. A few vigorous plunges should clear them. Still, there are times when you need to call a plumber. For instance: If water or sewage backs up in multiple locations within the home, something is seriously wrong.
When these situations occur, the blockage could be anywhere from the septic tank or sewer line to ... well, any pipe in the house. An expert professional plumber might have to use powerful tools to clear the clogs. Sometimes, the clogs happen because people flush stuff that shouldn’t be flushed, such as hair, dental floss and food. You can help keep your toilet, pipes, and sewer and septic tank connections healthy by following the old plumber’s maxim: No. 1, No. 2 and toilet paper only.
Water Heater Not Working
Water heater problems might require the services of a plumber, an expert natural-gas professional, an electrician or any combination of the three. Some common issues include:
Valves giving way, causing the water heater to flood the surrounding area
Corrosion or rust interfering with water circulation in the tank
Bacteria invading the tank and making your water smell terrible
But the most common problem with a water heater is that it doesn’t live up to its name — providing either too little hot water, or none at all.
If it’s the latter, it might be as simple as needing to relight the pilot on a gas heater or replace the heating element on an electric heater. Corrosion, rust, or sediment in the tank — more common in areas with hard water — must be cleaned out for your tank to function properly, and that requires an expert.
A leaking water heater, however, cannot be repaired. It’s done for, and it must be replaced.
Leaky Pipes
Leaky pipes are typically the first thing people think of when it comes to the question of whether to call a plumber. It could be a leaking toilet pipe, a leaking pipe under a sink or just about any other pipe in your home. Leaky pipes, like dripping faucets, create not only enormous water waste but also damage to the home. Water rots wood, causes metal to rust and pools up to form breeding grounds for both bacteria and insects that transmit disease.
Leaky pipes and other fixtures may need replacing. Even the highest-quality items wear out over time. If the culprit is a fixture, it could be so old that finding parts for it will be impossible — at which point it’s better to replace it. Pipes, whether metal or PVC, can be replaced a lot easier than an entire system. A professional plumber will not only be able to advise you on the best course of action, but also to perform the repair or repairs on everything from a leaking pipe under the sink to signs of a near-gusher behind the hallway drywall.
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Just How to Fix Common Household Plumbing Issues
Some plumbing concerns are much more typical and can be conveniently fixed. Doing the repairs yourselves on these easy plumbing issues can conserve you tons of money. As a homeowner, you will come across several plumbing problems that periodically make an annoyance. Have a look at 5 of one of the most usual ones listed below:
Low Tide Pressure
Is someone from your household grumbling that there's low water pressure from the sink? First, examine if this problem influences both the cold and hot water lines. If yes, after that the problem is the aerator within the sink which may have a lot of sedimentation leading to low tide stress. This is really simple to repair as you just need to take it out as well as scrub away the natural resource.
Running Toilet
You may have experienced a running toilet, which can be fairly irritating because the container will not load up. At the exact same time, leaving it alone corresponds to squandering water and spiking up your water costs.
Bathroom fill valve
Leaking flush shutoff
Toilet flapper
Malfunctioning Garbage Disposal System
This aggravating trouble is also high on the checklist of usual plumbing problems. Your unit will feature a clever secret to unjam your device. If you shed it, you will need an Allen wrench to deal with the issue. You have to go under the sink and also look for the area where you can insert the key. When you spot it, utilize your wrench to transform the machine to release the electric motor. Do not neglect to turn off the system and also reduced the circuit breaker when servicing your garbage disposal system to avoid unpleasant crashes.
Slow Draining Sink
This is the most typical grievance of house owners, with the sink collecting a great deal of hair, oil, particles, and also various other substance in time. The only means to get a smooth streaming drainpipe again is to remove the particles. You can make use of a plumbing device for fishing out the debris. From there, you can utilize a store-bought drainpipe cleaner to clean the lines.
Slow-moving Tub Drain
This is another pesky problem given that the bathtub is one of the most pre-owned fixtures in your shower room. Similar to the sink drainpipe, hair, soap residue, dead skin cells, as well as various other gunk pool in the drainpipe commonly. You must pop open the drain cover and use a tub claw to remove the debris. Do this ASAP before the drain blocks entirely. After making use of the claw, you can pour drain cleaner to freshen the drainpipe lines.
You might also finish up saving cash in the lengthy run since you can relax ensured that your basic plumbing trouble will certainly not escalate. Simply make certain you call a credible business with licenses and also qualifications since you will be inviting unfamiliar people in your residence.
Some plumbing issues are a lot more usual as well as can be easily dealt with. Doing the repair services yourselves on these easy plumbing troubles can save you heaps of money. As a home owner, you will certainly encounter lots of different plumbing issues that periodically make an annoyance. You can make use of a plumbing tool for angling out the debris. You may also finish up conserving cash in the long run since you can relax ensured that your easy plumbing problem will not intensify.
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