The Most Frequent Plumbing Problems and When to Call a Professional Plumber
When minor problems occur with the plumbing system at home, practically every homeowner will have some essential tools handy to tackle a small repair such as replacing a worn washer or changing a drain cover. Although, more serious plumbing repair jobs need a professional touch, because if you try to fix some wide-spread issues such as slow drains or leaking toilets yourself, this could lead to irreversible problems with your plumbing system later.
Common Plumbing Repair Jobs
No matter how diligently you follow plumbing maintenance inspection schedule, it won’t guarantee the occurrence of an occasional clog or leak, especially in older homes. The most common plumbing issues that you may encounter at your home are described below.
- Dripping Faucets
There is nothing more annoying than a dripping faucet in the next room at night that does not let you fall asleep. It doesn’t just drive you crazy; it also makes your water bill higher over time. A single dripping faucet wastes hundreds of gallons of water per year if you leave it unattended.
When water enters your home, pressure starts moving it through the pipes. Turn off the tap and rubber washers inside the tap will create a water-tight seal, preventing water from running. After some period of time the washers become stiff, torn or displaced, letting out a tiny dribble of water and causing that annoying drip.
While you might be capable to replace washers yourself, the repair project can be more of a challenge than you expected without special tools, especially if your sink is equipped with ceramic or canister taps that use ceramic plates to form a seal instead of the washers. In this case it is best to call a professional plumber.
- Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure means that when you turn the tap on, water that is supposed to flow pretty fast only dribbles from the tap. This problem is not necessarily related to your house pipes but sometimes to the municipal water supply. However, a more frequent cause of this problem is a build-up of sediment on faucet aerators.
If you have a filtration system, this sediment ends up in the filters and the filters get changed. Otherwise these mineral deposits accumulate on inward surfaces of aerators and shower heads, clogging screens and causing low water pressure. Most kitchen taps have easily removed aerators and make their cleaning easy.
If you still notice low water pressure after faucet aerators and shower heads have been cleaned, the issue might be more complex. A breach in pipes leading into your home is an emergency that cannot wait. It will eventually damage your home’s infrastructure or foundation. Call a trusted plumber ASAP!
- Running Toilet
Toilets usually run when the flapper valve that allows water pass from the toilet tank to the bowl is misplaced, the float is imbalanced or the fill tube becomes loose. However, if you’ve replaced the flapper, float apparatus and fill tube, you may have deposit build-up that’s affecting proper flushing and filling. Also if you have noticed a significant rise in your water bills, this could indicate a silent leak. To detect it in your toilet, add a few drops of food coloring to the upper tank and let it sit for about 20 min. If you see any tinted water in the toilet bowl, your flapper valve isn’t working in the right way.
- Leaky Pipes
Leaky pipes are another common and troublesome problem that can occur at your home. It is also very costly. Leaks usually happen at joints and even though changing a leaky U-joint under your sink is one of those DIY projects that you can handle yourself, it is still a messy one plus the problem might turn out more complicated than you expected. Call a professional from Downey Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning to deal with leaking pipes at your home.
- Clogged Drains
The water that goes into your sink, tub or toilet normally should go out, in case if it doesn’t, you probably have a partial or complete clog in your drain system. Some homeowners succumb to temptation to use the plunger or commercial drain cleaners. However, plungers can’t remove the clog entirely and drain cleaners can damage some pipe materials if applied too often. If you’re experiencing problems with clogs or just debris in pipes on a regular basis, it’s time to call an expert plumber.
When to Call a Professional Plumber
Some plumbing issues are not just nuisances that interfere with the comfort of your home, they are also too dangerous and complex to deal with on your own. Hire a fully insured plumber from Downey Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning for the following jobs to keep your home safe and in a great working condition:
- installation of new pipes, sinks or tubs
- water heater installation, maintenance and repair
- new construction plumbing
- septic tank leaks
- sewer line breaks or leaks
- and more!
If you have questions, want to schedule a maintenance visit or have a plumbing emergency, do not think twice and contact Downey Plumbing Heating & Air Conditioning today!
