As a homeowner, you are responsible for maintaining the integrity of your home and dealing with everyday problems in your house. You must ensure that all the systems in your home remain operational and safe from problems. One system that needs special attention from your side is the plumbing system.
When the plumbing system of your home is working properly, you don’t pay attention to it, but when an issue arises in the system, it turns into a major headache. When you experience a problem with your plumbing system and you don’t know how to tackle it, you can end up making the issue worse and cause more damage to the system. Therefore, it is essential that you become aware of the common plumbing issues and learn how you can deal with those.
We care about your hard-earned dollars, therefore, in this post we’ll highlight common plumbing issues that you can encounter in your home and show you how you can handle them.
Clogged Drains
One of the most common plumbing issues in residential homes is clogged drains. Generally, clogged drains are caused because of grease, hair, food and other things that get into your plumbing pipes. You can prevent this issue by making sure that food or grease doesn’t get into your drains. Don’t throw anything except the toilet paper in your toilet and install proper covers to make sure that hair and other things stay clear of your shower drains and sinks.
You can dislodge a clog by a plunger. However, you cannot remove it all. In such cases, we recommend you invest in commercial drain cleaners. But, remember that overuse of their drain cleaners will damage your pipes, therefore, if your drains often get clogged, it is best to hire a plumber to fix the issue. Sometimes, your drainage can slow down because of debris in the plumbing pipes. Use a flashlight to inspect your drains. Use tweezers or pliers to remove hair or other things that are blocking your pipes.
Lack of Hot Water
It’s the cold winter of December and you are ready to take a hot shower to wash away all your stress. Imagine what will happen if you turn on the faucet and there is no hot water. It will be a major pain. If such a scenario occurs, there are a few things you should try to fix the issue.
If you own a gas heating system, you may only have to relighten the pilot light that has extinguished due to an unknown reason or reset the thermostat that is set too low. If you have an electric heating system, the issue may be because of a power cut or the thermostat being set too low. If you try these things and the problem still persists, you will have to call in a professional plumber to determine the cause of the issue and fix it.
Running Toilet
Detecting leaks in the toilet is simple. Add some drops of food or water coloring into the toilet tank. Wait for an hour and check the color of the water in the bowl. If there is colored water in the bowl, it means that the flapper valve of your toilet is not working properly. If the water is leaking from the toilet, you will become a victim of higher water bills. Therefore, it is essential that you take steps to fix the issue.
If the flapper valve is not working, you can fix it with DIY toilet repair kits that are effective and can be easily installed. Often times, reasons for running toilets aren’t this simple. If you find that the toilet is leaking even after the flapper has been changed, it means that there is some other issue. In such a case, it is best to call a professional to inspect your toilet, determine the cause of the problem and make the repairs to save you from paying high water bills.
Burst Pipe
One of the most unpleasant experiences in life is encountering a burst pipe. The most common causes of a burst pipe are fitting or joint failure and corrosion of the plumbing pipes. If you walk into your house and find yourself ankle deep in water, don’t panic; rather handle the situation in a calm manner.
Main stop tap must be turned off in such a situation. This can be found at the area where the main water pipe is entering your home. You should locate your main stop tap in advance so that you can take immediate action when disaster strikes. Another important thing to remember is that when the pipe bursts, it increases the risk of electrical shock because of wet appliances and equipment. Therefore, don’t touch any switch or electrical appliance in such a scenario and turn off the main electrical supply.
Dripping Faucets
There are two bad things about dripping faucets- first, the sound of drips is extremely annoying and second, a leaking faucet can make your utility bills skyrocket. When a faucet is turned on, water moves through the pipes. When it is turned off, a water-tight cap is formed by washers made from silicone or rubber. This cap prevents water from dripping.
Over time, washers in the faucet wear out and when that happens water starts to trickle through the faucet. You can replace the washer yourself if the drip is small. There are specialized tools available that can help you get the job done easily. However, if the leak is large, corrosion may have occurred in the valve seat. In this case, you won’t be able to fix the faucet yourself and it is best to get an experienced pair of hands to solve the problem.
As you may have guessed from reading the post- you cannot fix all common plumbing issues on your own. We have provided you genuine advice about dealing with common plumbing issues and practical solution to fix the issue. But, we strongly recommend that you call Mesa Plumbing Company if you think that the problem is too complicated for you to handle yourself.