Hearing the constant drip of a leaking faucet when you are trying to fall asleep can be a huge nuisance. As are clogged toilets, low water pressure, and slow draining sinks! Homeowners need to pick up their tools sooner or later and fix these plumbing issues by themselves.
Here are some common plumbing issues each homeowner should check for and be able to fix at home. Further, if the plumbing issue got serious then don’t forget to get Plumbing Service near me:
Leaky faucet
Water wastage is a by-product of a dripping faucet. If we assume a leaky faucet dripping a drop of water per second, that will be 86,400 drips in a day, making it 15,140 drips a gallon and 5.7 gallons of water wasted in one day.
Pipes can rust easily, leading to leaks. In turn, a leaking pipe can cause splotches on wooden walls and flooring, causing rots and mold. That is a health hazard, combining with rots and rust, creating numerous health issues and damaging a home’s structural integrity. So always buy plumbing products from any renowned manufactures.
Fixing a dripping faucet and preventing all these issues is simple. Putting in two new O-rings fixes the drips, depending on the kind of faucet present in the house.
Running toilets
A running toilet is a leaky toilet, and it leaks more water than a leaky faucet. It wastes almost 30 gallons of water daily. A medium-sized toilet wastes more. If a homemade solution does not stop the toilet from running, then it would be best to call in a professional plumber. Is a running toilet as simple as a leaky flapper? Well, it still wastes water that way but at a much lesser rate.
Still, a plumber’s help is recommended. At times, the toilet will run only for a few seconds but intermittently. It may seem as if a ghost is flushing the toilet. But the real reason behind it is a worn-out stopper.
It would be a bright idea to replace all inner parts of a toilet’s flush tank when replacing one individual part. This way, it saves money, saves calls to the plumber, and trips to the hardware store.
The horrors of a clogged toilet
A clogged toilet is both unpleasant and annoying because they overflow, smells awful, and ruins the bathroom. This can be a symptom of a dire situation that anyone can suspect at first; septic system damage.
With luck, clogged toilets are not often a sign of problematic plumbing. Using the plunger vigorously using a few strokes should clear the blockage. But if water or sewage is backing up in multiple places in a home then something is quite wrong.
In these cases, the blockage can be anywhere ranging, either from the septic tank or sewer line to any pipe in the house. Plumbers use powerful tools to clear those clogs. But why do these clogs happen? Simple: people flush down things that they’re not supposed to (dental floss, used up toothbrushes, etc.)
People can keep the toilet, pipes, sewer pipes, and septic tank connections healthy by avoiding flushing down things that were not intended to be flushed down. The only things to flush are No.1, No. 2 and toilet paper, nothing else.
Slow and clogged drains
Can a simple drain cleaner suffice in this matter? Most of the time residents call plumbers to help clear clogged drains. As mentioned earlier, everything should not be flushed down the toilet. Moreover, the plunger is not for plunging both the kitchen and bathroom sinks because it is neither effective nor it is sanitary.
Such slow drains often open up with a drain cleaner. But in case of clogged pipes sitting behind plaster or drywall, then digging them up is needed. As these pipes bend and curve around load-bearing structural components of a home, they are often hard to reach and even take care of.
Broken down water heater is bad news
Water heater problems might often require the services of a plumber, a gas control professional, an electrician, or maybe all three. Here are some common issues with water heaters:
- Valves might give way, causing the water heater to flood surrounding areas.
- Corrosion or rust can interfere with the water circulation in the tank.
- Bacteria present in the tank, giving water an unpleasant odor.
However, the most common issue with a water heater is that it does not usually live up to its expectations, either providing a small amount of hot water or none at all. For the latter reason, the gas heater needs to have its pilot lit again or the heating element on the electric heater needs replacement.
Corrosion, rust, or sediment in the tank are quite common in areas having hard water. They must be cleaned out for the tank to work properly. This requires an expert. If the water heater leaks, it would be wise for it to get replaced.
Low water pressure
This can be troublesome even if no one is bathing. The utility services provider may be providing the home with low pressure, and this can be checked from the pressure gauge. It is also possible that there are problems with the home’s plumbing system.
Running the dishwasher, watering the lawn, and showering at the same time can be a cause of concern. There is also the possibility of blocked pipes. To find out if low pressure exists throughout the home, different locations should be checked, one at a time.
It is always wise to check the water valve first. It could be half-open. Each faucet and 2-way shower diverter valve should be run and checked for any low pressure. If there is just one location with low pressure, either that fixture or the set of pipes associated with it is probably blocked in some way.
If the whole home has low pressure, one or more of the main pipes has an issue. In this case, a plumber is thus needed.
Conclusion
All these issues aren’t hard to fix and are commonly found in homes. Simple fixes for these issues can help improve the flow of water in the home. In case the fixes don’t work, then it is time to call the plumber.
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