5 Common Plumbing Problems and Easy Fixes: A Guide

Did you know that a dripping faucet at one drop per second wastes over 3,000 gallons of water every year? Consider how many showers there may have been.

More than simply an annoyance, poor plumbing may cost you a fortune without you even realizing it, not to mention the environmental impact of squandering water.

Everyone has plumbing problems. Drippy faucets here and clogged drains there! Reasonable, it’s that you contemplated fixing the plumbing problem yourself at some point.

While more difficult plumbing issues and repairs should be left to the best plumbers from professional plumbing companies. However, you can still repair some issues. Here’s how to fix the five most frequent plumbing problems with the correct tools, equipment, and a little experience.

Most Frequent Plumbing Problems And Fixes In Your Property

1. Faucets And Pipes That Leak:

Problem: The most typical plumbing issues in any home are leaking faucets and pipes. As previously stated, if you do not repair leaky pipes and faucets immediately, they will become pricey in the long term. The most common cause of faucet leaks is washer damage. When you close the tap, the washer provides a seal that prevents water from passing through.

It might be ripped, dislodged, or hardened as a result of normal wear and strain. Because of how frequently faucets are used, this is inescapable.

Leaks in pipes can be ascribed to faulty joints caused by deterioration with age or to high and shifting water pressure.

Solution: Because faucet parts are commonly available, you can replace them easily. To resolve the issue, you have to change the washer responsible for the leak.

Depending on your level of experience, this could be a do-it-yourself project. However, with the particular tools that plumbers of residential plumbing services have, they can do it fast and swiftly.

Leaky pipes can be easy or difficult and time-consuming to repair. Even simple tasks like changing u-joints are best handled by a professional plumbing company.

Prevention: Leaky pipes or faucets are tough to avoid because normal wear and tear will almost always produce problems in the future.

As a result, it is necessary to inspect pipes and faucets on a regular basis for any early indicators of damage that can escalate if neglected.

The longevity of faucets can be increased by gently shutting and opening them. Avoid putting too much pressure on faucets, and avoid hanging items on the faucet itself.

Leaky pipes are difficult to prevent, but you can reduce extra harm by finding them early. Always look for wetness or little drips coming from small joints, as these are sure symptoms that your pipes are deteriorating.

Rust and lime deposits are other symptoms of leakage.

2. Drains And Toilets That Are Clogged:

Problem: Clogged drains and toilets are plainly visible. You may notice some standing water near the drain that lasts an unusually long time, and the water does not completely flow when you flush the toilet.

These are caused by a partial or total stoppage of the water flow. Hair clumps that fall onto the floor after a shower can easily clog sinks and shower drains. Toilets can become blocked when non-dissolvable trash or other obstructive items are flushed.

Solution: The plunger is a simple method that works for both drains and toilets by applying air pressure to dislodge the obstruction.

This is accomplished by placing the plunger’s open end over the entire drain and moving it up and down to create suction. If the blockage is close enough to the hole, you can remove it easily with a gloved hand, pliers, or tweezers.

If the obstruction is too deep or a plunger is not available, you can utilize the chemical drain cleaners. They are often made of strong acids to dissolve the clog and remove the blockage without the need for physical exertion.

Prevention: When flushing waste, make sure to place fibrous trash in the appropriate bins. These include napkins, tissue paper, and wet wipes, which cannot be dissolved and can potentially clog the pipes and pile up on top of one another.

Use hair catchers that cover shower drains to keep loose hair strands from gathering and clumping together and clogging the drain.

3. Water Heater Failure:

Problem: A defective water heating system may go undetected until the unpleasant surprise of showering in cold water on a cool morning arrives.

If the heating system is powered by gas, this can be caused by the pilot light going out. Sediment buildup in the tank can sometimes be an issue.

The thermostat could potentially have failed. In any event, a lack of hot water is a horrible thing.

Solution: Water heater problems are typically left to professional plumbing companies. They have the knowledge and experience to examine, maintain and repair water heater problems optimally. However, it can be too complex for DIY jobs.

If you have a gas water heater, make sure the pilot light is turned off. Check to see whether you have lowered the temperature by mistake or not.

If you suspect sediments or mineral accumulation, try draining the tank’s water to clean them away. If there is water accumulating on the floor, the tank may be leaking, and you should get it repaired with the assistance of the best plumbers.

Prevention: As always, monitoring the pressure valve for drips and leaks on a regular basis is critical for detecting damage early on. It is also critical to flush the tank on a regular basis to avoid difficulties caused by too much silt.

4. Inadequate Water Pressure:

Problem: Low water pressure is an annoyance since it makes showering and washing dishes harder. While this is a prevalent issue in older homes, it can also occur in contemporary ones. This issue might occur unexpectedly or progressively worsen over time. A variety of factors influence fluctuating water pressure.

If neighbors are experiencing consistently low water pressure, it is possible that a water main break has occurred. Localized low water pressure, on the other hand, might be caused by leaking pipes within the home.

Aside from these factors, low water pressure can be caused by silt buildup inside the pipes, faucet aerators, and showerheads.

Solution: You can find the solution to sediment accumulation concerns in aerators or showerheads in your kitchen. Soak the end of the faucet tap or aerator in vinegar overnight.

This technique will remove the buildup without the need to replace the showerhead or aerator (which can also be done for thicker mineral buildup).

If you can not unscrew the faucet or showerhead, fill a plastic bag with the solution and attach it to the faucet or showerhead, making sure the damaged components are submerged.

You may require assistance from emergency plumbing services for concerns other than sediment buildup around aerators.

Prevention The best plumbers recommend installing filtration systems that filter minerals from the water, preventing or slowing any future buildup that will restrict water flow over time.

5. Frozen Pipes:

Problem: Exposed pipes are prone to freezing in cold winter climates such as Edmonton. This can reduce water flow and, in the worst-case scenario, cause pipes to burst.

When standing water in exposed pipes freezes, it expands and puts strain on them, causing damage and leaks until the ice melts.

Solution: Pipes should be insulated to keep the water within from freezing and causing difficulties. It is complex to discover a solution for frozen pipes. Therefore it may be advisable to anticipate the root cause with the help of residential and commercial plumbing contractors before it causes harm.

Prevention: Take note of weather forecasts. Because of the possibility of exceptionally cold spells in winter, exposed pipes are subject to freezing.

Allow the faucets fed by exposed pipes to run for a short period of time in this instance. The reasoning is that moving water is less prone to freeze than standing water in pipes.

When Should You Call Residential And Commercial Plumbing Contractors?

While you can resolve some plumbing issues quickly, others require several hours before serious damage occurs. If a problem emerges that you are unable to resolve, you should contact a plumber from a professional plumbing company immediately. Procrastination can create more harm than good, ultimately costing you more than you intended.