Do You Know If You Have One of These? 10 Common Plumbing Problems
No one on earth is immune to the little problems of life. Traffic jams. Headaches. Papercuts. They happen to us all. No matter how careful you are, little annoyances - like plumbing problems - happen. Do you know if you have one of these 10 common plumbing problems?
(If you do, don’t worry! The awesome plumbers of ServiceOne Air Conditioning and Plumbing can fix them right away!)
Here are the 10 most common plumbing problems:
ONE: Leaky Faucets:
Have you ever gone to bed at night only to hear the slow but consistent drip of a faucet? (Yep. Pretty annoying, isn’t it?)
You may think that the slow dripping faucet is no big deal, but you’d be wrong.
A dripping faucet not only wastes water but can also lead to increased water bills over time. In many areas, water is a precious resource to be conserved, not wasted.
Sadly, the Environmental Protection Agency believes that because of typical household leaks from faucets, more than TEN THOUSAND gallons of water are wasted each year! An astounding 10% of homes in the United States waste more than 90 gallons of water PER DAY!
What causes leaky faucets?
A faucet can start to leak as it ages due to worn-out washers, bad O-rings, or seals.
It is a simple fix to replace washers and O-rings, and some homeowners prefer to tackle this problem themselves. Many others, however, don’t have the time or energy to mess with it. In doing so, you’ll save money and conserve a valuable resource. If you need to replace the entire faucet, call us.
TWO: Clogged Drains
Think about what goes down your drains. (Or maybe you’d rather not think about it!) Hair, soap residue, food particles, and dirt end of swooshing down your drain multiple times every day.
Over time, your drains build up a residue and begin to narrow the opening that the water must run through, causing a clogged drain.
Depending on the severity of the clog, you might be able to clear it with a plunger or a drain cleaner, but most people would rather let a professional plumber clean their drains to ensure that an inexperienced homeowner doesn’t damage the pipes. Regular drain cleaning prevents these problems in the future.
THREE: Running Toilets:
A toilet that constantly runs can result in a significant increase in water usage, yet it’s a very common problem.
A running toilet is a HUGE water waster. (Remember that you are paying for every wasted gallon of water even if you don’t use it!) On average, a running toilet can waste anywhere from 1 to 3 gallons of water per minute it continues to run. This means that in just one hour, a running toilet could waste between 60 to 180 gallons of water. Over a day, that could add up to 1,440 to 4,320 gallons of water wastage.
A toilet that won’t shut off the water flow happens because of a faulty flapper or fill valve inside the tank. Again, if you are handy – and brave – you can fix it yourself. But most people would rather have an experienced plumber take care of the problem. Plumbers understand the correct parts to use, the proper installation, and the proper flow of water.
A professional can make quick work of a repair that would take most homeowners much longer and cause more stress.
FOUR: Low Water Pressure:
Low water pressure can make daily tasks, such as showering and doing dishes, frustrating and less effective.
Before you assume that the problem is in your plumbing, first check with your water company. At times, municipalities can experience high demand that lowers the amount of water pressure. Sometimes, a city is doing maintenance which can lower water pressure.
Believe it or not, there are 240,000 water main breaks in America every year, so it’s even possible that a broken main is the issue.
Often, though, lowered water pressure results from a hidden leak in your system, a build-up of sediment, or a problem with your pressure regulator.
Call a ServiceOne plumber to flush your pipes.
FIVE: Leaking Pipes
Leaking pipes happen because of the water pressure being too high, temperature fluctuations, and corrosion. Sometimes, a pipe even has physical damage which may have been caused by the changes in the ground during a weather event or being vibrated or hit by heavy equipment. Sometimes, indoor pipe joints corrode or the joints loosen.
Pipe leaks should not be ignored, and unless it’s a simple tightening of a joint, most leaks should be addressed by a plumber.
SIX: Water Heater Issues
Issues with water heaters can lead to cold showers. Washing dishes with cold water doesn’t cleanse the germs as effectively as using hot water. No one wants to use cold water all the time.
The average lifespan of a hot water heater is ten years. After that, chances steadily increase that your water heater will go bad.
You’ll know your water heater is on its last legs if any of these symptoms occur:
· Water pools below your water heater
· You can’t get enough hot water
· Your water is tepid
· It takes longer than normal to heat the water
· Your water is discolored
· Your water heater has a streak of rust or stains on the tank
Your water heater should be flushed at least every two years. Have you done that?
SEVEN: Sewer Line Blockages
Ugh.
This is one no one likes to think about. Sewage backing up into your tub, shower, or toilet is gross!
It happens more often than you think.
Blockages often occur because a tree root has wrapped around the pipe or grown into it. Sometimes, the line is backed up with debris. (One of the most common problems now is the use of so-called “flushable” wipes.
You won’t want to deal with this yourself. Contact ServiceOne to inspect and clear blockages using specialized equipment like underground cameras, sewer snakes, and hydro-jetting.
EIGHT: Water leaks
Undetected water leaks in walls or ceilings can lead to structural damage and mold growth.
These may happen so gradually that the damage is done before the leak shows on the drywall. Bigger leaks might be noticeable right away because lots of water is released into places where it shouldn’t be.
Most often the culprit of hidden water leaks is because of aging pipes. Do you know how old your pipes are or when they were last inspected? Do you know what kind of piping you have?
Homes built before 1980 may still have lead pipes, which are dangerous to your health. Galvanized steel pipes, in use through the mid-1900s, can corrode and deteriorate. The polybutylene pipes used in the 1970s and 1980s become brittle.
Consider a whole house plumbing inspection and leak detection by ServiceOne.
NINE: Garbage Disposal Issues
Another very common plumbing problem is garbage disposal jams.
Never put bones in your garbage disposal. Never pour loads of grease down the drain.
Both these things can cause your garbage disposal to malfunction.
You can fix your garbage disposal by resetting it with that special little wrench that came with the unit.
Today’s garbage disposals are better than ever before, grinding up food more quietly and efficiently than in the past. Garbage disposals are also a way to eliminate the methane gas emitted from food waste in our landfills.
Make your kitchen clean-up easier and faster with a new garbage disposal.
TEN: Sump Pump Failures
Sump pumps are crucial for preventing basement flooding. Failures can result in water damage.
The Federal Clean Air Act of 1987 required all new construction to have a sump pump, so many homes have them. Since more than 60% of homeowners report problems with moisture or water in their basements, sump pumps are important.
Sump pumps can go bad after power outages. The discharge pump can get clogged. If the Sump pump is broken, the moisture collects in your basement or crawl space and can lead to mold and mildew.
Proactive Plumbing to stop common problems
Most problems can be avoided by being proactive and stopping problems before they start.
Did you know that ServiceOne has a ClubOne membership plan that inspects your plumbing on a yearly basis and does routine maintenance that will keep you from having problems?
Available in an affordable, low-cost, pay-by-the-month option, or in one lump sum annual payment, the ClubOne Plumbing Plan is the best way to be proactive and avoid those common problems!
Call us. We can help with any plumbing or air conditioning problem you have.