Plumbing issues can in occur in a variety of ways and vary greatly in cost and potential damage to a home or business. Depending on the size of your home or business, the extent of a plumbing issue can change very quickly. To avoid damage to walls, floors, and overall property, it’s crucial for you to know about the problems that generally occur in most plumbing systems. You should always take into consideration where you live and the climate that your plumbing system is exposed to. With a hot summer and an ice-cold winter, the durability of a residential or commercial plumbing system can be challenged just the same. Below are common plumbing problems and quick fixes.
1. Leaking Pipes
You might not realize that bathroom or kitchen pipes are leaking until a thorough inspection is completed. This is a common plumbing problem during the winter months when water can freeze and cause pipes to burst. This is an issue that requires an immediate fix since it may cause irreparable damage to a home or business without warning.
Pipes can leak for additional reasons as well, such as corrosion, excessive water pressure, clogging, cracks and failure of seals. If you do not have the skills or tools to immediately address this issue, you should reach out to a licensed plumber that can quickly diagnose the repair and address it immediately. This can be a dangerous repair as well, if the piper that is leaking from a pipe is hot water. It is safest to avoid trying to repair a hot water pipe on your own without consulting a professional plumbing repair service.
There are measures to prevent pipes from bursting in winter. To prevent the pipes from freezing, allow cold water to drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Make sure you keep the temperature in your home or business at the same level during the day and at night.
2. Slow Draining Sink
Slow draining is often a tell-tale sign of plumbing problems. If you notice your drain not working as it should, or draining slower than normal, it is time to have an expert identify the issue before it gets worse.
Drainage problems like slow or clogged drains can lead to greater issues and even health hazards. If you notice obstruction in only one drain of your home, it means that the issue is localized in that one drain in your home. Common places for single drain issues are bathrooms as they are usually clogged due to the build-up of hair, soap, and foreign objects over time. The only solution to this plumbing problem is routine drain cleaning with products you can purchase at many stores.
If you notice multiple slow or clogged drains then you might be dealing with sewer line issues, which can potentially be a more complicated problem. This is when you should contact a professional plumbing service to diagnose the cause. In your kitchen, food waste and hardened fat are signature causes for blockages.
How to Clear a Sink Drain Using Chemicals
When using store bought chemicals, be sure to follow all the directions on the packaging and make sure not to use too much. Wear gloves and goggles for safety. Don’t mix chemicals as this can produce poisonous gas. Pour chemicals down the drain only.
3. Dripping Faucet
Dripping faucets lead to water waste and cost you money. Usually, the issue is due to worn-out washers or O-rings that can be easily replaced. Additionally, corrosion or improper installation of the faucet can lead to dripping.
How to fix a leaking faucet?
How do you tackle this problem? It’s best to seek assistance from faucet repair services as soon as possible to prevent further wasting of water. An average householder can also fix the issue with proper tools and a limited amount of plumbing experience.
A faucet that does not stop dripping can be a similar case to a leaky pipe. Age and deterioration may require your faucet to be replaced. If your faucet is leaking, try to shut it off with minimal force and see if the problem remains. If it does, certain parts of your faucet could be loose and need adjusting, or simply has deteriorated. Depending on how much water is leaking it could add up to a large amount of additional water waste per year. Usually, it is worth it to replace the faucet yourself, or to call a plumber to replace it for you.
4. No Hot Water
Water heater failure of malfunction is a common and frustrating plumbing problem. There are several reasons why your water heater may not be working, from the thermostat to the pilot light, sediment build up in the tank and element malfunction. If you have a gas heater, you will first need to check if the pilot light is on. If not, you may have to re-light your heater by following the instructions found on the water tank. If there is a large amount of water used by your household, you may have a shortage of hot water. Be sure to check the temperature of hot water tank. You may want to increase the temperature if you find that the hot water is running out too quickly and inform anyone using it that the water coming from faucets should now be hotter and to adjust as needed.
If you are not using a gas water heater, any issues warrant a call to a professional plumbing service to fix and handle electronic components. If you are renting your water heater, the service to repair it can often be included in the rental amount.
5. Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure makes it challenging to use any plumbing system at home. To fix this, you’ll need to find the primary cause of this issue. So, the first thing you should do is check your hot and cold water faucet’s water pressure separately. Calcium and sediment build-up are usually the most common reason for low water pressure, but this plumbing problem can also be from more complicated issues like hidden water leaks, blocked sewer lines, and pipe corrosion. The best way to begin resolving this issue is to soak any faucet, showerhead, or spout in vinegar. Once soaked, cleaning the areas with a toothbrush or toothpick can loosen any remaining deposits that can reduce water pressure.
6. Clogged Drain
A clogged kitchen drain can be irritating, frustrating and in some cases very unsanitary. The best solution for this is prevention. It may be common sense, but always keep a strainer in your sink when washing dishes or preparing food within your sink’s proximity. Remnants of food can fall into your sink and cause a clog over time. Avoid pouring oil down the sink. If your sink becomes clogged, you should avoid using chemical treatments to de-clog the sink. De-clogging solutions can damage the environment.
How to Unclog Your Shower Drain Using a Plunger
Adding petroleum jelly to the edge of the suction pad will improve the seal of the plunger on the drain. Make sure there is enough water in the sink, shower, or bathtub so that the end of the plunger is submerged. Plunge vigorously.
7. Running Toilet
Like dripping faucets, running toilets can waste water up to 200 gallons per day. This is a common plumbing problem that typically occurs when the moving valve controlling the water that passes from the toilet’s tank to its bowl drain is faulty or loose. The fix for this issue is relatively simple if you purchase a toilet repair kit. Mineral build-up may affect the flushing and filling of your toilet as well. You should also check for unnoticeable leaks too; you can simply put a small amount of food colouring in the upper tank and see if the colour moves to your toilet bowl. In the case of a toilet that just doesn’t stop running, you will need to contact a plumbing service to take a closer look. Local professional plumbing services see and resolve these issues all the time.
8. Smelly Drains
Do you have a sewer like odour coming from a drain? Buildups and partial clogs can lead to rot and mold forming in your drain, sometimes coming from deep within your drain. A household trick you can try is to pour a considerable amount of store bought degreaser into your drain and then rinsing it with hot water to try to push the source of the smell down the drain. Baking soda and vinegar may also help. If you find the smell remains, you may need a more thorough drain cleaning.
The team at Georgian Bay Homes plumbing services are professionals at providing all types of plumbing and drain solutions. If you have a water problem, or need your drain cleaned, contact us today.
About Georgian Bay Homes Plumbing Services
Georgian Bay Homes has a full-service plumbing team serving Midland, Penetanguishene and the surrounding area. We offer services such leak repair, removing blocks, fixing clogs and new installation for new home construction plumbing needs. In addition to residential plumbing services, we offer commercial plumbing systems working with larger and high performance plumbing systems.
