The plumbing system in your home is incredibly important, but it is often overlooked until something goes wrong. While there are many problems that can arise, some are more common than others. If you would like to know more, check out these four common plumbing issues that can affect your home.
1. Leaks and Drips
A faucet or toilet leak can drip for many reasons. Parts that commonly break and cause leaks include the flapper valve, fill valve, cartridge, washers, and seals. Corrosion can also prevent a faucet from fully shutting off. Luckily, replacing the faucet or parts of the toilet are often a fast fix to this problem.
Pipe leaks, on the other hand, can be more problematic. Leaks are often the result of cracked pipes and corrosion. Both drips and leaks can waste a lot of water, but big leaks can cost you tons of money each month. Plus, if the leak is part of the sewage system, you could also be exposing your family to serious health hazards. The solution will be to hire a technician to locate the leak and repair it.
2. Poor Water Pressure
Poor water pressure can be incredibly irritating, especially in the shower. There are many causes of low water pressure, but sometimes, the problem is with the underlying city system. If this is the case, your entire neighborhood will likely have poor water pressure, and the local utility company will need to handle it.
In some cases, however, the problem is user error. If you have a bunch of systems running that use water, when you take a shower, there probably won’t be much water pressure. In other cases, the main water valve may not be fully open, hindering the flow of water. Galvanized piping can cause a lot of problems with pressure at all fixtures as it ages. These are easy solutions, but if the problem is a leak or clog in the plumbing system, you’ll want to hire a professional who has the tools and skills to identify and fix the problem fast.
3. Slow Drains
Putting items like paper towels or wet wipes into your plumbing system is a sure way to cause a clog. However, even when you use your drains properly, issues can arise. Hair, especially long hair, gets trapped in shower clogs and combines with soap and grease that comes down the drain to form a big ball of sticky hair. Soap, dirt, and minerals can also build up, leading to clogs.
If you have a disposal, make sure you use it correctly. While it can be tempting to put all your food waste into the disposal, this can quickly clog the system. Only small scraps of food should go into the disposal. You should also avoid pouring any grease or oil down the drain.
In some cases, the problem comes from the outside: trees. Trees like water, and their roots will seek out any water they can find, including your plumbing system. If this happens, the roots can start to grow inside the system. At this point, you will need the tree removed and the system repaired.
4. Water Heater Issues
Water heaters store a lot of hot water, so you can use it when you please. For this reason, when something goes wrong, it can cause major issues. Water heaters can start to leak due to loose and aging components or damaged parts.
You will need to occasionally flush your water heater. Minerals build up in the system, which means it can’t hold as much water.
Your plumbing system may be hidden in your walls and floors, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t pay attention to it. It’s easy to wait until something goes wrong before you seek repairs, but regular maintenance could prevent issues from arising in the first place. If you would like to know more, or you want to schedule a repair, contact us at Spartan Plumbing, Inc. today.
