As any homeowner knows, the work is never done. Your house will always make problems for you that need attention. Many of the more common issues that homeowners have to deal with are plumbing related. Among those, the number one issue that tends to come up, again and again, is clogged drains and toilets.
Top Four Plumbing Issues
Occasionally, you might have a significant plumbing problem. However, those tend to be reasonably rare. Most issues that homeowners have concerning their plumbing are pretty minor. At least they are insignificant as far as the functioning of your home goes. On the other hand, when it comes to your mental health, they can be massive problems with the potential to drive you insane. The four most common plumbing problems are:
- Clogged drains and toilets
- Running toilets
- Leaky pipes and faucets
- Water pressure problems
Clogged Drains and Toilets
Everyone has experienced a clogged drain or toilet in their life. Most of the time, the solution to this problem is quite simple. A plunger is going to be your first line of defense against clogs, using air pressure to try to break up the blockage in your pipes. If a plunger can't get the job done, but you can see the clog, using tweezers, pliers, or another tool to grip the blockage and pull it out will be your next best option.
For clogs that you can't reach, using a chemical drain cleaner may be your next best bet, though there are plenty of plumbers and sewer services who will tell you that you shouldn't use Drano. Following that, you might try buying a plumbing snake and if you still can't get the job done, give a plumber a call.
Running Toilets
A running toilet can drive anyone crazy. Seeing that water is always running is imagining that it is a stream of money being flushed away. For heavier flows, you may also be driven mad by the sound of the water flowing along. When your toilet is running, it likely means you have a problem with a component in your tank. Anyone who has looked in a toilet tank knows there are several moving pieces at work.
A flushing mechanism can look a bit complicated. However, if you flush your toilet while looking in the tank, it is pretty easy to figure out how all of the pieces work together. Examine the mechanism as you rinse and after the tank refills and see if you can identify where the problem is in the system. Often you can see the problem with one piece pushing up against another or the side.
Adjusting a piece so that it is no longer pressed against another is often enough to solve the problem. If not, replacing a component or the whole mechanism should do the trick. If there is still a problem at this point, you should probably call a professional plumbing service like CW Service Pros and get it repaired.
Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Drip, drip, drip. Nobody likes the sound of a leaky faucet. Fortunately, it is typically a straightforward problem to fix. In most cases, all you need to repair a leaky faucet is a new washer. Unscrew the tap, swap out the washer, and you are done. A faucet leaking from the base can be a bit more complicated. You can consult a plumbing expert for tools and steps for repairing a faucet leaking from the base.
Leaky pipes are often a job for a plumber. It may be as simple as replacing one little piece of piping, but that might not do the trick, and you can quickly end up making a mess and possibly making things worse in the process.
Water Pressure Problems
Not getting enough water pressure can be a real drag. It also has the potential to be a more severe problem. One possible cause is a water main break. If this occurs, your neighbors should be having issues too, and you should notify the city to send someone out to repair it.
Another problem is a leaky pipe within your home. Shutting off your water and checking your meter is the best way to identify this problem. If you check your meter after a couple of hours of not using your water and it has changed, you have probably discovered your problem. Call for an expert plumbing service to find and fix the faulty pipe.
The problem could also be with a buildup of sediment and minerals. Having a multi-diaphragm metering pump helps in having a steady pressure and flow. The advertisement can either be in the faucet aerator or showerhead where the pressure issue occurs or in the pipes. Removing the aerator or showerhead and rinsing them out, then soaking them in vinegar overnight should do the trick if that is the problem. However, if the buildup is in the pipes, you'll need to call a plumber.
Keep Your Sanity
Plumbing issues shouldn't have to keep you down. Most problems have an easy DIY solution, and for those that don't, there are always plumbing experts available to lend a hand.
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