Plumbing Problems and How to Diagnose Them

Whether you are a homeowner responsible for regular maintenance or a plumber who needs to know exactly what the problem is, diagnosing plumbing problems in your home is not that difficult. All it requires is paying attention to water usage. If you see signs of an issue, you can then check the pipes to discover the problem and if anything needs to be done about it.

If you’ve heard the drip, drip of your bathroom faucet throughout the night, or if you’re having issues with flushing your toilet or water pressure in your shower, then you know that plumbing problems can sometimes be a major pain. While hiring a professional plumber will be tempting and get the job done fast, sometimes it’s best to try to tackle the issue yourself if you have the proper tools and know-how.

Suppose you want your plumbing system to offer you many years of service and protection. In that case, it is important to be aware of the warning signs. This will prevent blocked drains and sewer lines. In addition to regular maintenance, scheduling a plumber’s visit to check for signs every month is also important. By reading this article as a guideline, you can take charge of your plumbing system’s health.

Common Plumbing Problems

Tapping Sounds

If you hear thumping, begin by reducing the amount of water that you use. Doing so will keep a cap on the water pressure and should help reduce any knocking noises you hear. If you’re still hearing thumps, contact a plumber to get it checked out.

Low Water Pressure

You may have low water pressure if you turn on your faucet and the water doesn’t flow out as forcefully as it formerly did. A clogged showerhead or something worse, like a leaking water heater, a broken pipe, or a blocked pipe, might result in low water pressure. It is a good idea to hire a plumber for maintenance and repairs if you notice a decrease in water pressure across your entire home.

“If there is low water pressure throughout the house, there may be a problem with the pressure-reducing valve, well pump, water filtration system, or water service line.” If you’ve seen a sharp drop in pressure throughout the house, the low water pressure symptom has to be fixed right away because you could be losing hundreds to thousands of gallons of water per day.

Constant Dripping

Although that annoying “drip, drip” sound is always annoying, your plumbing system may be experiencing more serious issues. Constant dripping could indicate a faulty faucet control valve or excessively high water pressure in your pipes. Your bathroom fixtures may become damaged due to the continual leaking that wears them out. Make sure to hire a plumber to remedy the issue if there is a leak.

Running toilet 

In the case of a running toilet, the next thing you should do is call a plumber if your toilet is running and a few short handle jiggles aren’t enough to stop the problem. On-call plumbers can diagnose the problem and make any necessary repairs. Plus, they will be able to tell you how they plan on getting your water waste down to a minimum. 

Clogged drain

If your drainage systems are slow or clogged, you will generally notice that there is one drain that is more problematic than the others. That’s because this type of problem is localized and not affecting other drains in your home. It’s normal for a blocked drain to fill up with water, such as when you leave the tap running. However, if the situation is longer than usual, it’s time to call for a plumber.

Jammed garbage disposal

As an owner of one, you might be wondering if it’s possible to fix jammed garbage disposal on your own. Do it yourself – If your garbage disposal has jammed, the first thing you should check is to make sure it’s plugged securely into the wall. From there, try using a drain cleaner first. 1) Turn off the power or unplug the jammed disposer. 2) Then, attach the drain cleaner and place it into the clogged sink or tub drain. Make sure you wear gloves as well. 3) Once you turn on the drain cleaner, you can use rags in order to dislodge whatever causes the jamming of your disposer. After that, use a wrench to undo the jams.

Faulty water heater

Installing a new water heater will be a hassle. Not only do you have to find the right model to fit your household, but you will also have to get at the water supply and electrical connections. The simplest means of avoiding this is by calling a local plumber.

Main water line break

Water main breaks come in two different varieties. The public distribution line itself could malfunction first. Second, the water supply line from the public main to your residence can deteriorate. The largest projects a plumber will ever take on are these main water problems depending on how old your home is. Even better would be to switch outdated pipes with more modern, durable ones. In any case, a skilled professional plumber will be able to give you advice.

What to Do in a Plumbing Emergency Problems

Of course, the first few minutes of an emergency situation can feel like an eternity. You don’t know what to do or who to call, so you just do nothing. That’s not an option when it comes to your home, however, as water damage can rapidly become worse. You should avoid doing anything promising (not in the way of helping) and instead ring for a plumbing expert. Handymen have learned the important techniques needed to handle these problems effectively and even worsen a problem if they’re not trained appropriately.

How to handle plumbing repairs yourself

Plumbing repairs might cost you much more and cause damage to your property. Make sure you comprehend the issue and the solution completely. Call a professional instead if the project’s scope makes you uncomfortable. Obtain every piece of equipment and material required for the project. The worst thing is starting a project only to realise you need something else. 

One of the great things about learning more about your home’s plumbing is that you will become more confident in the issues you encounter and how to solve them. Many plumbers will be glad to give you a free quote on plumbing repairs when you call asking for information. Armed with that knowledge, you may not have to call a plumber at all.

Conclusion

Contrary to popular belief, not all plumbing problems have a big price tag associated with them. In fact, many of them can be fixed at home without the help of a professional. Still, it’s always a good idea to call a plumber if you have any serious issues with your pipes. 

If you can Prevent a Clogged drain from occurring, you’re likely going to end up saving yourself some time and money. Whatever you do, don’t buy into the notion that you should always call a professional plumber to deal with your plumbing issues. Avoiding the issue or ignoring it altogether is much more costly and can lead to bigger issues if left unaddressed.