Signs of Plumbing Troubles to Come
May 28, 2013
“I don’t know what happened. There wasn’t any warning at all.” This is what many people say when they discover they have a plumbing problem simply because they haven’t been paying attention to the warning signs that have been around them for weeks or months.
Dripping faucets are many times caused by a washer that has cracked and needs to be replaced. If you replace the washer and the faucet continues to drip, you may need a new faucet or there may be a bigger problem; call a plumber to check things out. While this may just be an annoyance, it’s wasting water and keeping your water bill high.
You can see and hear a dripping faucet, but not all water leaks make themselves known so easily. If you can hear water running but nothing is turned on, or your water meter is running when no one is using water, or maybe your water bills climb for no clear reason, or if there are puddles or water marks inside your cabinets…you’ve got a leak. Sometimes these are easy to fix yourself, but quite often you’ll require a plumber. A professional plumber will ensure the job is done correctly and completely, as well as confirm the leak isn’t caused by a much larger problem.
Low water pressure is an inconvenience, everyone agrees. Everyone, that is, except a professional plumber who knows that there’s probably a not-so-good reason for the sputtering, weak stream of water you’re getting. An occasional sputter is not a big deal and is probably caused by air in your pipes. But if it’s a continual problem and/or in multiple locations in your home, it’s likely you have either a clogged pipe or a cracked, broken pipe. If the culprit is a broken pipe, there’s a good chance the broken pipe is in a main water line which is too often messy and expensive to repair. Have it checked out as soon as possible.
Like most other plumbing problems, when there is a slow drain in one location in your home, it’s probably a minor issue. However, when several drains are slow or the problem persists even after efforts to unclog it, you’ll want to have a plumber look into the cause. Your shower could be slow to drain because of a hair clog far down in the pipes and you’ll need a drain snake to fix it, or if it’s the shower and the sink and the toilet…there may be a pipe collapse or other problem somewhere down the line.
Like any problem, if you know the warning signs of plumbing problems, there are steps you can take to mitigate the damage it can cause. Keeping your eyes peeled in the bathroom, kitchen, and anywhere else there is water in your home can help save you time, money, and trouble.