10 Common Plumbing Problems and How to Fix Them

Plumbing can be one of the most common problems of a homeowner. With a large number of plumbing companies around, it might seem easy to find a plumbing company to help you out. But sometimes, we need to fix a few small problems ourselves before we call for professional help. As we continue from our previous blog topic, here is additional information about the common problems and the simple ways to fix them:

6. Defective water heater

One of the worst things that can happen while taking a supposedly warm and soothing bath in the shower is when your water heater suddenly malfunctions and you get cold instead of hot water. If your water heater becomes broken, your only choice is to have it fixed by a plumber.

7. Sewer line back-up

Having a backed-up sewer system can be quite a stressful and unhygienic experience. If you keep sensing that persistent bad odor resembling that of human waste, it’s a telltale sign of a clogged sewer line. You may notice an unpleasant smell coming from your drains, either in the bathroom or kitchen. Fixing sewer system backup may cost you a lot of money especially if the problem happens within your property. You have to bear the expenses and first hire a plumbing expert to figure out the blockage’s location. However, if the backup problem is located within a public road and the water company is the one at fault, then the water company will step in and have it fixed for you. Nonetheless, to avoid such problems in the future, you have to be careful with what you flush down your toilet and drain. The rule is to not treat your toilet and drain as a trashcan. Another cause of blockage in your sewer line is tree roots invading and damaging your pipes.

8. Jammed garbage disposal

Garbage disposals are quite handy for they grind whatever food substances that get through your drain. However, this equipment can also get worn out and sometimes become clogged up, especially when you run it without water and when nasty debris or silverware has gotten inside. When this happens, the first thing you do is turn the disposal off and open it. If you can’t open it using its key, a plumber can help you fix the problem.

9. Running toilet

Usually, a leaking toilet can be due to a leaky flapper, having the overflow pipe at the wrong height, or a bad fill valve. If the source of the leak is at the base of the toilet, it means the wax seal under the toilet has failed; thus, water pools around the base. Good thing, that fixing a running toilet is easy and is something that can be done without calling in a plumber provided you have a few essential tools such as pliers, a hacksaw, and maybe a new fill valve to replace the defective one. Still, some of the tricks you can do for the repair work are: a) checking the flush valve and the fill valve to determine the source of the leak; b) inspecting the flapper; and lastly c) using food coloring to determine a silent leak.

10. Clogged toilet

Toilets failing to drain and toilet bowl filling up–these things occur when your toilet is clogged. Clogged toilets happen as a result of throwing nasty debris like tissue paper and plastic into the toilet bowl which causes obstruction. Such practice must be avoided. To fix clogged toilets on your own, you can make use of plumbing tools like the plunger, snake, or auger. If you keep having the same issues over and over again, then hiring a professional plumber is the answer.

Fight plumbing problems and expensive mistakes

Knowing common plumbing problems helps homeowners be prepared for the things that need to be done at home to solve the issue before it gets worse beyond repair. Licensed plumbers are available to assist us with our plumbing needs. While it’s true that plumbing professionals are the right people to ask for help when faced with plumbing disasters, it still goes a long way if homeowners are aware of preventive measures and the basics of fixing plumbing mishaps.

References:

https://www.wmhendersoninc.com/blog/5-reasons-your-faucet-is-dripping-water-how-to-fix-it/

https://dengarden.com/home-improvement/Most-Common-Plumbing-Problems

https://www.architecturelab.net/most-common-plumbing-problems-and-fixes/