Some things in our home stand the test of time. Unfortunately, plumbing does not. With time and use, your home will start to give subtle hints that you need to call a plumber. In the lives of busy homeowners, we find that small plumbing issues get pushed aside until they become big, unavoidable and oftentimes expensive issues. Our residential plumber doesn’t want that to happen to you.
10 Signs to Put on Your “Do I need to call a plumber?” Checklist.
- Dripping Faucet: If your water does not shut off completely when turned off, there’s an issue that often doesn’t fix itself. After you try some DIY hacks, call your plumber to take a look.
- Drain is Clogging: First, try unclogging a drain with a commercial liquid like Draino. You can also purchase a “snake” tool to push down – or pull up – the globs of junk in your drain. If this doesn’t work, your pipes may be corroded and in need of a closer look by a residential plumber.
- Slow Drains: In addition to a clogged sink, slow drains could be a venting issue. Without venting, the liquid you pour in your drain has nowhere to go. Think about when you put your finger on top of a straw filled with water. It’s the same thing. You may need new vent pipes.
- Just Plain Old: When you are experiencing some of these issues, consider the age of your home. Older homes may contain galvanized piping. This piping corrodes and rusts over time causing water pressure, color issues and leaks.
- Low Water Pressure: Sediment buildup and corrosion are the common culprits here. Both block water from passing. Check your laundry machine, sinks and showers for pressure issues.
- Water Discoloration: It goes without saying, but a yellow, red or brown tint to your water is not good. This is a clear sign of sediment and rust build up. Something to note is if this only happens when running the hot water, it could be a corroded hot water heater, not a plumbing issue.
- Water Tastes or Smells Bad: Another telltale sign your piping needs an expert residential plumber is if you water has an unfamiliar taste or smell. The offender could be a bad wax seal or a toilet with loose bolts with leaking water.
- Water Temperature Changes: If old pipes are jamming your regulating valve, your water temperature may change from cold to hot without touching the water nozzle. Unless you enjoy the excitement of a spontaneous scalding shower, I’d say it’s time to call your plumber.
- Running Toilet: If adjusting the flapper or changing the flush system doesn’t stop a running toilet, you could be utilizing 200 gallons per day and paying a pretty hefty water bill next month.
Residential Plumber Says to Follow Your Senses
In conclusion, an easy way to remember these common plumbing issues is to use your senses! Does your water smell funky, look discolored or sound strange? As expert residential plumbers, we promise, you can avoid major disasters by uncovering plumbing issues early! If not discovered, you may be looking at a total plumbing replacement.
If any of these issues are happening in your home, contact us to get a quote!
