Encountering plumbing issues at home can be frustrating, especially due to the inconvenience it can cause. Besides the disruption it can cause on your day, unattended plumbing issues can also put your house at risk for damage due to flooding. With that, you must ensure that you keep your home’s plumbing in shape to avoid those scenarios.
As homeowners, plumbing issues are generally inevitable. But being familiar with the most common ones can help you understand what you need to do to address the situation. For instance, some issues can be fixed with DIY solutions, while some emergencies may require you to look for a plumber in Alexandria or whichever city you’re in to resolve the problem.
Moreover, knowing common plumbing issues can also help you be more aware of what you can do to prevent them from happening. With that, below are some of the most common plumbing problems and how you can avoid them:
- Clogged Toilet And Drains
One of the most common plumbing issues most household experience is clogged toilets and drains. There’s nothing more frustrating than seeing your toilet, sink, or shower area almost flooded as you cannot drain the water out of it. There are plenty of reasons your toilet and drains can clog, and while there are various resolutions, avoiding them from happening in the first place is ideal.
How To Avoid This:
Generally, to avoid clogged drains and toilets, you should know what things you can and cannot flush. For instance, you shouldn’t allow oils to flow into the kitchen drain, along with some food particles. For your shower area, hair strands are usually the culprit for clogged shower drains. You can use a drain guard for your sink and shower drain to prevent any smaller objects from entering. For your toilet, it’s best to avoid putting or flushing anything apart from natural human waste.
- Leaky Faucets And Pipes
There might be instances wherein you’ll notice that your pipes and faucets are leaking even if you’re not using them. Normally, they should be sealed shut when not in use as they can cause higher water bills and might risk your home from flooding and bursting. Furthermore, leaking pipes and faucets also encourages mold growth, creating health concerns for you and your family.
And as such, if you notice a small leak inside your home, you should address the issue immediately.
How To Avoid This:
To keep your faucets and pipes sealed shut, maintain the water pressure at its optimal level and prevent adjusting it to a higher rate. Getting your home’s plumbing system serviced can also be helpful since it’ll allow plumbers to see and monitor its condition. With routine inspections and maintenance, professionals can spot any problems and recommend solutions, such as repairs or replacements, to prevent the leaking issue from escalating.
- Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure has got to be one of the many homeowners’ nightmares. Seeing a slow water drip can be frustrating, especially if you are in a rush or want to get your household chores done quickly. It could be in your shower, kitchen sink, or bathroom. Moreover, it might also affect your water heater’s ability to warm the water up as the water pressure is too weak to process.
How To Avoid This:
To avoid having low water pressure in your home, ensure that you clean your faucets and showerheads regularly. This is especially since the mineral deposits from the water can cause them to clog up and affect the water pressure. On the other hand, clogged pipes could also be the culprit for low water pressure. Regular maintenance of your plumbing system can help prevent this.
- Water Heater Issues
A water heater can provide your home with plenty of benefits. For instance, you can shower conveniently at any time, allow your dishwasher to run and work effectively, and do everything involving hot water without waiting a couple of minutes for it to boil. With the number of uses a water heater can provide for your home, it’s only wise that keep them in their best shape.
How To Avoid This:
To keep your water heater running perfectly, you should keep your system clean all the time. This includes regular dusting around the area, removing any debris that could affect its ventilation, and scheduling annual maintenance.
There are plenty of things happening inside your water heater that you might not be entirely aware of. So, to keep them in their best condition, hiring a professional can help you identify if there are any issues with your water heater. They can also recommend necessary repairs and replacements to ensure your machine remains up and running.
- Running Toilet
Your toilet should only dispense water when you press the flush button. However, if your toilet continuously flushes on its own, it could be a clear sign of a running toilet. In most cases, you can see this if the pressure is too high that you can see the water flowing through your entire toilet. If you suspect running water, you can check it by adding a few drops of food coloring to your toilet tank. Wait for a couple of hours without flushing your toilet and see if it turns to a different color. If it does, it shows a clear sign of a running or leaky toilet.
How To Avoid This:
To prevent a running toilet, you must ensure that your fill valve is adjusted correctly. Ideally, your water should always be at least one inch below the top of the overflow tube to prevent them from running. You can do a quick test monthly to ensure that your toilet isn’t running and prevent your water bill costs from ballooning.
- Sewer System Back Up
Another frustrating plumbing problem, which unfortunately is quite common, is experiencing sewer system backup. It is where the sewer system waste goes back up to your home, causing a foul odor in your home’s interior. With this, ensure that you keep your pipes in perfect shape to prevent them from occurring.
How To Avoid This:
To avoid sewer system backup, you need to ensure that you don’t put anything down the drain that is not supposed to go there. You can install a garbage disposal to grind food particles and prevent them from clogging. Moreover, consider hiring a professional to install an exterior cleanout to keep the pipe in its best shape.
Takeaway
Identifying the most common plumbing problem does not just allow you to know what to do should a plumbing emergency occurs but also helps you prepare and avoid them from happening in the first place. While maintenance requires some added effort, it can help keep your plumbing system in perfect shape, thus reducing the chances of inconvenient plumbing issues.