AD | Home sweet home, the one place you usually expect comfort, peace, and tranquility. However, this does depend on everything running smoothly and all your appliances working correctly, with nothing breaking down or stopping working unexpectedly. Like your fridge, washing machine, television, or even (the horror) your broadband. Fortunately, some complications are easy to solve – here are five common plumbing problems at home, and some tips on how to avoid or fix them.
5 Common Plumbing Problems at Home – What Are They And How Do I Fix Them?
Plumbing snags can be a real headache, and they always seem to happen at the most inconvenient times. From leaky faucets to clogged drains, there are several common plumbing issues that homeowners face. In no particular order, first up we have…
Faulty Faucets
A dripping faucet may not seem like much of a problem. But the noise from the rhythmic drops of water acts like an earworm, and gets implanted in your mind so you start hearing it all the time, even when you’re not home.
And all those drips add up, resulting in increased water bills over the long term. Faulty faucets usually result from tear and wear, and can often be fixed by simply replacing the washer(s) or, in some cases, changing the faucet. Head over to YouTube for dozens of videos showing you how to replace a leaking faucet.
Clogged Drains
If you notice water taking much longer than usual to drain from your sinks, toilet bowl, or shower area, you could have a problem with clogged drains. The build up of debris could be anything from hairs to small pieces of soap, tissues, or even fabric.
Unclogging a drain can sometimes be as simple as using a plunger. Or you may need to use tweezers to pull out the clump blocking the drain before using a flexible Drain Coil or Auger. You could also try baking soda and salt work or baking soda and vinegar – mix ½ a cup of each, pour down your drain, leave for 30 minutes or overnight, flush with hot water. If all else fails, then it’s best to call a plumber.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure is another of the common plumbing problems at home and something you’ll notice when you realise it’s taking much longer than usual to fill up your sink or bath. Also, low pressure may not be sufficient to trigger the heating elements in your shower either.
The most common cause of low water pressure is salt and mineral sedimentation in the pipes. These are deposited over a long period, and you don’t realise what’s happened until your water pressure is too low. Other causes of low pressure can be a closed water meter valve or shut off valve, limescale corrosion, or broken pipes, so you may want to identify the cause of the problem before thinking about the solution. Sometimes fitting a pressure reducing valve (PRV) can help too. But if you’re not sure what you’re doing, call a plumber.
Running Toilets
A properly working toilet should only run after you flush it. However, over time many toilets develop problems such as jammed flushing mechanisms and worn-out valves, which often results in water running from the tank continually, potentially increasing your water bills.
Sometimes the problem can be as simple as discovering your ballcock has become stuck. However, the most common cause behind a running toilet is a broken toilet flapper. Also known as the flush valve, this is the rubber stopper at the bottom of your toilet tank holding water inside the tank until you use the toilet’s handle to flush the toilet bowl. This does wear down over time and often needs replacing.
However, if you feel the problem is more than you can handle, a professional plumber will be able to help.
Sewer Line Issues
All wastewater from your home goes through the sewer line, which connects to the city civil line. Problems with the sewer line can cause significant inconveniences to your home, such as clogged drains, but this time it’s far more of a health hazard.
The main reasons behind damaged sewer lines are broken pipes resulting from ground pressure or corrosion. It can also result from root damage if large trees are near the sewer line. So, you definitely want to avoid planting trees anywhere near your sewer line – your ground survey should be able to tell you where this is located. Unfortunately, there isn’t a DIY fix for sewer line issues, and the potential health hazards make it an issue that a professional plumbing company needs to address.
To DIY or not to DIY?
As with many things in life, identifying the most common plumbing problems at home early on and implementing some DIY fixes can often save you a lot of trouble and expense. But if you’re not confident, don’t have the right tools, and don’t want to flood your home (!) then it’s always best to call in an expert to get your plumbing back in working order.
* This is a collaborative post – please see my Disclaimer.
We had a burst pipe under the bathroom sink last month and it made quite a mess!
Oh wow, hope you got it sorted quickly then!
Your recommendations for fixing a running toilet are so smart. A toilet can seem daunting to fix, but most fixes are totally doable. I also loved your clever tip for using baking soda and vinegar on a clogged drain!
Baking soda and vinegar is one of my favourite hacks – so simple, and something that most of us have in our cupboards anyway!
I’ve had my fair share of these, especially clogged drains! I’m lucky in that someone else in my household is usually the one to unclog them, hehe. I’m sure at some point I’ll need to do it myself though, so thank you for your tips!
Clogged drains are the worst, they can get really smelly! Glad this post was helpful 🙂