Top 10 Home Plumbing Repair Problems

Plumbing problems are inconvenient, stressful and, in some case, very expensive. It is not uncommon for people to panic and get frustrated once the plumbing stops running smoothly.

Here are the top 10 home plumbing repair problems that you are most likely to encounter as a tenant or homeowner (as listed by the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Information Bureau) and tips on what to do to prevent them from happening.

No hot water

Plumbers are usually called in to fix a broken water heater. Most hot water problems, however, can be solved without contacting a professional and using plain common sense.

Before even purchasing a water heater, make sure that its capacity is enough to meet the needs of your entire family. If you are using a gas water heater with a pilot light, make sure the light is lit. Also, you should always check if the temperature setting on the water heater is set high enough to provide adequate amounts of hot water.

Clogged drains

The second most popular home plumbing problem is clogged drains – especially kitchen sinks and showers. You can keep your drains free-flowing by being careful with what you put in them. Do not pour grease down the kitchen sink or clog your baths with hair and soap scum. Use a drain screen to catch debris and clean the screen regularly. Pour boiling water down your drains once a week and make this a regular part of your cleaning routine to clear the pipes of any build-up.

Dripping faucets

Dripping faucets are a common annoyance most homeowners encounter as the washers in faucets wear out. To extend the life of your faucet washers, avoid turning the faucet with too much force.

Leaking pipes

Leaking pipes should not be taken lightly. What seems to be a minor seepage could lead to extensive damage to floors and walls. Make sure that you check your pipes periodically for rust or white lime deposits that can indicate the beginnings of a leak.

Leaking water heaters

When your water heater starts to leak, then it’s time to replace it. Leaks are typically caused by rusting through the bottom of the water storage tank and there is no way to repair that wear and tear.

Broken boilers

You don’t want to be caught with a broken furnace or boiler during an extremely cold winter night. To ensure that your family gets enough heat when the weather turns nasty, check your heating system in the fall to make sure that it is working properly.

Running toilets

If you hear a low humming noise or you notice that water continues to run into the bowl several minutes after flushing, then you probably have a running toilet. Ask a professional plumber to look into your flush mechanism when this happens.

Leaking toilets

Leaking toilets is one of the most frustrating and expensive home plumbing problems you could experience. Just like running toilets, a leak can add more than $100 to your annual bill as water runs continuously 24 hours a day. Call a licensed plumber to fix your leaking toilet immediately.

Faulty new faucet installation

Many homeowners replace faucets for decorative reasons. In most cases, a plumber will guarantee the installation of your new tap but not the faucet itself. It might be best to purchase new faucets from your reliable plumber to make sure that it works properly with your existing plumbing system.

Malfunctioning garbage disposals

Broken garbage disposals are extremely messy and can be a frustrating problem to fix. To keep your garbage disposal in good working condition, run cold water into them periodically. If the disposal won’t turn on and makes no humming sound, call a licensed specialist to repair or replace it.

Although most home plumbing problems can be repaired using simple troubleshooting techniques, it is always best to contact a professional plumber whenever you encounter plumbing issues. Your plumber will be able to quickly diagnose the problem, provide an estimate on how much the repair would cost, and fix it permanently.

For more questions try calling Plumber Medford Oregon and get your plumbing problems fix today!