As homeowners, we’ve all been there: climbing into bed for a good night’s sleep when out of nowhere, your faucet begins to make a dripping sound, or you start to hear a swirling noise coming from your toilet. While this could indicate that there is a plumbing problem that needs to be fixed, you may put the issue to the back of your mind, which could come back to bite you.
While you can fix some plumbing problems yourself, others require the aid of a professional. To keep your home in tip-top order, here are some warning signs to look out for that could suggest you have a serious plumbing problem.
Discolored Pipes
When you next go in your basement or are under the kitchen sink, you should pay close attention to your pipes to check whether there are any signs of discoloration. If there are, this could signal you have moisture lurking. Discolored pipes can occur from dripping from your drain line or sink, or something more sinister like a slow leak in your supply line.
Sewer Odor
One of the general plumbing guidelines is that all drains require a trap, with each trap needing a vent. These drains and traps are created to stop sewer gas from seeping into your property. Your home’s vents are designed to navigate sewer odor up to your roof, whereas drain traps create a water plug that acts as a barrier to stop sewer odors from finding their way through your sink drain. Should you notice sewer gas in your property, it’s time to take action. Bergau Plumbing are experts when it comes to eradicating sewer odors. The team offers a variety of plumbing services to meet your needs, including re-piping, backflow installation, and unclogging drains and sewers.
Weak Water Flow
Low water pressure or a slow stream suggests there is a distribution problem. If it is only happening in one area of the home, the root cause is usually in your faucet’s aerator, which is usually easy to resolve. However, if you have noticed low water pressure in several areas in your property, this indicates that there’s a much bigger problem. There are lots of ways you can increase your water pressure, including opening the supply valve, checking for leaks, and unblocking pipes.
Slow Drain
If water is taking longer than normal to drain, this is a sure-fire sign that there’s a plumbing problem. Depending on where the problem is, you may be able to tackle the issue yourself and remove any clogs near the drain. Rather than reaching your phone to call a plumber, there are things you can do to unclog a slow-moving drain, such as by using baking soda, vinegar, and hot water.
No Water During Winter
When winter comes around, having 24/7 access to water is vital. If your water pressure drops suddenly or completely seizes up in the middle of winter, there is a good chance your pipes have frozen over. Should this occur, you need to deal with the problem immediately. To prevent frozen pipes from happening in the first place, make sure you insulate your pipes, keep your garage doors closed, and seal any cracks and openings. If you have frozen pipes, you may wish to thaw them yourself. But, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you must call a plumber straight away.
Spiking Water Bill
When the water bill arrives at the end of each month, you should have a general idea of how much it will be. If you’ve noticed a stark increase in how much you’re paying, this could be a major sign that something has gone wrong in your plumbing system. If you believe you’ve not done anything differently to justify a surge in water usage, it’s time to start troubleshooting what the cause is. One of the most common reasons for a water bill increase is a running toilet. You may not be aware of how much water your toilet uses. To put it into context, your toilet valve is basically a garden hose that’s going at full blast, meaning it’s not unusual for a single toilet to waste tons of water and money.
Bubbling Paint
If you’ve noticed that paint on your wall or ceiling is starting to peel off or bubble, this may mean you have moisture building up behind the surface. The main root cause of this nightmare is a leak in your plumbing system or roof. If the paint is starting to blister or bubble or brown spots have formed, now is the time to start the investigation to establish what’s happened. One of the best ways to stop moisture from forming is to have excellent ventilation throughout your home.
Wobbly Toilet
If there is one plumbing problem that has happened to all homeowners, it’s a wobbly toilet. If your toilet starts to wobble as you sit down, this is a sign that something is wrong. In most cases, all you may need to do is tighten the seal. However, if it’s the bowl that’s wobbling, you will need to examine the bolts that hold your toilet to the floor. Should your bowl still wobble after the bolts are tightened, there’s a good chance your wax seal has failed, meaning water may begin leaking.
Unusual Water Color
Understandably, the water that comes out of your faucets should be clear. If this isn’t the case, you definitely have a plumbing problem on your hands. Excessively cloudy water is usually a result of air in your pipes. If your water is brown or yellow, this signals rust as the major cause. Now is the time to inspect your plumbing system and call a professional to remove any rust that has accumulated in your water mains.
Mold and Mildew
When you notice mold and mildew accumulating on your walls, you will already know that there is something seriously wrong. You must act right away as mold and mildew can be incredibly bad for your health. Similar to bubbling paint, this could be a red flag that your house is too humid. If you notice any damp spots and aren’t sure what to do, don’t delay in calling a plumber.
Any of the plumbing problems above need to be resolved sooner rather than later. Should you ignore them, the issue may get worse and be costly to fix. Your home should be your pride and joy, so to keep everything in working order, don’t hesitate to contact a plumber for advice.
