Expert Advice: Plumbing Issues Every Homeowner Should Know
Plumbing issues are an inevitable part of owning a home, whether it’s brand new or simply new to you. Some problems may come with aging fixtures in an aging home, while other issues may be caused by how a home’s plumbing has been used and maintained. In either scenario, attention is key. Maintaining a watchful eye on the key signs and key components of your home is imperative. While each and every home is unique in nature, many common plumbing issues can occur in any home. Normal wear and tear on plumbing equipment can result in any one of a whole host of issues; however, we have compiled a list of the most common of the lot and possibly if not likely one or more that you may encounter as a homeowner.
- Water Heater distress: Most likely to plague the repairs budget of any home, the water heater is quite often the primary suspect in plumbing issues. Age, weather, faulty components are all common issues with plumbing problems and an aging water heater. This is an area that cannot be ignored precisely why it gets top billing because when the water heater goes down everyone is aware and simply put, nobody truly enjoys cold showers in the morning.
- Running Toilets: More than just an annoyance, a running toilet can be a symptom of a variety of plumbing issues. The most common cause however for a running toilet is overflow water leaking down into the bowl from the tank via the overflow tube. This means that there is simply too much water in the tank and can be an easier fix. A cursory internet search may fix the problem and it may not. Unfortunately there can also be more serious problems happening under foot with a running toilet. A leak at the base of your toilet can lead to serious water damage virtually unseen in your bathroom as the water leaks through your floor, running into subflooring and causing substantial foundational concerns.
- Leaky Pipes: Leaking pipes, large or small, can cause a whole host of problems, including the development of mildew and mold from water damage. Undetected leaks and standing water are a primary cause of moisture build up behind walls, ceilings, windows and flooring, leading to product deterioration and mold infestation. Leaky pipes are not to be ignored under any circumstances.
- Dripping faucets: A very common occurrence and an easy problem to simply overlook and neglect. First and foremost a dripping faucet is annoying. The sound is in fact a mild version of water torcher. You hear it, you see it and you just crank that faucet as hard as you can to get it to stop. But it doesn’t. Wasteful and costly, this issue can be caused by worn out components of the faucet which can easily be replaced; however, in worse scenarios this can be a symptom of faulty installation or corrosion and absolutely not a DIY weekend fix.
- Clogged drains: A subject in and of itself, clogged drains can be caused by a myriad of issues and in turn can cause a myriad of issues. Clogged drains can start out as a minor issue but can quickly escalate into major problems for a homeowner. Blocked drains smell awful. It’s inescapable and if left untreated can cause major structural damage to the home and plumbing system not to mention the health of the occupants. Something that smells that bad cannot and is not a minor issue.
While plumbing issues large and small are an inevitable part of owning a home, so is having the right resources on hand to repair the issues. Having the right resources to help is essential. Quality work from a trusted source is indispensable. And when it comes to plumbing the last thing a homeowner wants is a worst case scenario without any warning signs. But if this happens and it might, a trusted plumber is worth their weight in gold. Mr. Rooter Plumbing, Orange County, 949.371.2025