Problems with your plumbing can be more than an inconvenience. They can cause serious damage to your home if left unchecked. Identifying potential issues early and taking action to correct them is one of the best ways to protect your home, as it minimizes costly, long-term repairs. Here are four signs that might highlight plumbing issues that require professional repairs.
1. Water Damage
Water damage in your attic can highlight problems with your plumbing, especially if any pipes pass through the attic. Water stains and mildew growth are common signs of water damage in your attic. If the pipes are the culprit, a plumber can fix them based on the extent of the pipe’s damage or faults.
A broken water heater can also leak moisture and cause water damage to surrounding areas. The most common sign of a broken water heater is a puddle of water around the base of the unit. Also, less hot water, strange noises, and rust-colored water highlight water heater issues.
2. Backflow
You might flush away objects that you may not realize will block your toilet. Such items include menstrual products, condoms, or cat litter. However, these items usually clog toilet drainage and can cause serious problems with sewer backflow.
Objects like hair and solid food waste can accumulate inside sinks and drains and clog your systems. Clogged sinks and drains can cause water to back up in the sink or drain, leading to flooding.
A faulty sewer line can leak untreated sewage back into your home. The backflow can lead to health problems and expensive repairs. Sewer line faults can result from wear and tear due to age and physical damage from tree roots. Older sewer lines will have worn-out sections and parts that need replacement. Also, tree roots can grow into the sewer line and fracture pipes that cause leaks.
3. Increased Water Usage
Toilets that use more water than recommended by its manufacturers will require further assessments. Running toilets waste a significant amount of water and might run up your water bills. Such problems can result from a leaky flapper or worn-out stopper. A plumber can examine the toilet further and determine the best remedy.
Also, a leaking faucet will increase your water bill due to water wastage. In fact, leaking faucets can increase your water bills significantly even if the drip is gradual since the wastage accumulates more if you do not fix it urgently. Factors that might cause faucet leaks include a faulty washer, a cracked pipe, or a loose connection.
4. Insufficient Water Pressure
Insufficient water pressure can result from a build-up of sediments in the pipes. This build-up can happen over time as the water flows through the pipes picks up small particles of dirt, sand, and other materials. These sediments can eventually build up and block the pipes, reducing water pressure.
Insufficient water pressure might also highlight issues with the water supply line. The water supply line directs water from municipal pipes into your home. Most of the pipes that feed water into your house are underground, so a plumber will have to visit the site and inspect the pipes to check for any leaks or breaks. The plumber might advocate for a complete overhaul of your supply line if it has deteriorated too much from old age.
Some of these issues might have deeper factors that you might not adequately know about. You should not attempt to fix any plumbing issue if you do not have adequate experience dealing with them. Contact a local licensed plumber immediately if you notice any of these symptoms. Arnold & Sons Plumbing, Sewer & Drain Services can help you fix problems associated with these signs.
