Plumbing Bonney Lake

What are the Most Common Plumbing Problems?

The five most common plumbing problems are (1) clogged drains and toilets, (2) leaky faucets and pipes, (3) water heater issues, (4) low water pressure, and (5) running toilets. Sometimes these issues have simple fixes, but when the problem gets too big or is ongoing, you will definitely want to call Pristine Plumbing to assess the issue. 

CLOGGED DRAINS AND TOILETS

You can spot clogged drains when you see water backing up as you empty a sink or take a shower. For a toilet clog, the signs are often more immediate. Instead of flushing normally, the water backs up in the toilet bowl and may even overflow. Clearing the blockage typically restores your drains or toilet back to normal with a little DIY work or a visit from a plumber.

What Causes the Problem: Slow or clogged drains occur when something blocks the drain partially or completely. In sinks and showers, hair is often the culprit, but other items, such as a shampoo lid or small toy, may enter the drain and block the pipe. In toilets, the problem often comes when something other than dissolvable waste enters the toilet and gets flushed. Those solid items cannot move through the pipe, so they stay put, making it difficult or impossible for water to flow past the blockage and down the pipes.

LEAKY FAUCETS AND PIPES

Leaking faucets and pipes are common plumbing problems in apartments and houses. Dripping faucets are more of a nuisance and a waste of money than a plumbing emergency, but those drips add up quickly — fixing the leaks in your home could save up to 10 percent on your water bill. A faucet leaking one drip per second adds up to over 3,000 gallons every year — the equivalent of 180 showers. Nationwide, plumbing leaks can account for over 1 trillion gallons of water. Leaking faucets are easy to spot since the water physically drips out of the faucet when it is in the off position. You can usually hear the drips even if you aren’t in the room.

Leaking pipes can cause major damage if you don’t catch the problem immediately. You often spot leaking pipes after a period of time when you see a puddle below the pipes or hear dripping.

What Causes the Problem: A dripping faucet typically occurs when the washer that forms the seal on the tap gets damaged. Damage may include tearing, dislodging or stiffening. When this damage occurs, the washer no longer seals tightly, allowing small amounts of water to drip from the faucet. Over time, the valve seat may also wear or corrode. If your pipes are leaking, the most likely location is at a joint. Leaks may occur due to deterioration, shifting, high water pressure or other damage.

WATER HEATER ISSUES

Water heater issues are usually easy to spot. You go to take that nice warm shower but instead get doused by freezing cold water. Dripping water, puddles of water, discolored water and noises coming from the water heater unit are other signs of a problem. In some cases, you can troubleshoot the issues yourself, but many water heater issues and repairs require professional help due to the complexity and potential for danger.

What Causes the Problem: Leaks are sometimes the cause of water heater problems, including not having enough hot water. Mineral deposits also cause problems in water heaters. The deposits can reduce the efficiency of the water heater, reducing the supply of hot water throughout your home. Sediment can also cause strange sounds from your water heater, which are caused by heating and exploding of the sediment or build-up of scale on heating elements.

LOW WATER PRESSURE

Common plumbing problems in old houses often revolve around low water pressure, but the issue can happen in new homes as well. Low water pressure can come on suddenly or slowly get worse over time, depending on the cause. Whatever the reason, low water pressure makes it difficult to rinse things and shower, so resolving the issue is a priority to get back to normal water use.

What Causes the Problem: Low water pressure has a few possible causes. A water main break can reduce pressure to your tap – this could be the issue if your neighbors also suddenly experience low water pressure. That same loss of pressure happens if a pipe is leaking within your home. Shut off all taps, check your water meter and wait a few hours without using any water to check for leaks. If the water meter changes, you likely have a leak. Another potential cause is build-up of minerals and sediment either in the pipes or in the faucet aerators and showerheads. That build-up slows the water flow, resulting in low pressure.

RUNNING TOILET

Toilet plumbing problems come in many forms, but a running toilet is one of the most annoying. The toilet still works, but it constantly runs, wasting water and causing an annoying sound.

What Causes the Problem: A constantly running toilet often happens when the inner workings of the toilet no longer work properly. The flapper valve often lets water run if it no longer fits properly. Other potential causes include an imbalanced float, loose fill tube or a leak. Check for a leak by putting food coloring in the tank. After about 20 minutes, check out the bowl to see if the color traveled into the bowl water because of a leak.

For any of these five common plumbing issues, or any other problems that may arise with the plumbing in your Bonney Lake home, Pristine is the best choice to call for all your plumbing needs. We will do everything we can to ensure your satisfaction as our valued customer.

Call (253) 243-2214 for more information about our services or to book an appointment.