Plumbing Problems You Can Encounter in Your New Home Plumbing problems come in a variety of sizes and forms. They can range from the relatively simple and inexpensive, such as a leaky faucet or running toilet, to the more serious and expensive, such as a sewage system backlog or a significant pipe leak, which can cause severe structural damage to property as well as destroy the contents of a home or company. Despite the fact that I'm not a professional plumber, as an emergency plumber in Melbourne I've been managing properties for a long time and have gained a lot of practical experience and information on how to analyze plumbing difficulties, as well as some helpful DIY ideas for fixing the simpler problems on my own.
The most typical concerns that necessitate plumbing maintenance are listed in this article. Of course, prevention is preferable to cure, and you can reduce the likelihood of problems arising or worsening if you anticipate the difficulties that are most likely to arise. The following are some frequent problems I have come across working as an emergency plumber in Melbourne, their causes, and how to remedy them. Some issues are reasonably simple to solve if you have a few basic tools and a desire to learn, while others will almost certainly necessitate contacting a professional plumber. Faucets that drip
Dripping faucets are so frequent that it's hard to come across someone who hasn't dealt with them. It's not just an annoyance; wasting water may increase your water bill and cost you money. Over the course of a year working as an emergency plumber in Melbourne I’ve noticed that sometimes a single faucet might waste hundreds of gallons. Internal washers that have grown stiff, damaged, worn, or detached over time are often the source of leaky faucets. If this is the case, a person with basic DIY skills and equipment can generally solve the problem. The leaky faucet's water supply is turned off, the faucet is dismantled, the damaged washer is changed, and the faucet is then rebuilt. Sink with a Slow Drain This issue is usually caused by an obstruction that prevents water from flowing freely. Congealed fat and food leftovers may be found in your kitchen sink drain. Knotted hair and soap are more likely to produce a clog in a bathroom sink. Utilizing a plunger, pouring baking soda and vinegar or a chemical clog remover down the drain, or using a plumber's snake are all options for clearing a blocked sink. If the problem is not addressed, it will most likely increase over time, resulting in the drain becoming entirely clogged. Using Chemicals to Unclog a Sink Drain ● ● ● ● ●
Make sure you follow all of the instructions on the package and don't use too much. To ensure your safety, put on gloves and eyewear. Mixing chemicals is not a good idea. This can result in the production of toxic gas. Chemicals should be poured down the drain. Note that using chemicals on a regular basis might cause harm to your drainage pipes, so I wouldn't advocate using this approach lightly.
Blocked Drains in the Bathtub or Shower Clogs of hair and soap clog bath and shower drains in the same way they obstruct bathroom sink drains. A plunger or a plumber's snake may be required to clear the obstruction. Baking soda and vinegar can also be used to dissolve clogs. If the condition is not addressed, it will likely worsen over time. By purchasing a drain guard to trap the hair, the problem can be avoided or mitigated. How to Use a Plunger to Unclog a Shower Drain ● ● ●
The seal will be improved by applying petroleum jelly to the suction pad's edge. Make sure there's enough water in the shower to completely immerse the plunger's end. Plunge with all your might.
Toilet Blocked
A clog occurs when the toilet bowl fills up and refuses to drain. A combination of paper and human excrement usually causes the clog. A plunger can usually unclog a clogged toilet. If it doesn't work, you may try using a sewage snake or a drain auger to clear the clog. Toilet that is not flushing A running toilet may be expensive, wasting up to 200 gallons of water every day. A defective flapper valve, which controls the flow of water from the tank to the bowl, is the most prevalent cause. With a toilet repair kit from any hardware shop, this is a rather simple remedy. Toilet runs can also be produced by sediment obstructing the flushing and filling of the toilet. Whether your water costs are very high, try placing some food coloring in the higher tank and seeing if it makes its way to the bowl without being flushed. Malfunctioning Water Heater It's possible that you won't notice the problem until you're in the shower and the water suddenly turns cold. The failure of a water heater can be caused by a variety of factors. You may need to relight the pilot light if it goes out. Sediment build-up in the tank might also cause issues. It's possible that the thermostat is to blame at other times. Unless it's anything as simple as the pilot light having to be relit, you should have a professional evaluate, maintain, and repair your water heater. Inadequate Water Pressure If your water trickles rather than gushes out of the tap, it might be a sign of low water pressure. This is a common issue in older homes. Low water pressure is caused by a variety of factors, the most frequent of which are leaking pipes that have been cracked, worn, or corroded over time. If you have low water pressure in your shower, it's most likely due to a build-up of silt and mineral deposits on the aerators. To clean the aerator, immerse it in vinegar. If the shower is the source of the problem, soak the showerhead in vinegar or replace it entirely. How to use vinegar to clean a showerhead ● ● ● ●
Disassemble and clean any dirt or soap. Scrub and loosen any mineral deposits using a toothbrush soaked in vinegar. Remove any loose deposits with a safety pin or a toothpick. To dissolve any residual deposits, soak the components in vinegar overnight.
Overflowing Garbage Disposal Garbage disposals are really helpful equipment, but they can occasionally become clogged. Running them without water, discarding certain food materials like cornhusks and potato peels, or allowing cutlery to get inside can all cause issues. The reset button should always be your
first line of defense, but if that doesn't work, you'll need to open it up. If you lose the key that came with the trash disposal, you may liberate the motor with a 1/4 inch Allen wrench. Leaky Pipes Leaky pipes are more than an annoyance; they may harm furniture and flooring, and the wetness can attract vermin such as cockroaches. Pipe junctions are usually often the source of leaks. Tape, compounds, and fillers can frequently give a temporary remedy, but you'll need to replace a piece of pipe or the accompanying fittings for something more permanent. This may necessitate the services of a plumber. In the winter, when water freezes, expands, and bursts pipes, leaks are more prevalent. How to keep pipes from breaking in the winter Allow cold water to trickle from the faucet fed by exposed pipes when the weather is really cold. Running water, even if it's only a trickle, keeps the pipes from freezing. Maintain the same temperature throughout the day and night. Backup of the Sewer System Backups of sewer systems are, to put it bluntly, a nightmare. They may be stinky, unpleasant, unsanitary, troublesome, and costly to repair. This is most likely your issue if you have many drains and toilets that aren't working and a strong stench of human waste. The location of the obstruction determines who is responsible for resolving the problem. It's your problem if it's on your property. If it's on a public road, your water company is responsible for fixing it. Unfortunately, hiring a plumber to discover the obstruction may be necessary, however it's generally worth phoning your water provider first if you feel the blockage isn't on your home. There are three main reasons for this: ●
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The main sewer is blocked first. To solve this, you'll almost certainly require expert assistance. To prevent this from happening again, be careful what you flush down the toilet (no diapers, face wipes, or napkins) and don't pour grease down the drain. The pipes have also been infiltrated by tree roots. Roots can push through pipe fractures or encircle and destroy a pipe. Third, aged sewer pipes are prone to breaking or collapsing. Sewer lines are now constructed of plastic, but in the past, they were made of cast iron or clay, both of which are prone to degrade with time.