Common Plumbing Problems Every Homeowner Needs to Know

No one ever thinks about their plumbing until there’s a problem. But if you know what to look for, you can head off some common plumbing problems before they happen. In this blog post, we will take a look at some of the most common issues homeowners face with their plumbing and give you some tips on how to prevent them. So read on, and learn everything you need to know about avoiding emergency plumbing disasters!

What is the most common plumbing problem?

The most common plumbing problems are:

• Clogged drains and toilets.
• Leaky faucets and pipes.
• Water heater issues.
• Low water pressure.
• A running toilet.

Each of these issues requires a different solution that we will cover below.

The different types of Common Plumbing Problems

Have you heard the drip, drip, drip of your bathroom faucet throughout the night? Are you having issues with flushing your toilet? Is water pressure a problem in your shower? If you’re a homeowner, you’ll have to deal with issues involving your plumbing sooner or later. There’s no need to panic, though: You’ll be able to handle some common plumbing issues if you have the proper tools and know-how.

Here are common plumbing problems every homeowner should be on the lookout for.

Dripping Faucet

Wasting water is the most obvious detriment of having a dripping faucet. Assuming a faucet drips only once a second, 86,400 drips a day. At 15,140 drips per gallon, that’s 5.7 gallons of wasted water a day. That’s more than 2,000 gallons a year, about 8 tons of water going down the drain. These are the numbers for just a single faucet. If the home has more than one leaky faucet, the waste quickly multiplies. Even if you have a slow-drip faucet, you’re wasting a lot of water.

Running Toilet

A running toilet is an even more wasteful version of the leaky-faucet problem. How bad can it get? A small toilet will waste about 20-30 gallons of water per day. A medium-sized toilet will waste more, while a running bidet will waste a dozen tons of water a month. If your toilet is running and a couple of quick handle jiggles don’t get it to stop, then you should call a plumber.

Clogged Toilet

Clogged toilets can be annoying. They overflow. They smell bad. They get waste all over the floor. And worse yet: They can be a symptom of a much more dire situation than you might initially suspect: septic system damage. Fortunately, clogged toilets aren’t usually signs of faulty plumbing or impending catastrophe. A few vigorous plunges should clear them. Still, there are times when you need to call a plumber. For instance: If water or sewage backs up in multiple locations within the home, something is seriously wrong.

Slow or Clogged Drains

One of the most common issues people call an expert plumbing professional is slow drains. Many times, these problems occur for similar reasons to clogged toilets. Goodness knows what detritus gets clogged up in your pipes. As with toilets, don’t put items down the drain that can cause a clog. Unfortunately, it’s not usually possible to effectively plunge a kitchen or bathroom sink plus; it’s not a good idea because of how unsanitary it is.

Leaky Pipes

Leaky pipes are typically the first thing people think of when it comes to whether to call a plumber. It could be a leaking toilet pipe, a leaking pipe under a sink, or any other pipe in your home. Leaky pipes, like dripping faucets, create enormous water waste and damage to the home. Water rots wood causing the metal to rust and pool up to form breeding grounds for bacteria and insects that transmit disease.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is troublesome even if you’re not in the shower. To find out if the low pressure exists throughout the home, check different locations, one at a time. You may have low water pressure from the utility, which can be checked easily with a pressure gauge. It’s also possible that there are problems within your home. It could be as simple as trying to do too much at once. If you run the dishwasher and water the lawn, your shower might not be so great. Of course, you might also have blocked pipes.

Main Water Line Break or Leak

There are two kinds of water main breaks. First, the public delivery line itself could break. Second, the delivery line from the public main that brings water to your home could break.

Expensive Water Bill

Sudden increases in your water bill can result from various reasons. A drip a second from a single faucet adds under 6 gallons daily. Normal use for a family of four is about 200 gallons daily. Over a month, that will be 6,180 gallons instead of 6,000 — and that extra 180 gallons adds up over time. The weather can also impact your bills; dry weather increases water usage as you strive to keep your lawn from dying. Extra people living in your home also results in more water usage.

Downspout Issues

While pipes and fixtures can cause problems on your property at or below ground level, faulty downspouts can be problematic both below and above ground. If they become disconnected or the connections become stressed or broken, water can seep down around the foundation. This can cause sweating walls and foundation damage below the ground. Sweating walls, not to mention the water that seeps out of the foundation, will result in a wet basement.

Wet Spots on the Lawn

Wet spots and standing water on your lawn can be minor or serious. Minor grading problems can cause puddles that aren’t overly dangerous unless the grade slopes back toward the house; if it does, it causes the same problem as bad downspouts. Major problems include leaking or otherwise damaged septic systems, leaking sewer mains, or even leaking water mains. These should be handled quickly so that they don’t turn into utter disasters.

Overflowing Gutters

Overflowing gutters can be very serious in cold weather. Once the rain stops, for example, a clogged and overflowing gutter can be ripped off the house as the water freezes into heavy ice. Such damage can ruin the side of your roof, necessitating many more repairs than you even want to think about having to do.

How do you diagnose plumbing problems?

Diagnose Your Plumbing Problems

• knocking sound from your pipe
• Odd color water
• Low water pressure
• Slow draining sinks and tubs
• Constant dripping
• High water bill
• Moldy or mildewy smells
• Water stains on your ceilings or walls
• Wet spots on your lawn
• Overflowing gutters

If you have any plumbing problems, it’s time to call a professional. Trying to fix these yourself could worsen the problem and cause further damage to your home. Water is an important resource, but it can also cause a lot of damage. Water damage is one of the most common types of damage to homes, and various things can cause it.

Conclusion

While water is essential for life and many other purposes, it can cause serious problems if not properly managed. To prevent water damage in your home, it is important to be aware of common causes of water damage, such as leaking pipes, overflowing gutters, or clogged drains. If you notice any signs of water damage in your home, it is important to call a professional as soon as possible to prevent further damage. 

Emergency Plumbing Service in Winter Garden, Florida

Looking for a plumbing company that can help you with all your common plumbing problems? Look no further than Florida Best Plumbing LLC in Winter Garden, Florida! We can help you with fixing a leaky faucet fixing a broken pipe. We’re here to help you solve your common plumbing issues, so you no longer have to worry about them. Contact us today to get started!