Plumbing issues are not always easy to spot, but they can wreak havoc in your home if they are not identified and fixed quickly. Even a tiny drip or leak can severely damage paint, walls, and flooring over time. Plumbing problems can also cause mold growth and rot, which lowers the quality of air within a home and can trigger asthma attacks. Coughing, sneezing, skin irritation, and itchy eyes are signs that there is rot or mold present within your home.
Look out for the following signs so that you can identify plumbing problems and have them repaired before they cause severe damage to your home!
Low Water Pressure Levels
If your faucet only produces a small trickle of water when it’s switched on, it is a sign of low water pressure. In areas where hard water is common, residue can build up inside old pipes, causing low water pressure.
To solve this problem, try removing your shower head or faucet aerator and cleaning off any debris or deposits. If the water pressure remains low, contact a plumbing professional as soon as possible. The problem could be a clogged pipe, pipes that are too small, or a severe leak somewhere deep within your plumbing system.
A Constantly Running Toilet
Continually running toilets are annoying and can rapidly increase water bills. Some causes of toilets running when they shouldn’t are when the flapper valve doesn’t fit properly, the fill tube is loose, or the float isn’t balanced. A build-up of sediment in the toilet can also prevent it from filling correctly or flushing. We recommend calling a plumber to get the inner workings of your toilet professionally inspected. Once repaired, your water bills are likely to decrease.
A Dripping Faucet
This annoying problem is one of the most common issues with plumbing systems. Many of us wait weeks, months, and even years before having a dripping faucet repaired. However, this drives up water bills and wastes hundreds of gallons of water every year.
Over time, the washers on your taps that prevent them from leaking tear, dislodge, or become stiff. This causes the faucet to drip. If the leak is allowed to continue long enough, the valve seat can become corroded or worn. In these cases, a whole new faucet may be required.
The bottom line is, plumbing problems should be professionally inspected and repaired as soon as they are suspected or identified. The longer you let a problem continue, the worse it will get. Ideally, homeowners should schedule at least one plumbing maintenance inspection every year. For buildings with multiple occupants or public toilet/shower facilities, these inspections should be carried out more frequently. For more information, click here to contact our team at Hutchinson!