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There are different plumbing problems that you can experience as your house gets old. Some plumbing problems are simple, and with the right plumbing kit, you can fix them yourself. Others are complex and must be fixed by a pro plumbing company. Being in a position to solve some problems yourself can help you to save some money, although it’s a risky endeavor at times.
You can stop most plumbing problems from occurring when you know their cause. Here are the most common plumbing emergencies that affect homeowners and how to solve them.
Running Toilet
A running toilet is among the most common problems that are often reported to a plumbing company. This problem occurs when water runs continuously from the tank to the bowl without flushing. When this happens, you’re forced to pay more money for water utility bills if your toilet is not fixed as soon as possible.
The problem crops up when your toilet has a faulty flapper valve, which controls how water flows from the tank to the bowl. To check for silent toilet leaks, add food coloring to the tank and wait. If the water in the bowl turns color without flushing, contact your plumbing company for toilet repair services.
Overflowing Toilet
When you flush your toilet, and it fails to drain, this can lead to unsanitary issues in your house. The toilet overflows when the drain is clogged by substances that you flush down your toilet. To avoid the creation of an obstacle inside the drain system, do not flush any other material apart from toilet paper.
The items most likely to block your toilet are baby wipes, wrappers, and paper towels, among other objects that do not dissolve easily in water. This problem is widespread in many homes. However, they are complex to repair and must be done by a professional plumber from a reliable plumbing company.
Dripping Faucets
Leaky faucets produce disturbing sounds and cause water loss, which results in high water bills. You can avoid paying money for the lost water by hiring an expert plumber to make a proper diagnosis of what is causing the leak and fix it.
Leaky faucets can occur when minerals are deposited in the aerator at the end of the spigot, which causes clogging. Overtime, clogging continues and results in loss of water pressure and creates stress on seals and gaskets. Your plumbing company can recommend that you often replace your aerator.
Dripping faucets can also result from having a faulty O-ring, which is a small rubber ring that helps to hold the handle in place. Like any other rubber, the O-ring gets worn out with time, and the handle becomes susceptible to pushing and pulling. If the worn-out rubber is not replaced, you can start to experience leaks at the base of your handle.
Another culprit causing this plumbing problem is a damaged valve seat and washer found between the faucet and the spout. You need professionals from a plumbing company to repair this problem because if the wrong size of the washer is installed, leaking will not stop.
Low Water Pressure
This problem often occurs when your pipes get clogged. Water that flows in many houses in St. Petersburg, FL, contains minerals like calcium and magnesium. Calcium deposits in the aerator cause low water pressure in both hot and cold faucets. If only one of the valves is having low water pressure, the cause could be more complicated and should be handled by an expert from your plumbing company.
Leaking Pipes
Many plumbing problems occur to the pipes in a home, especially in old houses with copper pipes. When there are extreme temperatures, expansion and contraction of copper pipes causes them to break and cause leakage. Other factors that can cause leakages in your pipes are:
- Corrosion of the pipes
- Excess water pressure
- Damage at the pipe joints
- Cracked pipes and seals
- Stubborn clogs
Ignoring leaking pipes can cause more damages to your house and hence must be repaired as soon as they are detected. Scheduling regular maintenance and inspection of leaks with your plumbing company is an excellent way to prevent damages that can be caused by leaking water.
Slow Draining Sink
This is a plumbing problem that occurs when you have a blockage in the drains that restrict water to flow down the sink. Knotted hairs and soaps are the leading cause for slowly draining bathroom sinks, while food remains and congealed block kitchen sinks. Obstacles that cause such blockage can be removed using a plunger or a plumber’s snake.
Clearing the drain can also be achieved by pouring vinegar and baking soda down the drain, or using chemical cleaners available in the market. However, repeated use of chemicals to clear drains can erode the inner surface of your drainage pipes, thus damaging them.
Worn Out Hose Bibb
If you live in areas that often experience frosty winters, your hose Bibb can crack and get damaged with the extreme changes in temperature. A damaged hose Bibb becomes prone to leakage and can lose plenty of water if left unchecked.
The solution to problems arising from a damaged hose Bibb is to replace it. You can avoid making many replacements by purchasing a heavy-duty and a frost-proof hose Bibb.
Slowly Draining Bathtub
A slowly draining bathtub is an emergency plumbing problem caused by the collection of hair, dirt, and other debris in the drain. The problem indicates that the pipes are almost getting clogged, a more expensive problem to repair. Dirt accumulates either in the tub drain or the trap.
If the blockage occurs in the trap, products like Bio Smart are used to clear the gunk, but if it fails to work, contact your plumbing company. If the block is in the tub drain, remove the tub stopper and use needle-nose pliers to pull out all the dirt.
When you have complex plumbing problems in your home, or you do not have the right repair kit to fix the simple ones, contact the expert plumbers at Drain Flo Plumbing in St. Petersburg, FL.
