At some point, every homeowner is going to have a plumbing problem. While it's important to be prepared for the worst, there are some common problems you can fix yourself and save on the repair bill!
A Leaky Faucet
How to Check for a Leaky Faucet
To detect a leaky faucet, you'll need to turn on the water and listen for a drip. If there's any dripping, run your hand under the sink or wherever else it may be coming from. If you can feel water dripping onto your hand, then it's time to get out some tools and fix that leak!
Low Water Pressure
What Causes Low Water Pressure?
If your water pressure is low, it can be caused by a leak in the pipes, a clogged filter, faulty plumbing fixtures, corroded pipes, or a faulty pressure regulator.
How to Detect a Water Leak
- Turn off your main water valve.
- Wait at least five minutes before turning it back on again.
- If you don't hear any running water during this time and there's still no pressure when you turn on your faucets, you may have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system--which means it's time to call in the pros!
If everything checks out okay with your pipes and filters, then perhaps it's time for an upgrade: think about upgrading those old faucets with something newer (and more efficient). Or maybe just install new ones altogether--there are plenty of options out there!
High Water Pressure
What Causes High Water Pressure?
If your water pressure is too high, it may be caused by a clogged drain, a clogged pipe, or even a toilet that's not flushing properly.
Can Your Water Heater Affect Your Water Pressure?
If none of these things seem to be the problem (and if you don't have separate pipes for hot and cold water), then it might be time to check out your water heater: if something got stuck inside of it or if there was some kind of malfunctioning valve over time (aging), this could cause excess pressure when you turn on any taps around the house.
How Do I Know if Water Pressure Is Too High?
- Your shower head is spraying water everywhere and not going down the drain easily
- Your faucets are having problems
- Your water bills are high
- Your pipes are making loud banging noises, known as water hammer
A Toilet That Won’t Stop Running
How to Fix a Toilet That Keeps Running:
- Check for water supply to the toilet.
- Check for air in the tank.
- Check for a worn flapper, float ball, or fill valve.
- Check for a worn flush valve (also known as an actuator).
Malfunctioning Water Heater
How to Troubleshoot a Water Heater
- Check for a blockage.
- Make sure there's no debris in your water heater's pipes or drain line. If there is, that could be causing the problem.
- Check the water heater's thermostat.
- Check the pilot light.
- Check for a leak.
- Checking the temperature and pressure relief valve.
- Check the circuit breaker. This is one of the first things to check if you're having trouble with your plumbing system. If something has tripped or blown out, just reset the breaker.
- Look for broken wires or loose connections throughout your house's electrical system that are connected to the water heater.
Damaged Garbage Disposal
Common Garbage Disposal Issues
- You can't get your garbage disposal to run.
- The garbage disposal smells like something died in it.
- The garbage disposal isn't grinding anything or is grinding slowly and loudly.
- The garbage disposal makes weird noises when you turn it on or off.
- There's leaking from underneath your sink where the pipes are connected (if there's no leaky faucet above).
- The garbage disposal is jammed.
- The garbage disposal has clogged.
- The garbage disposal won't drain or drains incorrectly.
What Happens if Food Gets Stuck in the Disposal?
If food has been stuck inside the garbage disposal and won't come out even after repeated use of Drano tablets, baking soda/vinegar mix, etc., you will need a plumber who can snake out whatever gunk has accumulated over time down there. Before moving forward with repairs on any other part(s) that might be causing problems, the plumber may need to possibly replace some parts if they're damaged beyond repair (such as replacing worn-out seals).
Additional Plumbing Problems to Watch For
- If you have a leaky faucet, it's probably time to replace it.
- If your showerhead is leaking, tighten the nut holding it in place with a wrench or pliers.
- If you find that water is running out of your toilet tank and into your bowl when you flush, make sure there isn't something blocking the fill tube inside (such as hair). If there isn't anything blocking it and this still happens regularly, call an expert who can repair or replace your flapper valve assembly--it's probably just worn out!
Avoid Future Plumbing Issues With Regular Maintenance
To avoid any of these problems in the future: keep up on routine maintenance by scheduling annual checkups with professionals like those at Prometheus Home Services, which offers free consultations so homeowners know exactly what they're getting before agreeing to pay for services rendered by our licensed technicians
We hope this article helped you understand some of the common plumbing problems that can crop up. If you notice any of these issues, don't hesitate to call our professional plumbers at (978) 622-5044 or contact us online!