Most homeowners face water line problems in their homes. While most of these issues may seem minor at the beginning, if ignored, they can cause major damage and lead to expensive repairs. Inner city plumbing services can help you with common water line problems. But before you contact professional plumbers, you should be able to identify some of the common plumbing and water line problems in your home.
Common Water Line Problems and Their Solutions
Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Leaking pipes and faucets are very common problems in homes and apartments. Not only do they cause a nuisance in your home, but they also lead to expensive repairs if not caught on time. Fixing leaky pipes and faucets can save you almost 10% of your water bill. Typically, faucets may leak when the washer that seals the tap gets damaged. The damage could include stiffening, tearing, or dislodging. When damaged, the washer will not seal the tap, letting small amounts of water drip from the faucet.
Similarly, pipes may leak due to high water pressure, deterioration, or shifting. Replacing the damaged washer can solve the leaking faucet. While this may feel like a simple job, it can require special tools and is best left to a plumber. Similarly, if the pipes are leaking due to deterioration or damage, you can use pipe putty to seal any cracks or holes caused due to the damage.
Overflowing Gutters
Gutters may overflow due to heavy rainfall, blocked drains, and downspouts. Sometimes, the gutter may be incorrectly positioned, leading to overflowing. Overflowing gutters will damage your roofs and lead to mold growth in the house. It can also cause flooding, warped walls, and cracked footpaths. You can get gutter guards mounted to ensure your gutters are clean and free of dust and debris. You can also unclog the downspout flow and provide an easy water flow. Finally, if your gutter is wrongly positioned, you can get it correctly tilted and pitched to prevent overflowing.
Burst Pipes
Broken water pipes will cause warped walls, flooding, distorted floors, and damaged ceilings. It can also lead to mold and mildew growth in the home. If you have a burst pipe, you must first shut off the water and, if possible, your electricity as well to prevent electrocution. Typically, pipes burst because of corrosion, high pressure, wrongly positioned pressure valves, low water temperatures, tremors, and heavy vehicular traffic on the underground pipes. You should turn off the main water valve when you have a burst pipe at home. You will need a C-clamp to stop the water flow. You can also install heat tapes to the warm pipes during colder weather to prevent ruptures. You should also conduct regular pipe maintenance, seal leaks, and check temperatures to prevent burst pipes.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure can be caused by malfunctioning pressure regulators, clogged pipes, and corroded conduits. In addition, reduced water from suppliers, leaking pipes, shared piping systems, and unopened home shutoff valves can also contribute to low water pressure. You must clear any blocks, replace your regulators, or open your main water valve to increase the water pressure. You can also install a pump to boost the pressure every time it gets low and replace any old pipes.
Clogged Toilets and Sinks
Blockages in toilets and sinks are caused by grease, debris, food, particles, and undersized pipes. Fixing a mesh or sink strainer in your sinks and taps can help segregate the waste from the water, preventing drainage blocks. You can also use a plunger to clear the blocks and unblock the drain pipes. If a plunger doesn’t work, you can use a commercial drain cleaner to clear the pipes.
Frozen Pipes
Frozen pipes are a common problem in homes in colder weather. If ignored, they can cause thousands of dollars worth of damage. You must protect your pipes against freezing temperatures by covering them with insulation sleeves or wrapping. You can keep your cabinet doors open during the winter to allow warm air circulation. You must keep your home temperature above 55 F to ensure your pipes don’t freeze.
While it may seem like you can repair most of the water line problems mentioned above on your own, you should leave the repairs to the professionals. Though the problem may seem minor, it can lead to a significant mess when you start repairing it. You can contact professional plumbers like Bayside Plumbing to repair your water line issues. They offer professional plumbing services, general maintenance, repairs, and free plumbing inspections.