Every time you turn on the faucet, do you get a drip? Does your toilet take forever to flush? Have your pipes recently been making loud banging noises? If so, don’t panic! You’re not alone. Small plumbing leaks waste up to 90 gallons a day in about 10% of American homes. A plumbing problem may occur at any time and is something that no homeowner ever wants to deal with. Still, if it does happen, there are some common problems that many homeowners experience. Here’s the ultimate guide for common plumbing issues and how to fix them!
Do You Have a Clogged Sink?
One common problem is slow water drainage in your bathroom or kitchen sinks. This can be caused by a clog in the drain. This can be common if you have not properly maintained your plumbing system, or if you have roots growing in your sewer line.
If you’re lucky, a plunger or drain snake can dislodge any obstructions in the pipes that are preventing water from draining properly. You may also buy drain-unclogging granules from your supermarket. Follow the instructions on the packaging and see if this solves the problem.
Leaky Faucets and Pipes
Other common plumbing issues include leaks in your kitchen and bathroom faucets. If you notice a leak, go to the sink or showerhead and turn off the valves underneath them. Then tighten any visible screws on the taps with an adjustable wrench until they stop dripping water when turned on again.
If there are still some signs of leakage, even after you tighten the screws on your faucets, it may be time to replace the washers or O-rings under them. You can find these parts at a hardware store and usually only require very basic tools for installation.
Running Toilet
A running toilet is not just wasteful; it’s also expensive! The cause of this common plumbing issue is usually a faulty flapper valve. This part of the toilet is responsible for keeping water in your tank by sealing off the flush valve. If it does not properly close after flushing, you’ll start hearing a constant “ploop” as gallons of more water rush through your pipes each day.
To fix this, try adjusting the float ball so that it is not allowing the water in your tank to rise too high. You can also adjust or replace the flapper valve.
Noisy Pipes
Loud banging noises are common when there’s air being trapped in your pipes, which creates pressure build-up and results in knocking sounds coming from them. If you notice these banging pipes, turn off your water main and open all the faucets in your home.
Next, put an adjustable wrench on the pipe that’s making noise to pressurize it by tightening down on any nuts or bolts around it. This should help pop out most of the air bubbles trapped inside so that you can turn your water main back on.
And finally, if you are still experiencing banging noises when turning on faucets or taking showers, there could be a clog in the drain that is causing air bubbles to become trapped under pressure again. You may need to have it professionally cleaned out by a plumber.
