Common Plumbing Problems and Solutions

Chances are, you have encountered at least one or more plumbing problems in your life. Whether it be banging pipes, a running toilet, or a dripping kitchen faucet, some of these problems have very easy fixes that you can actually solve yourself. But some problems are harder to fix and you probably won’t be able to fix it yourself. If you have a more advanced problem, you will have to call a professional plumber to make the repairs. I have owned and rented several homes throughout the years and have seen many different kinds of plumbing problems. In this article I’m going to tell you about some of the common plumbing problems I’ve encountered.

Dripping Faucets: There are different kinds of faucets that can be in a kitchen or bathroom. Compression type faucets utilize washers that over time will deteriorate. If the threads on the washer begin to wear out, the water will start to leak. To solve this problem, you would just need to replace the washer. Replacing the washer is an easy fix and the only tools you will need is a screwdriver and pliers.

Faucets that only have one handle are called ball and disc faucets. Ball and disc faucets generally last longer, but if they start to leak, you’ll most likely need to replace the entire unit.

Loud Pipes: Loud or noisy pipes is sometimes also referred to as water hammer. You might notice this problem starting as a soft tapping sound, but eventually it could turn into a loud hammering sound. Water inside air chambers, loose pipes, or extremely high water pressure is usually what causes the loud pipe problem. A plumber will have to be hired to solve this problem, because they will have to check all of the pipes, even the ones that are located within the walls of your home.

Leaking Shower Heads: This is a common problem that I’ve dealt with many times. If the leak is near the arm, the washer will have to be replaced to stop the leak. All you have to do is remove the shower head from the adjusting ring to expose the washer and replace it. If you notice that the water pressure in your shower has decreased, you might have a mineral build up that is slightly clogging the shower head. You can clean the perforations and the inside of the shower head to make sure there is nothing causing a blockage.

Clogged Pipes: A clogged pipe is very common, especially if someone if your home has long hair. If the pipe is clogged, it will cause back-flow of water in your sink, bathtub, or toilet. If you look under your sink, you’ll see an elbow shaped pipe which can trap debris and dirt and may start to clog over a period of time. You should use a drain cleaner solution like Drano or a plunger to help unclog the drain. If that doesn’t work, you can unscrew the elbow pipe piece and physically remove the debris that are trapped inside of it.

As you can see, many of the common plumbing problems you may experience are simple to fix yourself. But if you’re unable to fix the problem you should call a licensed plumber, so they can fix the problem for you.