The Most Common Plumbing Problems & Repairs

Plumbing problems can be big or small but both have the potential to be devastating if left unattended. Familiarizing yourself with this list of most common plumbing problems and repair tips may help save your home from damage and water from being wasted. While some of these issues are easy fixes, Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric can help to put your mind at ease.

Faucets That Constantly Drip

A constantly dripping faucet in your home is not only irritating, but it’s also extremely wasteful and costly. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dripping faucets waste as much as 3,000 gallons of water per household!

There are a few potential reasons your tap may be dripping, such as:

• A Worn-out internal washer
• Corrosion
• Improper faucet installation

Cracked Or Broken Pipes

Broken pipes have the potential to cause a lot of damage to both your home and your plumbing system. The longer this plumbing issue is left unattended, the more damage it can cause, making repair a priority. While a broken pipe’s leak is almost always at its joint, there are other possible causes for its leak such as:

• Incorrect pipe laying
• Damage to the pipes joint
• A Cracked seal or pipe
• Excessive water pressure

Temporary fixes can be made using tape and fillers, but a more permanent fix would require a professional to replace the pipe or faulty fitting responsible for the leak.

Running Toilets

A running toilet in your home could be responsible for wasting up to 200 gallons of water a day! While fixing this issue can be straightforward, the area causing the problem first needs to be identified. In most cases, a running toilet is caused by:

• Refill tube problems
• Worn-out flapper seals or flush valves
• Improperly sized flapper chains
• Corroded toilet handle

Little or No Water Pressure

Water that trickles out can be extremely challenging to use when wanting to get things done. Low water pressure may simply be caused by a build-up of calcium deposits in the aerator, an issue that is easily fixed by removing this build-up. If this does not restore normal water flow, it may be an indication of a bigger plumbing problem, such as:

• Pipe corrosion
• Hidden leaks within your homes’ system
• Clogged drains or sewer
• Cracked or blocked sewer lines

Slow or Clogged Drains

When faced with this plumbing issue, the level of concern you should have is based on the number of slow or clogged drains present in your home.

• One Slow or Clogged Drain

  Only one drain shows that the problem is limited to that specific area of your home. Usually caused by a build-up of hair, soap, and foreign objects, routine drain cleaning can help to prevent this.

• Multiple Slow or Clogged Drains

  Multiple slow or clogged drains is a sign of a possible sewer line problem and is an issue that requires immediate professional attention.

Jammed Garbage Disposal

Garbage disposals are very useful appliances but are also very high on the list of common plumbing problems. Using them without water and disposing of certain foods are some of the causes leading to a disposal jam.

Pressing the reset button may fix the issue but if not, the appliance will need to be opened up. Many lose the key provided with the garbage disposal used to unjam it, but luckily for us, a ¼ Allen wrench can also be used.

Water Heater Problems

If your warm shower suddenly takes a cold turn, you may have a problem with your water heater. There are a number of causes that a professional will need to fix, such as:

• Heating element fails
• Sediment build-up
• Loose or broken electrical connections
• Improper water heater installation

If you think your system may be a victim of any of these plumbing issues or have any further questions, contact our team at Art Plumbing, Air Conditioning & Electric in Boca Raton today!