Common Silent Plumbing Problems
You are sleeping peacefully. A sudden dripping irritating sound or a swirling toilet startles you into wakefulness. Those are apparent indicators that you have an emergency plumbing issue. But did you also know silent plumbing issues are crawling their way silently into huge water bills?
Silent Plumbing Issues
Discolored Pipes
Whenever looking around your bathroom, basement, or fumbling near your kitchen sink, take note of the color of the piping. Watch out for any signs of discoloration, particularly around pipe joints. if you spot any, then it may be time for a southern California house repipes service (or one wherever you live). A dark brown, orange or any other color that doesn’t match the rest of the pipe may indicate moisture. Change of color is usually associated with dripping sink, loose joint, or leaking drain line.
A change of color may indicate rust, which weakens the piping. The water reaches you through pressure put in the supply lines. Professional plumbing services will fix that issue before it blows out of proportion.
Low Water Pressure in Several Locations
If water runs slowly out of the faucet under low pressure, there may be a distribution problem. The faucet aerator is usually to blame, especially if the issue is isolated to one area. However, if the issue appears in different places, then prepare for a complex problem such as a leaking water heater or a leaking supply line at worst.
If you notice weak water pressure accompanied by other factors such as pipe discoloration and peeling or bubbling paint, get a professional to fix your plumbing.
Slow Drain
A slow drain is easy and no-brainer since it is easy to spot. Two reasons may justify the occurrence. One, there may be a clog just close to the drain, which is easy to fix. Two, there may be a different problem further deeper into the drain, which may be challenging to reach.
Dumping solid waste such as plastic bags or growing tree roots may obstruct the sewer line. A plumber can fix the issue using chemicals or snake wiring.
Low Pressure or an Abrupt Water Supply Stop in Winter
Winter is associated with many home issues, including plumbing. If there is a sudden drop in water pressure or an abrupt halt in water flow during winter, there is a high chance that the pipes are frozen.
Water freezes under low pressure and usually expands when temperatures fall below zero, creating an ice plug. This is especially true if the supply pipes are located in unheated spaces such as the attic or crawlspace.
Frozen water may burst the pipes though copper pipes are a bit flexible. However, you’ll have to replace them before next winter.
Spiking Water Bills
Shooting water bills should tell you there’s a problem with your plumbing system. Many homeowners often overlook the issue attributing it to the rising cost of living or increased water usage.
If you haven’t used copious amounts of water for any reason whatsoever, such as gardening, then it is time to troubleshoot the problem. The most common cause of skyrocketing water bills is a running toilet due to leaky toilet flappers. Did you know that a toilet valve is a garden hose at full blast?
Get your toilet fixed, or keep flushing hundreds of dollars down the drain literally.
Bubbles on the Ceiling or Peeling Painted Walls
Peeling paint, either on the walls or the ceiling, indicates the presence of water. Usually, the water will leak from the roof or plumbing lines, flood, and seep slowly through the wall or ceiling barrier.
When you stare at your ceiling, don’t just brood. Look for paint blisters, bubbles, and brown patches. Start investigating soon after spotting any.
Conclusion
Plumbing issues are sometimes silent. Simple things such as bubbling paints, slow drain, and low water pressure should prompt you to investigate or better get professional plumbing services.
