The plumbing in your home is essential but also can be very mysterious and difficult to understand. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s easy to fall behind on maintenance and make costly repairs due to lack of knowledge. Even if you think you know your way around a wrench and pipe fitting, you still need to understand the basics of plumbing and its potential issues so that you can respond appropriately when something goes wrong. If you’re not confident in your ability to identify common plumbing problems and know which ones to call in a professional for, this post is for you. In this blog post, you will learn about some of the common plumbing issues you may encounter in your service area and how you can prevent them from happening again in the future...
If you have a clogged sewer line or a clogged drain, it’s important to identify the specific cause of the problem so that you can tackle it appropriately. There are a few common causes that you should be aware of and avoid in the future. First and foremost is the use of inadequate flow devices to manage water flow. Flow devices are what stop sewage from flowing back up into the home, so they are essential in every home with a sewer line. Flow devices can include a simple PVC fitting called a “Y” or a more complex “French Drain”; both are typically found at the end of your sewer line before the main sewer line enters the house. If you have a clog, the flow device can easily become clogged, and you’ll have to call a plumber to fix it.
You’ve probably noticed the smell of rotten eggs in your home that suddenly appears when you turn on the water. This smell is hydrogen sulfide and it is a dangerous gas that can cause serious health problems if you are exposed to it for a long period of time. Hydrogen sulfide is created naturally by decomposing organic matter like feces; it is a byproduct of the bacteria that breaks down waste in the sewer line. In most homes, the sewer line will be about two to three feet underground. Depending on where you live, the soil may have been filled with waste for years. Over time, the hydrogen sulfide will be released into the soil surrounding the sewer line, which can cause a rotten egg smell in your home.
Water hammer is an issue that is caused by a sudden drop in water pressure. This can occur if a pipe is broken and water is leaking from the pipe into the soil surrounding the pipe, causing a sudden drop in water pressure. A water hammer shutoff valve is typically installed near the end of the service line coming into the house. When a water hammer shutoff is activated, it will shut off water flow to the rest of the house to prevent further damage.
Most people assume that their water is warm or cold, but the water temperature in your home is actually a very important factor in the health of your plumbing system. If the water in your home is too hot, it can cause pipes to expand and crack resulting in expensive repairs. If the water is too cold, it can cause pipes to freeze, resulting in extensive damage and the need for a plumber to repair the problem.
Leaking pipes are surprisingly common, but they can be dangerous. If untreated, water from a leaking pipe can cause extensive damage to the walls and floors of your home and create a health hazard for you and your family. Typically, water from a leaking pipe will drip from a small hole in the floor or wall, so you won’t even notice it. To prevent this issue from happening again, it is important to know when your pipes are leaking and to know what to do about it. You can tell if your pipes are leaking by listening for a drip or flow in the walls or floors. If you hear a drip or flow, it is recommended that you call a plumber to identify the source of the problem and fix it.
If you are not confident in your ability to identify common plumbing issues and know which ones to call in a professional for, this post is for you. These are some of the common plumbing issues you may encounter in your service area and how you can prevent them from happening again in the future.