The worst plumbing problem in your home is the one you discover too late, that is, after it has caused massive damage to your house. Untimely detection of plumbing problems is the main reason for your home’s high plumbing maintenance/repair costs.
The best time to fix any plumbing issue in your house—something many homeowners learn through Arise housing solution—is before it becomes apparent. However, the main challenge is identifying and resolving those issues before they escalate. The simple way to do this is to know the telltale signs of these impending problems.
In this article, we will explain the warning signs of plumbing problems to look out for in your home.
8 signs that your home needs urgent plumbing repair
Multiple clogged drains
If more than one drain in your house is slow or blocked, you may have a major drain clog or a blocked sewer line. The clogged section of the line causes water to build up inside the pipes and eventually stops more water from flowing into the drainage system from the fixtures inside your home. Call your plumber immediately if several drains inside your home are blocked. Delaying to fix this problem can lead to a sewer backup.
Constant sewage smell
If your house or yard smells like sewage, there is something wrong with your sewer line. Your main sewer line could be blocked or leaking. A leaky sewer line will discharge raw sewage into the soil around it, causing bad odors to enter your home. If the line is blocked, trapped sewer gases will flow backwards through the line and escape into your home via the drains. This problem calls for investigation to determine the root cause.
Insufficient hot water
This problem has many probable causes, all of which have to do with your water heater. Possible causes of the problem include a failed heating element, an extinguished pilot light, a malfunctioning thermostat, sediment buildup, tank leaks, a broken dip tube, clogged burners, and an undersized water heater. To find the actual cause of the problem, have a professional plumber inspect the water heater. Ignoring this sign could lead to serious problems that may eventually force you to replace your water heater.
A significant drop in water pressure across fixtures
Water pressure issues that affect a single fixture in your home can be traced to problems like a clogged faucet aerator. However, if the problem affects all or most of the fixtures in your home, you may have a major water leak inside your home or in your main water line. The only way to know for sure is to do a series of leak detection tests. But before calling a plumber, check if the neighboring houses also have the same problem. If they do, the problem is with the municipal water supply.
Hammering noises and joint leaks
Hammering or clanging noises from the water pipes in your home are caused by excessive water pressure and loose pipes. These hammering sounds, known as “water hammers,” happen when shockwaves from rapidly closing valves or faucets force the water inside the pipes to stop abruptly, causing them to shake and bang against the wall. If not addressed, this problem can result in pipe rupture, weakened pipe joints, structural issues, and costly water damage.
Strange noises from the toilet
This apparently harmless (albeit embarrassing) problem often reveals the presence of a blooming issue within your sewer line. Gurgling and bubbling sounds from your toilet show that your drainage pipe and sewer lines are not venting properly. This can happen if your sewer line or the home’s vent stack is blocked. As a consequence of this blockage, sewer gases are trapped inside the sewer line until they eventually find a way out through the toilet. These strange sounds you hear may be a precursor to a sewer backup.
Rotten eggs smell or hissing sounds
If your home smells like rotten eggs and sulfur or you hear a hissing sound near your gas lines, you may have a gas leak in your house. Open all doors and windows to ventilate the house and evacuate everyone outdoors. Do not try to use a telephone or any electronic device inside the house. Call the gas company or 911 from a safe distance. Gas leaks come with a huge risk of house fires and death through gas inhalation.
Discolored water
If your hot water has a rusty color or a metallic taste, your water heater is heavily rusted or has numerous sediments inside the tank. A water heater tank with heavy sediment buildup is likely to overheat and explode. If the discolored water is flowing from your cold-water faucets, your main water line is leaking, or your water pipes are heavily corroded. Ignoring these problems will give them time to get worse and cause even more damage to your home.
Finally, when calling a plumber in Westchester, IL to fix these plumbing problems, ensure the plumber you hire is experienced and professional. Beyond identifying the cause of the problems and resolving them, the plumber should also show you how to prevent future plumbing issues in your home.
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In need of some plumbing assistance in the Westchester, IL area? Our plumbers can help! Call us now at 708-801-6530!
