Bathrooms and kitchens are the two rooms in your home where the bulk of your plumbing problems are likely to happen. As RGroup Management explains, that is because you typically don’t go a day without using these rooms. Bathrooms are essential for sanitation, and kitchens are vital for preparing meals.
Since these two activities require a lot of water, it is normal that many of your home’s plumbing issues will happen in your kitchen and bathroom. But plumbing problems in the kitchen and bathroom should not be a big deal if you discover them on time.
The real problem is when you don’t know a plumbing problem exists or cannot determine its cause. Trying to fix a plumbing malfunction without first uncovering the root of the problem often results in a massive waste of money and time.
Any solutions you apply to the problem will only be temporary, and the issue will eventually worsen with time. That is why it is essential to know how to troubleshoot different plumbing problems in your bathroom or kitchen.
In this post, we discuss the common bathroom and kitchen plumbing issues Chicago homeowners often have to deal with and the steps for finding the real cause of the problems.
Toilet won’t flush
If a toilet doesn’t flush when you push the lever, do the following:
- Check if the water pressure is low or if the water supply to the tank has not been cut off.
- Open the tank and check if the flush lever is connected; pushing the flush handle should lift the lever.
- If water is running into the bowl but it is not draining, your toilet drain may be blocked.
If your toilet drain is blocked, you should have a professional plumber look at it.
The toilet is draining slowly or backing up
If the toilet is backing up or draining slowly, you have a blockage inside your sewer line or in the toilet drain. To determine the cause of the problem, follow these steps:
- Check if other drains are working. If they are, the blockage is not in your sewer line.
- If there are small children in the home, ask them if they flushed something into the toilet.
- Check for blockages near the toilet drain opening.
- Try to remove the clog with a wire (if it is a piece of fabric) or unclog the toilet with a plunger.
If this doesn’t work, contact a professional plumber.
Toilet is running
A running toilet will constantly discharge water from the tank into the bowl. This problem will waste a lot of water. To find the cause, do this:
- Open the tank and check if the flapper chain is slack, too short or caught on something.
- Check if the flapper is faulty by lifting it gently. If the water stops running, your flapper is bad.
- Check the float arm; lift or push it down to see if the water stops or starts running.
- Check that the fill valve has not become brittle and dirty. Clean or replace it, if necessary.
- Replace any damaged components inside the tank or get a professional plumber.
Press the garbage disposal’s safety reset button and rerun the unit. If it runs and shuts off again, you may have a jammed impeller.
Garbage disposal is not working
If the garbage disposal is not working at all or it is humming but not working, follow these steps to get to the root of the problem:
- Check the electrical connections to make sure the unit is connected to power.
- Check if the circuit breaker is not in the “off” position and you don’t have a blown fuse.
- Press the garbage disposal’s safety reset button and rerun the unit. If it runs and shuts off again, you may have a jammed impeller.
- If the impeller is jammed insert an Allen key into the bottom of the unit to turn the impeller manually.
If this doesn’t work, your garbage disposal is blocked, or the motor has burned out. Contact your plumber and have them look at the problem.
Low water pressure
If you are struggling with low water pressure in your home, take these steps to find the cause of the problem:
- If the issue is isolated to a faucet or showerhead, the faucet or showerhead could be blocked.
- Dismantle and clean the fixture or soak it in vinegar to dissolve any buildup.
- Low water pressure can be caused by a severe crimp in nearby piping. If water pressure is normal across the rest of the home, you may suspect this.
If the entire house suffers from low water pressure, there could be a blockage or leak in your main water line.
If the problem also affects your neighbors, it could be from the city water supply.
To conclude, plumbing issues are among the most damaging problems in homes.