The worst plumbing problem to have in your home is the one that happens without warning, says Shannon Management. Most plumbing issues in your home can be managed if you get some early warning signs of the impending problem. However, is it true that plumbing problems in your home can happen without warning?
The answer is NO. Most, if not all, plumbing issues in the home will always leave a telltale warning sign of the approaching disaster. The problem is that most homeowners don’t pay enough attention or don’t understand the language of their plumbing system.
As a result, even when they see the warning signs of an imminent plumbing issue in their home, they cannot interpret them. Some homeowners will ignore the signs, while others apply the wrong solution to the problem. In both cases, the plumbing problem will not be solved.
Eventually, the plumbing problem gets worse until it creates a plumbing emergency in the home. That is one of the main reasons numerous plumbing problems in homes are hidden until they have caused terrible damage to the plumbing system and the building.
Is there a way to catch plumbing issues in your home before they explode into a plumbing emergency? The key is to know how to recognize the telltale signs of problems in your plumbing. In this post, we explain seven clear early warning signs of major issues in your plumbing.
Warning signs of major plumbing issues in your home
Low water pressure
Low water pressure in your home often comes from the city water supply or your property’s plumbing. Water pressure issues from the municipal water supply will affect your neighbors’ homes. If the problem is peculiar to your house, it is probably due to a leak or blockage in your water pipes. To know the exact cause of the problem, you may want to have a professional plumber look at your plumbing.
Slow drains
Slow drains in your home are one of the most important signs of problems in your drainage system. A single slow drain is not a definite sign of a major plumbing problem in your home. However, if several drains are slow at the same time, you may be sure there is a clog, blockage, or other problem in your sewer line. A competent plumber can help you determine the exact location of the problem.
Clanging or rattling pipes
Clanging sounds from water pipes, known as a water hammer, indicate excessively high water pressure and sudden reversals or abrupt stops in the water flow. These problems send shock waves through the piping, causing them to rattle and make strange sounds. Air pockets inside the water pipes can also cause this problem. Rattling or clanging pipes are easier to detect when you have loose piping in your plumbing system.
Foul odors in your home
A bad smell emanating from your drains or plumbing fixtures is a sign that you have a clogged drainpipe. These bad odors are caused by sewer gases entering your home from the sewer line. If the drainage system functioned as it should, these gases would have escaped through the sewer line vent pipes. However, if there is a problem with the vents or the sewer line, the gases will be trapped until they eventually exit your home.
Higher water bills
Increasing water bills that cannot be explained by an increase in your home’s water usage pattern signifies that your water pipes are leaking. These leaks can be inside your home, a dripping faucet, a running toilet, a worn-out appliance hose, etc. The leak can also be in the water pipes hidden inside walls, flooring, and ceilings. A good plumber can help you pinpoint the source of the water leak in your home.
Stained walls or peeling paint/wallpaper
These are typical signs that accompany a water leak inside your walls, flooring, or ceiling. A leaky pipe in one of your walls can cause wall paint to blister and wallpaper to peel. You may also notice watermarks on your ceilings and drywall. If you see any of these signs in your home, do not try to fix the wall paint, wallpaper, or drywall until you have found the leaking pipe in your home.
A gurgling toilet
You should be worried if you hear bubbling or gurgling sounds from your toilet each time you flush it. This sound is from trapped air escaping through the water inside the toilet bowl. If air is trapped inside your drain pipes, the drainage system is blocked. The same problem can cause the water level inside the toilet bowl to rise and fall unpredictably.
Do you see some of these problems in your home? If your answer is YES, this is your cue to call a professional plumber immediately.