4 Common Home Plumbing Problems

Posted by Donald Payne on Sunday, May 29, 2022 at 6:43 AM By Donald Payne / May 29, 2022 Comment

4 Common Home Plumbing Problem

Plumbing problems within the home are not an uncommon occurrence some of them could be minor issues easily taken care of on your own while others could be more than you bargained for requiring professional help. But how do you know if you even have a problem and how big the problem is? How do you know if you need professional help?

Here are some common plumbing issues found in many homes including ways to diagnose them and the best action to take in repairing them.

Slow drain

The most common cause of water pooling up near a drain and taking its time to go down into the pipes is a clump of hair. So says the national plumbing company Roto-Rooter, which has its national headquarters based right here in Ohio.

Many times, with a slow drain there are some simple fixes. If hair is the culprit, you could try straightening out a wire coat hanger and fashioning a small half-inch hook on one end. Stick this into the drain and allow the hook to fish out the clog.

In some cases, purchasing an over-the-counter liquid to help remove the clog could be useful. If you have tried these two items and are unable to successfully remove the clog it may be time for the help of a professional plumber if you are not comfortable unscrewing a section of the pipe to inspect and find the clog.

If the clog is in your kitchen sink you will of course want to try the liquid removal options first and look for one that cuts through grease. Most often kitchen drains are clogged by large pieces of food.

Dripping faucet

If you have turned off a faucet and it is still consistently dripping even after you have turned the knob as far as possible there could be a few different causes. Most often it is due to a washer in the faucet handle that needs replacing. This can easily be replaced by removing the handle and the valve stem. Next, you can remove the washer from the valve seat and replace it with a new one that matches the circle on the valve stem.

In some cases, a dripping faucet can be caused by the O-ring in the stem of the faucet. These can also be fixed with DIY efforts. For this fix, you may want to look up some instructional videos from trusted plumbing companies online. Or get advice from an expert at your local hardware store.

Loss of water pressure

If the water pressure is low in your shower, it could simply mean that your showerhead needs some deep cleaning from mineral deposits in the water or that it needs to be replaced. If you have tried these two tasks and the water pressure is still low it could simply be the result of living in an older home. If it is none of the above it is worth calling a plumber to check and see if you might have a valve failure, a leak, or a clogged water source.

Rattling pipes

A rattling or knocking sound in pipes most often happens in older homes and is most often heard in the walls while water is moving through the pipes. This is simply because a pipe needs to be secured to the wall. If it is not a major annoyance then it may be worth it just to live with the small rattling sound. If it is a major nuisance calling in a plumber is a good idea to help you pinpoint the spot to avoid drilling several different holes in the wall.

There of course are many more plumbing issues you may run into in your home. But these are just a few of the most common issues homeowners find. Of course, if you are ever questioning something going on with your plumbing it is always best to ask the advice of a professional. Sometimes you can get great advice from pros at the hardware store and sometimes you may want to call a plumber to see if you need them to come out.

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