There are plenty of home fixes and upgrades that are going to need your attention over time. You may even have a little checklist of tasks that you want to get around to. While it’s important to take your time to make sure you get all of those taken care of, when it comes to your vital utilities, such as your plumbing, you shouldn’t always be so content to have it wait its turn. The costs of unfixed plumbing issues can get prohibitive, and they can even affect the health and safety of your home. Let’s take a look at some of the issues that you should fix without delay.
Leaky Faucets
Sometimes, a leaky faucet may be something that isn’t too difficult to fix. A worn-out washer is something most of us can replace ourselves with a little practice and learning. However, regardless of how minor the leak might seem, it can lead to gallons of wasted water, which will also increase your utility bills. More importantly, that constant leak could signal worn-out washers or deeper pipe issues. Left unfixed, it can cause water stains, mold growth, or corrosion around sinks and fixtures. The good thing is that a leaky faucet is usually a relatively easy and quick fix, even if you have to invest in replacing some of your plumbing.
Drain Dilemmas
If you find that you have any problems with your drain, whether it’s your sink, shower, or tub draining too slowly, or even blocking with no obvious obstruction, you should never ignore it. Typically, this means that a clog is forming in your pipes. Over time, debris like hair, grease, and soap scum can build up, leading to complete blockages. Needless to say, this can be highly inconvenient, but it can also be dangerous, leading to pressure building up in your pipes, which may eventually cause them to crack or burst, meaning you should get a plumbing professional out there ASAP. If you have ongoing drainage issues, it may even lead to backflow, with dirty water coming right back up into your home. Don’t wait for that worst-case scenario.
Running Toilets
This isn’t a joke with the punchline “you better go catch it.” Running toilets can be a lot more serious than they look, even if they look pretty harmless. Even if your toilet is able to drain the water consistently running into it, this can lead to hundreds of gallons of water being wasted a day, which you’re definitely going to feel on your water bill. The cause is often a faulty flapper, worn valve, or a problem with the float. These parts are inexpensive to replace, and ignoring them only makes the problem worse. In some cases, a running toilet may also indicate problems with your water pressure, which we’ll get into next.
Low Water Pressure
Whether it’s a running toilet or you’re not seeing as much gusto from your faucets or showerheads, you may be having a problem with low water pressure. Aside from being an inconvenience, however, this could be a symptom of serious issues, from a sediment buildup in your pipes, to corroded plumbing, to a leak somewhere in your home that you haven’t found yet. In homes with older pipes, low pressure could mean it’s time for a plumbing upgrade. Ignoring the issue can lead to worsening blockages or burst pipes, which are going to be significantly more expensive to fix. With the help of a professional plumber, you should diagnose and treat the cause of low water pressure as soon as you can.
Strange Noises In The Pipes
If you hear any strange noises in your pipes, you should keep an ear out to see if you hear them again. Banging, gurgling, or even whistling sounds in the pipes aren’t likely to be ghosts in the house, but rather plumbing issues. Whether it’s air in the pipes, loose fittings, or impending blockages, they should be addressed before too long. Water hammer is a loud banging noise that can occur when water flow is suddenly stopped, stressing your pipes and joints. If ignored, these noises can lead to damaged fixtures or broken pipes. Any loud noises should be checked out with the help of a professional. If they tell you it’s nothing to worry about, then you can accept it as a part of your home.
Water Stains
If you start to see a water stain on the ceiling or the wall, it typically means only one thing: there’s a leak somewhere in your home. These stains can indicate anything from a slow drip in a pipe to a major issue with your roof or upstairs bathroom plumbing. Left alone, leaks can lead to mold, rot, and costly structural damage. As soon as you see a stain or feel dampness in your ceiling or wall, you should act quickly. When you can see it, it usually means that the leak has been going for some time to make it to the surface, and the longer you wait, the more water damage you may have to repair.
Sewer Odors
Walking into the bathroom to catch a bad smell coming from the toilet might not always be totally unexpected, but if those smells have a tint of sewage to them, or you hear gurgling sounds coming from your toilets or drains, you should be ready to act ASAP. These problems can be a sign of issues with your home’s sewer line or ventilation system. A blocked sewer pipe can lead to dangerous backflow or expose your household to harmful bacteria. These problems can get serious quickly and can be very expensive if you don’t take care of them quickly. Acting now to fix it could prevent a full-blown sewage back up, which can be a water damage and hygiene nightmare.
Basically, if there’s something wrong with your plumbing, you shouldn’t wait too long to get it checked by a pro. Not every issue is going to be an imminent danger, but it’s not worth taking the risk.
