Top 5 Plumbing Expenses Homeowners Face
When talking about something as extensive and complex as your home’s plumbing system, it’s inevitable that there are going to be problems cropping up from time to time. It’s not a matter of if, but a matter of when! But that doesn’t mean every situation that arises requires the expertise of a professional plumber. Some do, of course, but there are plenty of issues that homeowners can tackle on their own.
Many of these things should be addressed sooner rather than later, however. Because the longer they go unchecked, the greater the chance the problem is going to increase to the point where you’ll need to call on the services of someone much more adept at dealing with plumbing issues.
So it’s really best to develop some sort of plumbing maintenance schedule and stick to it. For example, perform a maintenance check on the first of every month and make sure that everything is working as intended.
If small repairs are needed, try doing them yourself to save money. But if you do need to call a professional, don’t be afraid to do so.
Some of the more common plumbing expenses homeowners face include:
Dripping or Faulty Faucets
Besides the fact that a dripping faucet can drive you to the brink of insanity, it will also cause your water bill to go up. And who wants to see their hard-earned money going down the drain, right? This is by far one of the most common plumbing problems homeowners face.
The good news is that most of the time, this kind of repair can be handled without calling on a professional plumber. In fact, it’s one of the more popular Do It Yourself (DIY) projects in the country, at least as it relates to plumbing.
It’s probably nothing more than a stiff, torn or dislodged washer that’s allowing a tiny flow of water through and creating that annoying drip.
But you’ll want to take care of this as soon as you can as, like most issues, it can become worse over time if not addressed on a timely basis. If the leak has gone on long enough, other parts may become worn or corroded and you’ll need to call in a professional.
Low Water Pressure
If you’re once healthy water pressure has been reduced and you’re not getting the amount of water you’d like out of your pipes, this could be a small issue or it could be something much more complex.
A common cause of low water pressure is a buildup of deposits or sediment, as the water coming through your pipes carries dissolved materials that can attach to metal surfaces.
One home remedy to this situation, at least for the shower, is to attach a plastic bag filled with vinegar to the showerhead overnight and see if that clears away the buildup.
If you still notice low water pressure after trying that, then you could have a more complex issue such as a leak or a breach in the pipes leading into your home.
If this is the case, it could be damaging your home’s foundation so you’ll want to call in a professional right away to have a look.
Running Toilets
If your toilet won’t stop after flushing, it might be time to replace the inner workings of it. You may be able to do this on your own, but it could also be a bigger issue at play that you’ll need professional help with.
You can try buying a toilet repair kit from your favorite hardware store to see if that solves the issue. But it could also be a larger issue like sediment buildup or issues with the pipes leading into the toilet.
Leaky Pipes
Annoying leaks can range from a minor inconvenience to a costly nuisance, so it’s best to stay on top of these types of issues during your monthly maintenance checks.
Leaks usually happen at joints, which can be temporarily fixed by using joint fillers. But for a more permanent solution, you may need to replace a length of pipe or its fittings.
Replacing pipes under your sink can be a messy undertaking, so you should consider calling in a professional to do the job.
Clogged Drains
If water is draining slowly in your sinks, tubs or toilets, or not at all, you’ll want to address this as soon as you can. You can do this either by using a plunger or by buying a drain cleaner and clog remover from the local hardware store.
You don’t want to use these products for too long, however, as they can damage your pipes over time. So if you’re dealing with a persistent issue, it’s best to call a professional.
Once the clog is cleared, you may also want to consider installing a drain screen to prevent similar problems in the future.