Five Common Household Plumbing Problems and Solutions
Plumbing problems are common in households mostly due to improper installations, inferior equipment or aging of homes. A clogged drain, a dripping faucet, a leaking toilet etc. are reasons enough to spoil your peace of mind. If you have decided to live in a rented house, you might as well check for some of these common plumbing problems and find solutions before signing up the rental agreement so that you can save hundreds of dollars out of your pocket.
Plumbing Problems and Solutions
Clogged drains and toilet bowls - Clogged drains and toilet bowls is a very common plumbing problem that requires immediate attention. You can spot a clogged drain when water backs up as you take a shower or a clogged toilet when water backs up in the toilet bowl immediately after you flush it. As you might know, a clogged drain is caused by something that blocks the drain and prevents the water from completely flowing down the drain. The usual suspects are strands of hair, small items like shampoo lids, shaving razor etc. that enter the drain and block the pipe. Similar indissoluble items also clog the toilet bowl making water impossible to flush down the pipe.
A simple tool to remove clogs is a plunger. It uses air pressure to suck the blockage out of the drain. Place the open end of the plunger over the drain and move it up and down. You can also use chemical drain cleaners in case the plunger doesn’t work. However, if the problem reoccurs, you have to hire a professional plumber to inspect the pipes for a thorough investigation.
Dripping faucets and pipes - Dripping faucets and pipes is another common problem in households. No matter how much you turn the knob tight, water will keep dripping. How annoying is that? Not only that, imagine the extra dollars you need to fork out to pay the utility bill. Moreover, the Public Utilities Board (PUB) is on a mission to reduce domestic per capita consumption of water in Singapore to 130 litres per person per day by 2030 from 141 litres reported in 2018. So, it is important for us to save water for a safer environment in the future.
A dripping faucet is a result of faulty washer that seals the tap. When damage to the washer occurs due to wear and tear, it will no longer seal tightly, thus letting water to drip from the faucet. You are advised to turn the handle of faucets with care without applying too much pressure to slow down the wear and tear. Again, the best solution is to replace the damaged washer by using the services of a trusted plumber to avoid further complications in the long-run.
Low water pressure - We sometimes face low water pressure at the sink faucet. One reason could be that your utility bill is long overdue and the authorities may have reduced the water pressure! Jokes apart, one of the most common reasons for low water pressure is a blocked aerator. Calcium builds up on the aerator over time and reduces the water pressure. You can fix this problem easily by removing the aerator and cleaning it up. Another reason is the slow building up of sediments in the pipes, faucet aerators or shower heads that slows down the natural flow of water. An experienced plumber will be able to diagnose and identify the underlying cause and restore the water pressure.
Running toilet - You may have experienced a ‘running’ toilet at some point of your life. As you know it is normal for your toilet to run for about 30 seconds to fill the tank after a flush. However, if you notice the toilet running non-stop, there is a major plumbing problem. The major cause of this problem is a faulty flapper. A flapper is a plastic or rubber cap that seals water in the tank. If the flapper is damaged, it will not hold the water at the desired level in the tank. Other major reasons are an imbalanced float valve or a leaking fill tube. We advise you to change the components of the toilet tank to stop water leakage.
Faulty water heater - Most of us can’t live without a water heater. Who doesn’t like a warm shower early in the morning before heading to work? Therefore, a malfunctioning water heater is enough to spoil the morning mood. You might notice water not heating up properly, puddles of water underneath the heater, indistinct sounds or even discoloured water discharged out of the shower. These are signs of a faulty water heater.
Water leakage is a reason for not having enough hot water. Mineral deposits and sediments in water heaters also reduce their efficiency to heat up water. Sediment deposit often causes cracking sounds in heaters. While you may be able to fix other common plumbing problems by yourself, water heaters are more complex, so you need to hire a certified plumber to fix it.
Sendhelper has professional and experienced plumbers for all your plumbing problems and solutions on-demand. Book a plumber for fixes and repairs on Sendhelper app now.
