Common Home Plumbing Problems and If You Need to Call a Plumber for Them
Plumbing problems in your home may not happen every day, but they are a part of being a homeowner. There are so many different things that could go wrong, and some are more costly and harder to fix than others. But if something does break, it is not the end of the world. Below are some of the more common home plumbing problems that you may encounter along with how to fix and even prevent them from happening in the first place.
Kitchen Plumbing Problems
Fridge Leaking Water
There are several reasons that your fridge is leaking water, some of which you may be able to fix yourself. Others may require the help of an appliance technician. Common issues that cause your fridge to leak water include: a broken seal on the fridge door, a damaged drain pan, a blockage in the defrost drain, and damage in the water supply line.
If the water is pooling in the fridge itself (or there is extra ice around the sides of the freezer), your problem is most likely a broken or damaged seal around the door. You can confirm this by closing the door on a thin piece of paper. If the paper doesn’t stay in place, you need to replace the seal. Reference your owner’s manual (or contact the manufacturer) to make sure you purchase the correct seal from your local hardware store.
If water is pooling beneath the fridge, there are several potential causes. Unplug your refrigerator and start by looking at the drain pan (often located on the back of the fridge). Remove it, clean it out, and evaluate the pan for any rust, cracks, or other damages. If there’s no damage, you can reattach it and see if cleaning it out stopped the leak. If there is damage, consider contacting a professional to replace it properly.
If you suspect the leak is coming from something more serious such as clogs or damage in the defrost drain or the water supply line, you should contact an appliance technician to come out and look at your fridge and make sure it’s properly repaired.
Sink Drain Clogged
A clogged kitchen sink can make cooking a nightmare. Your sink could be clogged for any number of reasons ranging from a buildup of food and other debris to a problem with the disposal. For the most part, these problems can be fixed on your own.
Start by running your disposal to both make sure that it’s running properly and to see if it will break up the blockage. If it is not working properly, you need to call a technician to fix it as this is most likely the source of your problem. If you feel confident in your abilities, you may be able to fix it yourself, but it is a longer process.
If your disposal is not the source of the problem, there are several other solutions you can try. Use a plunger to try and dislodge the blockage. This normally works with smaller clogs. You could also use a wet dry vacuum or an auger (plumbing snake) for a larger clog. These can be rented from many hardware stores.
Before you pour anything down your drain to clear it (boiling water, baking soda and white vinegar, etc.), make sure you know what your pipes are made of. While different liquids are great for breaking up the blockage, some can damage your pipes. Don’t pour something corrosive down your drain and make your plumbing issues worse.
General Water Damage
If there is general water damage around your kitchen sink that you can’t attribute to a specific leak, it may be coming from how you use your sink in the first place. Pay close attention to your habits while the water is on. Is water bouncing off the dishes you are cleaning and pooling in one area over and over again? Are you moving something from the sink to the counter and leaving a trail of water on the floor consistently? This is most likely the source of your problem.
In order to fix it, the first thing you need to do is change your habits. Be mindful of when water is sprayed outside of the sink and clean it up quickly. Then, evaluate the damage that has been done. Depending on how deep the water damage goes, you may need a professional to help replace what is damaged. That depends on your own skill level and what you feel comfortable doing. When in doubt, check out this handy Weather Damage Prevention Guide for more details on how to be best prepared for man-made and natural disasters.
Bathroom Problems
Sink Leaking Water
Your bathroom sink leaking water is definitely inconvenient, but in most cases, you can easily fix it yourself. The first thing you need to look at is where the leak is coming from. The three common sources of a sink leak are: the faucet, the drain pipe, and the sink basin.
If the leak is coming from the faucet, the culprit is most likely a worn down or cracked O-ring. The O-ring is located near the handle of the faucet. Before attempting to fix this, be sure to turn off the water supply to your sink. Then, disassemble the faucet and switch out the old O-ring for a new one. Make sure you purchase the correct size at your local hardware store.
If the leak is coming from the drain pipe underneath the sink, start by tightening the connections between the pipes. There is a chance that this will solve the problem. If it doesn’t, one of your pipes is most likely worn down and too old to properly seal. The pipe will need to be replaced which is as easy as unscrewing the old pipe and screwing in the new one. Make sure you turn off the water before doing this as well.
If the leak is coming from the sink basin, this is a bit more of a convoluted fix. Often this means that the seal around the sink drain flange is no longer doing its job and needs to be replaced. You’ll need to remove the drain flange and scrape out the old putty (the seal) before replacing both pieces in order to stop the leak.
Shower Leaking Water
A leaking showerhead can be annoying but is not usually the sign of something drastically wrong with your shower. The most common causes of a leaking showerhead are a buildup of minerals on the showerhead itself and a worn down rubber washer. Both of these are easily fixable without the help of a professional.
Cleaning off the mineral buildup is simple, however the exact process may vary depending on what your showerhead is made of. You’ll remove your showerhead and soak it in a liquid for at least 30 minutes (usually this liquid is white vinegar but could be different due to your showerhead). After it has soaked, you’ll rinse it off and use an old toothbrush (or something similar) to remove any stubborn buildup.
The rubber washer is located in the showerhead itself and serves as a seal for the showerhead, preventing water from leaking while the shower is running. If it seems worn down or broken, this is the cause of your problem. A new one can be purchased at your local hardware store, and you can easily switch the old out for the new.
Shower Water Pressure
While not often a critical issue as other problems on this list are, weak water pressure can be a serious annoyance when it comes to showering. Common causes for this are a mineral buildup on the shower head itself and a closed shower valve.
Both of these problems you can easily fix on your own. The process of cleaning your showerhead was discussed in the previous section. Be sure to use the best cleaning liquid for your specific showerhead. If one of your shower valves is closed, you can open it yourself. All valves should always be fully open to allow maximum water pressure.
If you’ve done both of these and your water pressure is still weak, you may need to look into replacing something. Both the shower hose and the showerhead wear down over time, and you can replace both easily on your own. If the problem persists, you may need to look into upgrading the pipes in your home, which does require the help of a professional.
Tub Leaking Water
If you notice that your tub is leaking water after use, you need to take action immediately. Continual use of your tub and shower while it leaks can lead to water damage in the floor or walls (depending on the source of the leak). Common sources of a leak like this are a faulty overflow drain and cracks or gaps in the caulking around the tub.
If the leak is coming from a faulty overflow drain, there is a chance you could fix it yourself, assuming it’s a minor leak. There are “bathtub overflow repair” kits that you can purchase at your local hardware store that contain everything you need. Review the instructions. If you feel comfortable doing it yourself, go ahead. If not, consider calling a plumber because the damage of a sustained leak could be costly to fix down the road.
If the leak is coming from cracks or gaps in the caulking around the tub, there is a chance you could fix this yourself as well. You can purchase the necessary tools from a hardware store to redo the caulking. Again, this will depend on your skillset and comfortability if you choose to do this yourself or if you hire a plumber to do it for you. Only you can know which option is best.
In either case, if you suspect that the leak has been going on for a while without you noticing, you should call a plumber to investigate the water damage done to your home.
Tub Drain Clogged
A slow to drain tub may not seem like a huge problem (and it really isn’t), but over time the blockage will grow until your tub isn’t draining at all. Most tub drain clogs are caused by a buildup of hair, dirt, soap, and other debris. This can easily be cleared without calling a plumber.
First, try getting the debris loose manually. Use a plunger or a hair snake (both available at your local hardware store) to get the debris moving. Some parts of a hair snake can be sharp, so be careful when using it.
If that doesn’t work, now you’ll need to pour some sort of drain cleaner down your drain to help break up the debris. There are numerous types of drain cleaners to choose from. You can even make one at home with a combination of baking soda and white vinegar. An important thing to keep in mind when pouring cleaners down your drain is the type of pipes you have. More extreme or even corrosive drain cleaners may clear your pipes of debris, but they may damage your pipes in the process. Start with using the less acidic cleaners to protect your pipes.
HVAC Problems
If water is leaking from the base of your HVAC system or out of the ceiling vents, there are a few reasons this could be happening. The drain line or air filter could be dirty or clogged with other debris. Your HVAC system could be low on refrigerant. If your system is older, there is a chance your drain pan is cracked or rusted.
When you notice the leak, the first step is to turn off the unit. Once off, investigate to see where the leak is coming from. If your air filter is dirty, you can replace it yourself. If your drain line is clogged, you could use a wet dry vacuum to try and dislodge the debris. Empty your drain pan and see if there are any signs of cracks or rust. If there are, that will need to be replaced.
If you have done the above and the leak persists, you should consider calling a professional. Consistent leaking may be a sign of a larger issue in your unit and could cause more water damage to the surrounding area. Routine maintenance is key to keeping your HVAC system running smoothly. Whether you check it yourself or hire a professional to check on it periodically, it is important that any issues are caught and addressed early to avoid significant damage.
Unseen Problems
Wall Water Damage
Water damage to your walls may be your worst nightmare as a homeowner and for good reason. In many cases, the water damage that you can see is only a small part of what is actually damaged within your wall. Mold and mildew often grow and can cause health issues if left unattended. Once you notice the damage, you should get it fixed as soon as possible.
Fixing water damage is complicated and depends on where the damage came from, how long it’s been there, what it damaged, the type of water damage, etc. If you’re not sure if you have the skillset to do this (and you’re looking for this article to tell you how), you should probably hire a professional to fix the damage. Depending on the extent of the damage, they can be costly, but you will not risk making a mistake or making it worse by doing it yourself. However, there are ways that you can waterproof parts of your house to prevent water from leaking and damaging things in the future.
Discolored Water Output
Discolored water can be offputting when you first see it, but it’s not the end of the world. Usually, the brown discoloration comes from rust in either your pipes or your HVAC unit, but it could also be a problem with the source of your water as well.
If your water comes from a centralized, public system (ex. your city’s water supply), the discoloration could be from work that has been recently done on their system. Usually, it will clear up in a few hours. If it doesn’t (and this is the cause), you will be informed via something like a “boil water advisory”. If your water comes from a well, it is likely that the discoloration comes from rainwater and debris infiltrating the well. In this case, the water is not safe to drink, and you should immediately have the well looked at and cleared out.
If neither of those apply, the source of your discolored water is most likely rust somewhere in your plumbing system. Depending on the extent of the rust, you will either need to repair or fully replace the rusted parts. At this point, you should call a professional to come investigate your plumbing system and fix what is wrong.
Pipe Burst
This problem tends to be obvious. A loud noise and spraying water tend to draw a lot of attention. The first thing you need to do is shut off the water at the main water valve. Once the water is no longer flowing, you need to call a plumber. They will be able to evaluate what broke and fix or replace what is needed to make your home good as new.
Maintenance Habits
Regular home maintenance can feel daunting, but the cost of fixing the issues can be even more so. While regular maintenance habits may not prevent every single one of the problems that were mentioned above, implementing the following maintenance habits can help you catch problems earlier and hopefully lower those fixing costs.
Keep Drains Clear
Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing problems that people have. Repeated clogged drains could lead to pipe damage, so it is important to make sure they stay as clear as possible. Consider using a filter or strainer in your drains to catch debris such as food bits in your kitchen sink or hair in your tub.
Also be considerate of the types of liquids you are pouring down your drains. Thicker or congealing liquids such as grease often get stuck within the pipes. While it may not be immediately obvious, this will build up over time and cause the drain to clog. Try to keep the liquid going down your drains to the types that you know won’t get stuck.
Winterizing Your Pipes
Outdoor water faucets can be great in the warmer months but may cause issues in the colder months if not properly prepared. When the temperatures start to drop, it’s time to winterize your pipes. Close off the water to your hose, sprinkler system, and any other outdoor water source you may have. Be sure to drain any water that may be stuck in those hoses and put them away for the winter to prevent them from freezing.
Know Where Your Water Shut Off Is
Your water shut off valve is an important piece of equipment in your plumbing system. It’s important to know where this is if you (or a plumber) are doing any work on your plumbing system. It can also come in handy in case of an emergency, like a busted pipe, to stop damage from getting worse before you can fix what went wrong.
Regular Inspections
Keeping an eye on your plumbing infrastructure is an easy way to catch signs of plumbing problems as they happen and before they get worse. This can be a dedicated time you set aside monthly to look at your system, or it can be you keeping an eye on things as you go about your day. Either way, it’s important for you to keep an eye on things to keep your home’s plumbing working as it should.
There are a lot of things that can go wrong within your home’s plumbing system, but it’s just a part of being a homeowner. Regular inspections and preventative maintenance are key to keeping everything running smoothly. When things go wrong, take care of them quickly to avoid even more damage to your home.
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