What Are the Most Common Plumbing Problems?
No matter how well the plumber installed the pipes when constructing your home, plumbing issues are an inevitable part of owning a home that each homeowner will have to deal with. Your plumbing system works hard behind the scenes in your home, providing water for your taps and appliances. But sometimes, it can develop problems that could require professional service. Common plumbing problems can lead to many issues, from relatively minor issues like dripping faucets or a running toilet to a major sewer backup.
While some plumbing problems in your home come with normal wear and tear on plumbing equipment or aging fixtures, others may be caused by how certain systems are used and maintained.
Do you need to call a Ventura plumber, or can you DIY fix the plumbing problems yourself? Do you have the tools, skills, and patience to pull it off? It depends on several factors, such as experience and budget.
Here we go through the five most common plumbing problems, what causes them, and how you can fix them.
Are you dealing with any plumbing problem at your Ventura home and need help now? Don’t hesitate to reach out to Gallegos Plumbing at (805) 243-2622. We’d be happy to help!
Table of Contents
- Dripping Faucets And Leaky Pipes
- Clogged Drains And Toilets
- Water Heater Issues
- Low Water Pressure
- Running Toilet
1. DRIPPING FAUCETS AND LEAKY PIPES
According to the EPA, leaky faucets are the most common plumbing issue plaguing homeowners. But even though they’re common, we recommend promptly fixing any leaky faucets. That way, you’ll avoid wasting hundreds of gallons of water and your hard-earned money.
It’s crucial to locate the cause and repair it as soon as possible because unrepaired leaks cause more significant problems later. Allowing a faucet or a pipe to keep leaking can cause further damage to plumbing or even flooding and damage to your home. While dripping faucets are simple to detect, it isn’t the same case for leaky pipes, which can cause massive damage if you do not discover the problem soon enough. Since pipe leaks often go unnoticed, you often find leaking pipes after they have been leaking for a while.
What Causes the Problem:
The most common cause of leaky and dripping faucets is when the washer that forms the seal around the tap is damaged. The damage is often caused by wear-and-tear over time and may entail ripping, dislodging, or stiffening. When the washer is damaged, the seal is no longer effective, allowing small amounts of water to drip into the sink. Pipe leaks, on the other hand, often develop around plumbing joints. Pipe leaks are mainly caused by corrosion, shifting, high water pressure, or other damage.
How to Fix Dripping Faucets and Leaky Pipes
In most Ventura dripping faucets, replacing the worn-out washer may solve the problem. While a washer replacement seems like a quick DIY job for handy individuals, you need to have the proper tools for the job. Certified Ventura County plumbers already possess all the specialty tools required to properly detect leaks and fix dripping faucets or leaky pipes. Typically, botched DIY attempts to repair pipe leaks often leave homeowners with a huge mess and avoidable water damage.
How to Avoid Dripping Faucets and Leaky Pipes
Unfortunately, normal wear and tear on plumbing fixtures from frequent use is inevitable. The best you can do is go easy on your faucet knobs and handles, avoiding exerting excessive pressure when turning your faucets on and off. Leaky pipes are even more challenging to prevent, but regular visual inspections will help you detect leaks earlier.
When to Call a Plumber
Call Gallegos Plumbing for Ventura County plumbing services for a dripping faucet repair if DIY plumbing problems are not your forte. We’ll promptly send the best plumber Ventura County has to offer to repair your faucet or complete other plumbing services.
2. CLOGGED DRAINS AND TOILETS
One of the most infuriating plumbing problems Ventura homeowners have to deal with is clogged drains and toilets. No matter what is causing the clog, it’s always frustrating when it happens. The good news is that you can prevent severe clogs from forming in your pipes and drains. Before explaining how you can fix and avoid clogs in your plumbing, we’ll need to go through what causes drain clogs in the first place.
What Causes the Problem
Kitchen sink drains get clogged when cooking oil or grease solidifies along the drainpipe walls. Add soap scum and un-dissolved food particles into the mix, and you’ve got a stubborn, gunky clog. Clogged toilets mainly happen when people flush down items that do not dissolve or break apart in water, such as:
- Feminine hygiene products
- Dental floss
- Diaper wipes
- Cotton-tipped swabs
How to Fix Clogged Drains and Toilets
To fix a clogged drain or toilet, use a drain plunger, remembering to block the overflow drain in your sink or tub. If the plunger is ineffective, you can try using an inexpensive hand-powered drain auger. While unpleasant to use, a hand auger can reach up to five feet down the toilet’s drainpipe to break up the clog or retrieve things.
How to Avoid Clogging Drains and Toilets
Toilet paper is the only paper or hygiene product that you should flush down your toilet, and even then, you should use it in moderation. You can avoid kitchen sink clogs by disposing of large amounts of kitchen oil and grease in the garbage, not down the drain. Also, don’t put food scraps like eggshells, coffee grounds, tea leaves, pasta, or rice down the disposal.
The optimum way to avoid a clogged drain is by being proactive. Protect your drains from annoying clogs and damage over time with regular drain cleaning services from Gallegos Plumbing.
When to Call a Plumber
If slow or blocked drains constantly plague your home, have a plumber inspect the plumbing to determine if the drain line was designed and installed correctly. Also, if there is a constant unpleasant odor in your home, contact a professional Ventura plumbing service immediately.
3. WATER HEATER ISSUES
Since your homestead utilizes the water heater daily, it is not unusual for common water heater problems to crop up. Fortunately, tank-style water heaters consist of a minimal number of parts. You may be able to do DIY water heater testing and repair without calling a professional.
What Causes the Problem
Issues with electric water heaters that either produce little or no heat develop because of a failed heating element, which is a cheap part that is relatively easy to replace. Other problems may be leaks, improper settings, corrosion, mineral deposits, high home water pressure, or a lack of tank maintenance.
How to Fix Water Heater Issues
Several issues can cause water leaks. These include a faulty T&P relief valve, a leak from a nearby plumbing connection, a bad gasket, loose heating element bolts, overheating, a stuck valve, a leaking water tank, or improper pressure. To fix water heater leaks, check for loose plumbing connections and tighten them to reduce the leak. If your heating element keeps leaking, you will probably need to replace the gasket (we recommend hiring a professional plumber in Ventura for this).
If your water heater produces odd noises, sediment buildup is likely the problem. If the weird noises persist after flushing your water heater, or if there is too much sediment buildup, contact us – you may need a water heater replacement.
How to Avoid Water Heater Issues
You need to drain and flush traditional tank water heaters at least twice annually because sediment can settle inside the tank. Be sure to look around the tank occasionally to check for leaks that could indicate a bigger problem. Of course, you can avoid water tank leak issues altogether by replacing your unit with a tankless water heater. The modern equipment lasts about twice as long and takes about one-quarter of your traditional tank water heater’s space.
When to Call a Plumber
In most cases, you don’t want to touch your water heater problems unless it’s a simple fix, such as adjusting your water heater thermostat or relighting the pilot light. Problems with gas water heaters can pose a safety threat to your family, so you need to call a plumber immediately.
4. LOW WATER PRESSURE
We’ve all probably dealt with clogged drains and leaky pipes that are bad enough to call in a drain repair specialist. But what if the issue isn’t with the water draining but rather with the amount of water? Is the unexplainable low water pressure driving you crazy? Let us help you diagnose and fix the issue.
What Causes the Problem
There are five leading causes of low water pressure in your home. These are:
- Damaged pressure regulator
- Blockage in pipes or faucets
- Partially closed water meter valve or primary shutoff valve
- Water distributor issues
- Pipe leaks
There is probably a water main break if your neighbors are also suddenly experiencing low water pressure.
How to Fix Low Water Pressure
Are you experiencing water pressure issues only in the shower? Unscrew the aerator and place it in vinegar for several hours to loosen the buildup. If there is a low water pressure issue throughout your home, ensure that the water meter valve and primary shutoff valve are fully open.
How to Avoid Low Water Pressure
Consider installing a filtration system to keep minerals out of your pipes and fixtures to avoid future buildup. Also, check your pipes regularly to find and repair leaks early before they turn into a huge problem.
When to Call a Plumber
You need to call Ventura County plumbers if the water pressure decreases suddenly or you can’t find the source of the problem because this signals that you likely have a leaking pipe. If the water pressure gradually decreases but the issue isn’t in your aerators, you are probably dealing with a buildup or corrosion issue in your pipes. Contact Gallegos Plumbing for help replacing or repairing damaged pipes in Ventura County.
5. RUNNING TOILET
One of the most annoying problems one might face regarding their Ventura County bathroom plumbing is a toilet that won’t stop running. It is a nuisance to the ear and will significantly cost you the excess water you aren’t using.
What Causes the Problem
Toilets that won’t stop running may have one of these three issues:
- The flapper is leaking and needs replacing
- The float height needs adjusting
- The refill tube needs shortening
How to Fix a Running Toilet
Before doing anything else, confirm that the refill tube isn’t too long and is positioned well in the overflow tube. If you can spot overflow water leaking from the tank via the overflow tube, you must adjust the float’s height. To lower the amount of water in a toilet with a float arm, tighten or loosen the screw until the float arm drops. If you have an old flapper that needs replacing, remove the old one and replace it with a new one.
How to Avoid a Running Toilet
Regularly inspect the components to ensure they all work correctly.
When to Call a Plumber
Have you replaced the troublesome components, but your toilet won’t stop running? Contact a professional Ventura County plumber such as Gallegos Plumbing today!
Call the Ventura County Plumbing Experts!
Having a trustworthy Ventura County plumber on speed dial is ideal. Are you looking for professional and reliable plumbers in Ventura County? Look no further than the highly-trained, licensed, and certified plumbers at Gallegos Plumbing. Gallegos Plumbing can help you devise the right solution to your plumbing problem and help you prevent future issues.
Gallegos Plumbing offers plumbing repairs, installations, and planned maintenance as a full-service plumbing company in Ventura. We offer emergency plumbing services such as leak detection, drain cleaning, gas line repair, hydro jetting, and water heater repair.
You can schedule service days in advance or call us last-minute if it’s an emergency — because we’re available for all of your plumbing needs!
Contact Gallegos Plumbing anytime you have questions, need a quote, or an emergency fix.