When winter arrives, many of us naturally think about colds and flu symptoms. Sadly, people are typically less interested in the health of their plumbing system. We use our plumbing every day for a wide variety of tasks, such as drinking water, cleaning, washing, showering, bathing and supply water to our appliances. It’s a vital part of our homes, and the age of the system combined with the repairs that have been carried out are all factors on the safety of your water supply. Here are five signs that your plumbing is unhealthy and it needs some vital maintenance.
- A Slow Drain
If a drain empties slowly, it could indicate that there is a blocked pipe. A commercial chemical cleaning product may provide a quick fix, but the problem usually re-occurs within a few months. The chemicals in these cleaning products are corrosive, and they can damage your pipes and fixtures. It’s a better idea to manually remove the blockage, start with a simple plunger. If this doesn’t work an augur may be more effective. If the blockage is deeper and more persistent you should contact your local certified plumber; they will have the experience and tools to remove the clog safely.
- Discolored Water
If you have discolored brown, grimy water coming out of your faucets, there could be a problem with your water heater. This usually happens when the water heater has reached the end of its useful life, and a replacement unit is needed. If the water runs red, it could mean that iron from your galvanized pipes is leaching into your water. This type of coating was common on houses built prior to 1980, and many homes still have these pipes installed. In this case, the pipes may need to be replaced to get rid of this rusty red tinted water supply.
- A Gurgling Drain
Hearing strange sounds is generally a bad thing when it comes to plumbing systems. A gurgling sound coming from the drain is often an indication that there could be a deep blockage that is trapping air in the pipe. Once the blockage has been removed the sound will disappear for good, and a plumber can help you if you cannot remove it yourself.
- A Screeching Faucet
Sticking in the general area of weird noises, you may notice a screeching noise when you turn a faucet on. This is a sound of escaping air, the pipe is full of air and the bleed off system to remove it has stopped working. This high pitched noise can be removed by contact a certified local plumber to bleed the air out and make any necessary repairs.
- Lower Water Pressure
If your water pressure is lower than it used to be there could be a number of causes, such as an undetected water leak, a clogged pipe or a pipe that isn’t sized correctly to provide adequate water pressure. The last cause will usually be evident after a pipe replacement, and the first two could happen at any time. The source of this problem can be quickly located by a
qualified plumber, and they will be able to fix it for you.
By Giovanni Longo President Flood Brothers Plumbing
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solution.
