A well-functioning plumbing system provides homes with clean water for bathing, drinking, cooking, and cleaning. The plumbing system also provides a clean and safe channel to remove waste from the home. These are essential services practically everyone has come to expect and rely on upon without a second thought.
However, when there is a problem with your plumbing, such as a leaky toilet or broken pipe, the wheels start turning quickly in your mind with lots of questions and concerns. Though, some plumbing problems aren’t as obvious as a clogged kitchen sink. So, how do you tell if you have a plumbing problem that requires a professional plumber? Here’s how:
Pipe Age and Material
Spanning the decades, plumbing pipes have been manufactured from several types of materials. Each pipe material brought its own strengths and weaknesses. For example, very old homes typically had waste pipes made of cast iron. While cast iron is very strong, it is susceptible to rust. So, when repairing or repiping the plumbing in older and newer homes, plumbers typically use PEX (cross-linked polyethylene) to replace iron and to replace galvanized steel and PVC.
Water Stains
Inspect all of the ceilings, walls, and floors in your home. If you see water stains, then you likely have either leaky plumbing, a failed water heater or plumbing fixtures, or a roof leak. Roof leaks don’t just sprout up overnight unless your home has been through a very severe storm. Water stains on walls and floors near a plumbing fixture typically indicate a hidden pipe leak. Call your trusted plumber.
Paint and Wallpaper Problems
As you are inspecting all of the walls, floors, and ceilings in your home, keep an eye out for peeling or blistering paint and wallpaper. These issues are sure signs of water leaks within the walls, ceilings, and/or floors.
Water Discoloration
Water coming from your plumbing faucets and fixtures should be clean and clear. However, over time, water can extract minerals, sediment, and rust from the pipes. If the water isn’t crystal clear in your home, call your plumber. For example, brown and yellow water are indicators of rusty pipes. Green-tinted water indicates corrosion inside copper pipes. Cloudy water usually means there is air in the pipes.
Water Puddles On Floors
Water puddles on floors typically stem from leaky pipes under sinks, clogged floor drains, leaky floor drains (e.g. failed gaskets in shower and toilet drains), or a leaky water heater. If you suspect leaky pipes or floor drain problems, discontinue use of nearby fixtures until your plumber arrives. If you see water puddling underneath or near your water heater, consider this an emergency situation. You don’t want your water heater to rupture and spill dozens of gallons of water in your home requiring extensive water damage cleanup. Call your plumber right away!
Soggy Spots In Yard
Soggy spots in your yard are indicators of a corroded or ruptured sewer line or problems with your septic tank, whichever the case may be in your situation. Either problem is a serious plumbing situation and health hazard that should be remedied ASAP. Other indicators of sewer line or septic problems are greener grass pinpointing the waste leak area and a tree near the soggy area, which would indicate tree root penetration.
Rising Water Bills
Unusually higher water usage and higher water bills are indicators you have a hidden leak in the plumbing system. Hidden leaks can cause extensive and quite expensive damage to your home’s structure, building materials, and your personal possessions.
Running Toilet, Leaky Toilet
Who hasn’t had a running toilet before? You wiggle and jiggle the handle, but the toilet, sooner or later, takes off running again! A running toilet means that water inside the tank is leaking into the flush valve due to a problem with the flapper, chain, or sediment build-up.
If you notice water on the floor around your toilet, the leak is likely from either the water shutoff valve or worn gaskets inside the toilet tank. Another common reason for toilet water leaks is from a worn-out wax gasket. All of these problems are best remedied by your pro plumber.
If you have a plumbing problem or water damage in your home, call the professionals at MN Roto-Rooter Plumbing and Water Cleanup. We’re available 24/7 and we never charge overtime! So, when you need an emergency plumber or plumbing maintenance, contact us online or call (320) 207-1079!
