Whats more annoying in the middle of the night the sound of a faucet dripping or the sound of a toilet that wont stop running? Both are symptoms of common problems that occur in the bathrooms plumbing system. Here are the four most common problems along with explanations as to how they develop and what you can do about them. You may just be able tackle these plumbing repairs yourself and save yourself some money.
The most common of all bathroom problems is a dripping faucet. Usually, this is due to a worn out washer. The washer can tear or dislodge leaving a small amount of water to trickle through the faucet causing that maddening dripping noise. In many cases, you can replace the washer yourself. If the drip went on long enough, it may have worn the valve out, and you would be better off calling a plumber to fix it.
Next to a dripping faucet, a running toilet is about as annoying as plumbing problems get. The most common fix is done by simply jiggling the handle after flushing the toilet. If that does not work, or it just gets too annoying to do, you can repair your toilet using a repair kit from a home improvement store. Sometimes the flapper valve is to blame for a problem which is a bit more serious. If there is a silent leak in the tank you could be straddled with higher water bills and a bigger plumbing problem that should be tackled by a professional plumber.
Have you noticed a puddle under the sink recently? Have you had to replace items stored under the sink because they became water logged? This is what happens when there is a leak in the pipes. Often, the joints which connect with large wingnut like pieces of PVC are to blame. You can perform a temporary fix by applying joint filler or compound. Make sure to contact a plumber to fix the problem permanently by replacing the pipe itself or the fittings to it. You could do the entire repair on your own, but the reason for calling in a plumber is simple. A plumber has the tools and the ability to keep messy floods from happening during the repair process. You can fix the problem temporarily to keep it from worsening, but be sure to make a plumbing appointment afterward so that the problem can be fixed for good soon.
Before you think about fixing a future drain clog, take care to prevent one from happening. Tell your family to be careful about letting hair go down the drain. Where applicable, use drain strainers in tubs and sinks. Even if you take precautions, clogs can happen. Much of the time, drain clogs can be cleared using a trusty plunger. If that does not dislodge the clog, you can turn to a ready-made drain cleaner. These have to be used with great care, but they can remove clogs of all types. The problem with them is that they are so caustic they can ruin some piping materials if you have to use them often. Be aware of the fact that a clogged drain can sometimes be due to an object that has fallen into the drain. Before you take drastic measures, remove the stopper from the drain and take a flashlight to peer into the drain. If there is something blocking it, you will see what it is and you can use a pair of tweezers to remove it and fix the clog. If you are using drain cleaners often, it is an indication that there is something bigger going on. This is a job for a professional plumber to look into more.
These four common bathroom plumbing problems are things that most any homeowner can fix with a few simple tools like a plunger, drain cleaner, and a flashlight. You can have confidence that most of these problems are problems that you can fix on your own, But, sometimes recurring issues indicate that there is a larger problem that needs to be identified and solved. For these occasions, you will want to contact your local plumber for help.
