As a new homeowner, you may be feeling overwhelmed when it comes to home repairs. Plumbing especially can seem scary and intimidating. However, when you know what to look for and when to call a plumber a lot of the stress can be alleviated. Here are four common plumbing problems that homeowners experience.
Dripping Faucets
Although this isn’t a particularly urgent problem it can be quite annoying and can lead to an increased water bill. While a dripping faucet may not seem like a lot of water is being wasted, one leaky faucet can actually use hundreds of gallons of water in a year. If you have a dripping faucet it is likely caused by a damaged rubber gasket inside the fixture. Replacing the gasket yourself is quite easy but if the drip has been an ongoing issue the valve inside the faucet may be damaged and that is a more complicated repair. You can find rubber seals at your local home improvement store if replacing the seal doesn’t fix your dripping faucet you may need to search “plumbing handyman Tucson” on your favorite search engine.
Slow Drains
A clog in the line is the likely culprit if you have a drain that is emptying slowly. While a plunger will remediate your immediate problem it is much more helpful to eliminate the clog. When plungers work well you may be tricked into thinking that the clog has been removed from your pipe but that’s not necessarily true. Plungers work by forcing air into the pipe to move whatever is clogging the drain however, they do not remove the clog entirely in most cases. You may be tempted to use a drain cleaner from your favorite big box store but doing so frequently can cause permanent damage to your pipes. If you are having to use the plunger or drain cleaner frequently you should consider calling a professional plumber who can find and fix the problem.
Running Toilet
Much like a dripping faucet, a running toilet can waste hundreds of gallons of water per year, running up your water bill. Inside the tank of your toilet is a flapper valve that allows fresh water into the toilet bowl when you flush. If your toilet is running the flapper valve may be worn out, the float may not be level, or the fill tube may be loose. All of these problems can be solved with a toilet repair kit which can be acquired for around $20 at your local home improvement store. The repair kits come with instructions and are easy for a homeowner to install. If your toilet is still running after installing the repair kit there may be a more complex reason that requires the help of a plumbing handyman in Tucson.
Low Water Pressure
If your water is suddenly only trickling from the faucet you are experiencing low water pressure. If your water is supplied by a water company and not a well, the problem could be happening in the lines and you should immediately call your water supplier. Another common cause of this problem is sediment buildup the aerator in your faucet. If you don’t have a filtration system the minerals in the water can get caught on metal surfaces in your plumbing and clog them. This common problem is easily fixed by simply unscrewing the aerator on your faucet and soaking it in a vinegar solution. If the low pressure is from a showerhead you can attach a plastic bag filled with the vinegar solution to it and allow it to soak overnight.
