5 Common Plumbing Problems And How To Fix!

Picture of man calling a plumber | Letsgo TNT Gas & Heating Engineers

5 Common Plumbing Problems And How To Fix!

Plumbing problems can be a major headache for homeowners. From clogged drains to burst pipes, plumbing issues can be costly and time-consuming to repair.

Knowing what the most common plumbing problems are can help you identify and address them quickly, saving you money and hassle in the long run.

We at Letsgo TNT Gas & Heating Engineers are at your service should you have any plumbing problems that need attention.

In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the most common plumbing problems and how to fix them!

 

Plumbing Problems 1: Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are one of the most common plumbing issues that homeowners face. Hair, soap scum, food particles, grease, and other debris can build up in your pipes over time and cause your drains to become clogged. If left untreated, these clogs can cause water to back up into your sink, shower or tub, resulting in a messy clean up job.

To prevent clogs from forming in your drains, it’s important to regularly clean out any debris that may be stuck in the pipes. You should also avoid pouring grease or food particles down your drain as these can easily accumulate over time and cause a blockage.

 

clogged drains

 

Herer are a few simple ways to unclog your drains:

1:  Baking Soda and Vinegar are two of the most effective natural cleaners that you can use in any clogged drain within your home. We suggest that you mix the baking soda into a cup with some vinegar.

When mixing the baking soda and vinegar, they should start to fizz straight away so you should waste no time and pour it straight down your blocked drain. Let it sit for an hour or so then flush out with some hot water.

2:  If you are environmentally friendly try a biological cleaner? These cleaners use enzymes which break through any blockages but they do have limited power in contrast to harsh chemical cleaners.

If the biological cleaner doesn’t work, you could then revert to a chemical cleaner to remove the more stubborn grime blocking your drain.

3:  The good old fashioned plunger. This is an old-school technique that you should try before calling out a plumber. Plungers are a brilliant way for sucking up any blockages in your drains.

They do require some strength and persistence at times and might take a few tries but they have been successful for decades in clearing household drains.

 

Plumbing Problems 2: Leaking Pipes

Leaking pipes are another common plumbing problem that homeowners face. Leaks can occur due to corrosion or damage to the pipe itself or due to loose connections between two pieces of pipe. Leaks can lead to water damage in your home if left untreated for too long so it’s important to address them as soon as possible.

To prevent leaks from occurring in your home, it’s important to inspect all of your pipes regularly for signs of corrosion or damage and replace any worn out pipe as required. Additionally, you should check all of the connections between two pieces of pipe for any signs of wear or loosening over time.

Depending on the leak, you might be able to apply some putty or a piece of rubber and a jubilee clip to the leaky pipe before calling out a plumber to fix it. At least this way you are slowing down the process of any leak causing more damage to your property.

 

Here is an interesting statistic from ofwat regarding the cost of a water leak. Click here.

 

Plumbing Problems 3: Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure is another issue that many homeowners experience with their plumbing systems. Low water pressure can be caused by a variety of factors such as corroded pipes, mineral buildup in the pipes, or even an issue with the main water supply line leading into your home.

If you notice that you have low water pressure throughout your house, it’s important to contact a professional plumber who can diagnose and fix the issue quickly before it becomes worse over time.

 

Plumbing Problems 4: Running Toilets

Running toilets are another common plumbing problem that many homeowners experience and can be a great nuisance. Running toilets are usually caused by worn out flapper valves which allow water to continuously flow into the toilet bowl without stopping when it should be shut off after flushing has been completed.

Replacing these valves is typically an easy fix but if you don’t feel comfortable doing this yourself then it’s best to call a professional plumber who will be able to do this job quickly and efficiently for you.

 

Plumbing Problems

 

Plumbing Problems 5: Leaking Taps

Having a leaking tap is a common plumbing problem that occurs in many UK homes and can be an easy fix by just having to change a washer or even only need to tightem the tap.

However, if the tap is old, it might be cheaper to replace it with a new tap.  A leaking tap will not flood your house as it hangs over a sink or bathtub, but if you do have a leaking tap, we recommend that you get it fixed as soon as you can.

If you are on a water meter, this could likely increase your bill so it would be adviseable to have it fixed sooner rather than later. If your plumber can’t get to fix your leaking tap in short notice,  it might be prudent to shut off the supply to that tap by using a flathead screwdriver to turn off the valve that supplies the cold water going into it.

If there is no shut off valve for this tap, you might need to shut off the water at the mains to stop the leaking tap from wasting any more water.

 

leaking tap

Conclusion

As you have read in this blog post, plumbing problems can be a real nuisance and headache for homeowners but knowing what some of the most common issues are can help you identify them quickly so they don’t become worse over time.

You have been shown how to clear clogged drains, deal with leaking pipes, how to identify low water pressure and generally how to look out for any plumbing problems in your home.

We hope that you enjoyed reading this blog post and got some value from it. We would love it if you could share this information with friends and family to also help them identify how to deal with plumbing problems in the home.

If you have any plumbing problems but don’t feel confident fixing them yourself, please contact us here.

Download Our Guide

New Client?

Get 1st Exam
For Free