5 Common plumbing issues

Everyone who’s ever owned a home knows the stomach-dropping, spine-tingling feeling when you hear that “drip, drip, drip.” Whether it’s a plumbing issue, a leaking roof, or something else, it’s often a sign something’s wrong, something that could be very expensive. But before you call the plumber, let’s talk about some of the common plumbing issues that cause dripping, mold, and everything in between.

Clogged toilet and drain

Common symptoms are water draining slowly, backing up out of the drain, pervasive bad smells, and toilets not flushing properly. But overflowing water receptacles can quickly produce water damage, too, if you’re not paying attention.¹

Clogs are one of the most common toilet problems homeowners face, but they’re often resolved (and avoided) quite easily. Causes of a clogged toilet are usually related to unsafe materials being flushed, things like paper towels, sanitizing wipes and large objects.² A plunger is usually all you’ll need to fix the problem, but if that’s insufficient, then it might be time to call the plumber, especially if more than one toilet is clogged.¹

Causes of clogged drains are similar – solid objects falling down the drain or excess hair collecting inside. Plungers work to resolve drain clogs too, and you can buy products or create homemade cleaning solutions like baking soda and vinegar that dissolve the clog when poured down the drain. You can also avoid most drain clogs by placing a hair catcher over your drain and cleaning it off daily. As with a clogged toilet, you should always leave things to your plumber if these basic methods don’t work. ¹

Dripping faucet and pipe

Dripping varies in severity depending on where it’s coming from. Dripping from the faucet? Annoying for you and your water bill, but not disastrous. Dripping from a pipe? It's probably time to call the plumber.

Let’s start with the less severe issue. What causes a leaky faucet? In faucets, there’s typically a washer, a disc forming a tight seal that prevents water from escaping until desired; that washer can deteriorate over time, leading to a slow drip of water as it slips through the ailing seal. Washers are your primary defense against dripping, so it’s no surprise the cause of a leaky faucet is often related. If you’ve got the know-how, a dripping faucet can be a DIY repair job, but your plumber is also more than capable of handling the task.³

Pipes are a different story. If you can figure out where the leak is, temporary solutions like plumber’s tape, pipe clamps, and putty patches may mitigate short-term damage.⁴ But if you don’t know how to find a leak in a pipe, time spent searching for it just gives water damage more time to spread. Immediately call your plumber if you hear dripping inside your walls or ceilings, especially in winter when the risk of frozen pipes is higher. To stop the leak, you can shut off the main water valve for your home. If you don’t know where the main shut-off valve is located, a plumber can help find it or replace it.

Low water pressure in the house

Low water pressure may mean weak water flow or no water flow altogether. Check your whole home to see if the problem is localized before proceeding. Causes of low water pressure can be as simple as a blockage; the solution may be as simple as unscrewing the shower and faucet heads and cleaning out the aerators if the issue exists in only some of your fixtures. If the problem persists throughout your whole home, it’s likely a job for your plumber.⁵

Water heater issues

Common water heater problems can range from leaks to an extinguished pilot light. If your only issue is a pilot light going out or the breaker connected to your heater tripping, you may be able to resolve the problem on your own.

Water heaters innately pose some safety risk, so you may want to consult your plumber if an issue arises.⁵ To better prepare for the next incident, ask your plumber about the unit, such as how to clean a water heater. Sediment buildup inside the heater is another cause of hot water failure, and knowing how to flush it out may resolve the issue.⁶

Toilet keeps running

“Why does my toilet keep running?” Plumbers have been fielding this one since the dawn of modern plumbing. And it’s generally a good thing when your toilet runs after flushing – it needs to refill the tank to allow it to flush next time.

But if a toilet seems to run endlessly, then it’s time for a closer look. Try opening the toilet tank behind the bowl and locate the main drain pipe at the bottom of the tank. This pipe should have a lid or flapper over it that normally seals it off between flushes. If the flapper isn’t sealing the main drain pipe, the toilet will continuously try to keep filling. You can then try to move the lid onto the pipe to fix the issue or replace it if it’s old and corroded.

Of course, that’s not the only cause of a running toilet. Sometimes, a part like the flush valve or overflow tube (the upward-facing pipe) needs to be replaced.⁷ In these cases, or if you can’t identify or otherwise resolve the source of the problem, you guessed it, call your plumber.

How to find a plumber

Knowing how to find a good plumber can sometimes be as challenging as fixing the issue in the first place, but the best place to start is the town you live in. Plumbing issues can escalate quickly, and you don’t want to wait over an hour for a plumber three towns over to arrive.

When you’ve found one, make sure they’re certified. Handymen can take care of minor issues like dripping faucets, but more serious jobs require a professional. Before you call, make sure you have a reasonable grasp of the situation. Your plumber will have some questions for you about the problem you have, and they’ll have an easier time doing their job if they have some basic information.⁸

While you wait for the plumber to arrive, check if your homeowners insurance is up to date. Plumbing issues can cause serious damage, but a reliable protection plan may be able to help offset some of the costly repairs you need. Get an obligation-free quote from Nationwide today.

You can also look into smart home leak detection. These devices can monitor areas likely to experience a leak, such as near your water heater. Some devices can shut off the water when a large leak is detected, saving the homeowner from a potential disaster. Learn about Nationwide’s smart home program today.

Sources:
[1] “16 Common Plumbing Problems and How to Resolve Them,” angi.com/articles/plumbing-problems.htm (Accessed March 2024)
[2] “5 Reasons Your Toilet Keeps Clogging,” thespruce.com/reasons-why-toilets-clog-4145061 (Accessed March 2024)
[3] “How to Fix a Leaky Faucet,” homedepot.com/c/ah/how-to-fix-a-leaky-faucet/9ba683603be9fa5395fab90ee6659fb (Accessed March 2024)
[4] “6 Temporary Fixes for Leaking Pipes,” angi.com/articles/5-temporary-fixes-pipe-leak.htm (Accessed March 2024)
[5] “5 Common Plumbing Problems and How to Diagnose Them,” architecturaldigest.com/story/plumbing-problems (Accessed March 2024)
[6] “10 Common Water Heater Problems and Solutions,” thespruce.com/repair-an-electric-water-heater-1824636 (Accessed March 2024)
[7] “How to Stop a Toilet That Keeps Running,” thespruce.com/toilet-runs-constantly-4109474 (Accessed March 2024)
[8] “How To Hire A Plumber For Your Next Project,” forbes.com/home-improvement/plumbing/find-a-plumber/ (Accessed March 2024)