Common Plumbing Warning Signs That Might Be Risky to Ignore
By Brian Sodoma, for Rob's Albertan Service Experts
As we transition into winter, many homeowners tend to prioritize maintaining their boilers and other heating equipment, sometimes neglecting other important utilities. While protecting your heating is always a good investment, your home’s plumbing system may need some attention too.
You might want to consider a regular plumbing maintenance appointment. After all, plumbing issues are often only found when something breaks, but it’s likely that your system could have been giving you warning signs for a while. To minimize your risk of needing serious repairs, here are several often overlooked signs that the plumbing or fixes could use some professional attention.
1. Low Water Pressure
If the plumbing’s water pressure decreases suddenly, that’s a clear indicator of an issue with your water main. It might be a failure somewhere along the main line as well as a pipe within it, explained BJ Richardson, a Rob's Albertan Service Experts plumbing manager.
However, if the drop in pressure is isolated to one room, like the bathroom or kitchen, it might be a fixture problem. It could be a simple fix, like replacing your faucet aerator or addressing a water heater issue. Or it could be something a little more complex, like a supply line leading to that room.
“I always tell people to review their water bill too. If these pressure drops happen at the same time when you suddenly see a higher bill, there could be a deeper problem,” Richardson said. “It’s smart to check your water meter if the total usage changes abruptly. That’s also pointing to a leak somewhere.”
In certain situations a sudden problem with your water pressure starts at the municipal supply – if that’s the problem, that is easily corrected with a booster pump.
2. A “Sewer” Smell Somewhere in the Plumbing
“While clogs in the kitchen or bathroom sink can sometimes produce unpleasant odors in the plumbing, a persistent sulfur or rotten egg smell suggests a problem. Drains have a trap and vent inside them and one of these components can fail. If the smell never goes away, you might have a clogged sewer line or even a sewer gas leak. Identifying and addressing these problems is best left to the professionals, Richardson said.
Don’t forget that while propane and natural gas possess a distinctive smell, such leaks can be confused as a sewer smell. When in doubt, call a professional.”
3. Discoloration in the Pipes
Discoloration and visible wear on exposed pipes are other signs that can be easy to overlook. If you’re in a room with exposed plumbing, it’s useful to examine exposed pipes. Discoloration and noticeable wear usually points to a coming leak.
Discoloration commonly occurs in an area of the plumbing where two pieces of piping meet. Overlooking discoloration is particularly dangerous when it comes to your main water lines because they are pressurized, Richardson explained. When an exposed pipe breaks, it can start flooding your home very quickly.
For some sections of the piping, discoloration comes from the different chemicals municipal services employ to sanitize and treat the water.
4. Slow Draining Fixtures
It is tempting for homeowners to fix all clogs with liquid drain cleaner, but that’s usually only a temporary fix that could backfire and damage your plumbing system. While we’ve all heard of hair clogs, the reality is hair is not the clog’s culprit. Items such as cleaners, toothpaste, hand soaps and even the oil or sweat in our skin create an adhesive scum on the drain walls that accumulates hair and other debris, something most liquid drain cleaners won’t remove. The use of a drain machine or snake will be the most effective approach to tackle this type of slow drain or clog. In many instances, if a clog is right inside the pipes below the sink, clearing it out usually clears up the problem. But if it doesn’t, it could suggest a more significant issue.
“The thing you should monitor is if multiple drains are clogged, and the problem doesn’t go away itself despite cleaning the drain under those sinks,” said Brian McMasters, a Rob's Albertan Service Experts division plumbing manager. “The sewer line may also need cleaning, but in some plumbing systems, the issue comes from tree roots that grow into and crack a sewer line. Handling this kind of situation is obviously a bigger project and requires trenching down where the leak is to repair it.”
5. Standing Water in the Yard
Regularly check the exterior of your house, as well as your yard. It’s wise to do so every week. Often, a broken underground water or irrigation line leak, or even a sewer main line leak, becomes more obvious gradually, when lots of water has already leaked underground. Look for soft, sunken spots in your yard as these could be a sign there’s a hidden issue.
“You also want to be vigilent for things including sudden green patches in typically dry or yellow areas of the lawn,” noted McMasters. “In our experience, that’s a sign you’re dealing with a problem a trained plumber can solve.”
Discover more about avoiding common issues with plumbing systems and look forward to expert help at Rob's Albertan Service Experts.
