8 Common Household Plumbing Issues and Their Causes

When you have a home, plumbing issues can pop up at any time and may require immediate services from professional plumbers in North York.

Any issues throughout your home are a pain, but plumbing issues are particularly inconvenient and sometimes costly to repair. Prevention is the best thing to practice, as you can minimize the chances of problems occurring.

When they do occur in their initial stages, some plumbing problems are straightforward and you can apply DIY solutions with basic tools. Others, though, will most likely require the help of professional plumbers in North York to diagnose and fix the problem.

With that in mind, here are eight common household plumbing issues, their causes, and how they can be fixed.

1. Dripping faucet

It’s one of the most annoying sounds at night that won’t let you fall asleep: a dripping faucet. Not only does the sound of a dripping faucet keep you up at night, but continuous dripping water can overflow your sink and spill over on your counters and floor, causing a flood.

The main reason for dripping faucets is a worn-out washer. Faucet washers are seals that are made out of silicone that eventually gets corroded as time goes by, causing them to wear out.

Once they get damaged, your faucet will start to drip. To fix a dripping tap, we recommend contacting plumbers in North York to replace it properly.

2. A weak toilet flush

When you flush the toilet, and you notice that the toilet bowl is emptying slowly, this is what we call a weak toilet flush. The cause of a weak toilet flush is clogged flush holes underneath the rim of the bowl.

Try poking holes in the rim to loosen dirt and debris. If it’s still draining slowly, it’s time to call a professional plumber to troubleshoot the problem.

3.Slow-draining sink

Next to a dripping faucet, a slow-draining sink can also cause a headache. This problem is usually due to some kind of blockage that restricts proper water flow.

If your kitchen sink is slowly draining, it might be caused by fatty oils or small food stubs that have built up over time.

When it comes to a bathroom sink, hair and soap residue are usually the main causes of blockage. To get your sink draining normally, it’s best to get in touch with plumbers in North York to fix it.

4. Running toilet

Similar to a dripping faucet, a running toilet can raise your water bill enormously and can make you lose sleep.

How much more can you end up paying on your monthly water bill? Well, a regular running toilet can waste approximately 75-110 litres of water each day, tacking on over $50-$100 on your bill.

The majority of the time, a running toilet is caused by a leaking flapper, so try jiggling the handle a few times to get it to stop. If it keeps running, then it’s time to call a plumbing service to set it up correctly.

5. Low water pressure

Nothing is more frustrating than turning on the kitchen or bathroom faucet and experiencing a low-pressure water flow.

With older faucets, low water pressure is common, as most tap aerators are located at the opening because their purpose is to decrease the flow of water from your tap and reduce your water usage.

However, over time, when tap aerators develop small holes in them, they get clogged with debris causing low water pressure and slow water flow.

Troubleshooting low water pressure is a job for professional plumbers in North York, so book an appointment with them as soon as you can to get that regular water flow going again.

6. Water stains in the basement

The last thing you want is to head down to your basement and be hit with a stench of mildew caused by water stains on the floor. These types of water stains are remnants of the after-effects of a flood or other water damage. If you leave these water stains untreated, you could potentially expose the people in your house to health risks and cause structural damage.

For instance, if a gutter overflows, the water could seep into your basement and destroy the structure of the drywall. If you spot water stains in your basement, call a plumber in your area to repair any damages and assess where the source of the issue stems from.

7. Clogged toilet

Probably the worst and most common plumbing issue of all time is a clogged toilet. No one likes them. They overflow and place waste all over the floor, leading to an awful smell in your bathroom.

The instant solution to unclog it is to use a plunger. If it overflows again after plunging it, though, then it might be a sign of septic system damage or a blocked pipe.

Usually, the most common cause of a clogged toilet is flushing things that shouldn’t be flushed like dental floss, pills, cooking oil, and hair. To prevent clogging your toilet, it’s best to only flush toilet paper, and nothing else.

8. Leaky pipes

Leaky pipes could happen under the sink, in the walls, in the toilet, or pretty much anywhere in your house. Similar to dripping faucets, a leaking pipe creates a lot of water waste and could potentially damage your home.

If a leaking pipe is left unrepaired, water can get stuck in the pipes and create bacteria that attract insects. This could turn into a bigger issue, such as transmitting diseases.

The main reason why pipes leak is usually wear and tear, and a build-up of items being drained within. Because replacing and repairing pipes is challenging, leave it to a professional plumber to do the job.

Contact Brothers Plumbing

If you would like a free quote on our plumbers in North York, our team at Brothers Plumbing is here to help with fixing common household plumbing issues.

Call us at 800-741-8471 or contact us here.