Common Plumbing Problems

Common plumbing problems are easily repaired by plumberswith the relevant professional experience to back up their work. Indeed finding the right plumbing solution is no challenge for plumbing companies, yet without the appropriate plumbing know-how we can keep guessing the correct treatment. If you too are not familiar with do it yourself plumbing repair, save yourself the trouble and energy that is invested in such work, and call in your local plumber. 24/7 emergency plumbers and comprehensive plumbing service providers tackle troubling plumbing malfunctions for you. Equipped with professional plumbing tools and supplies, trained and licensed plumbers carry out extensive repairs, replacements and installations at competitive plumbing costs to your complete satisfaction. Don't let common plumbing problems escalate into complex plumbing emergencies. Provide prompt solutions by submitting the form on your right to receive plumbing quotes for repair, replacement and installation services. Familiarize yourself with the root of common plumbing problems:

Common Toilet Problems

Plumbing Problem Noisy Toilets Running Toilets Symptoms Abnormal sounds after flushing Continuous water running with the capacity to waste up to 200g of water in 24 hours Strong sewage smell Toilet Clogs Plumbing Diagnosis Damaged fill valve Defective flapper burst pipe defective wax ring Insufficient water in bowl Build-up of waste matter/tissue paper in the pipes tank's float ball set too high or too low

Offensive Toilet Odor

Slow if not no drainage of water from bowl Improper or no flushing Bathroom flooding Toilet does not flush completely

Poor Flushing

Common Shower Problems

Plumbing Problem Clogged Showerhead Symptoms Limited water flow or thin jets of water Plumbing Diagnosis Accumulation of mineral deposits to be removed or dissolved A defective or worn shower part in need of repair or replacement Clogged, rusty or corroded water plumbing pipes

Shower Leaks Water temperature Fluctuations

Paddles of water in or around shower enclosure Sudden bursts of cold water during hot showers often happens when another

Plumbing Problem

Symptoms plumbing fixture simultaneously is turned on

Plumbing Diagnosis Closed or swollen hot water shutoff valve Blown pilot light in gas water heaters Damaged temperature control or defective thermocouple in water heaters Sediment buildup in the water heater's tank

Common Bathtub Problems

Plumbing Problem Foul odors Symptoms Bathtub's drain emits sewage odors into the room Slow to no water drainage Plumbing Diagnosis Broken or leaky trap Dry trap due to infrequent use of bath Accumulation of bodily fats and grease, soap scum and hair along the drainpipe

Blocked drain

Common Kitchen Fixture Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Turning on the sink taps reduce water pressure or leads to temperature fluctuations throughout the plumbing fixtures in home See common bathtub problems Slow to no water drainage Rusty drainpipes Accumulation of debris in drain Burned out motor Blocked drain Clogged blades Plumbing Diagnosis Damaged aerators Rotting cold or hot water pipes Defective plumbing parts Incorrect sink installation

Low water pressure/water temperature fluctuations

Foul Odors Sink sink stoppages/Clogged Garbage Disposal

Screeching sounds when appliances is turned on Slow to no working

Common Water Heater Problems

Plumbing Problem Low to no hot water supply Symptoms Running out of hot water during showering Leaks Plumbing Diagnosis Sediment build up in water tank Defective dip tube due to rust or wear and tear Accumulation of mineral deposits in water tank Faulty drain valves

Plumbing Problem

Symptoms

Plumbing Diagnosis Sediment build up in water tank Defective plumbing parts Improper installation of unit High setting of temperature

Noisy water heater

Other Common Plumbing Problems

Plumbing Symptoms Problem Water running through the pipes contains energy. If water supply is suddenly turned off this energy will cause loud banging sound, also termed the "water hammer" effect Water flowing through a restricted section of the pipe causes a whistling sound as a plumbing fixture is turned on Water pressure running through a loosely attached pipe causes vibration. When the pipe vibrates against something solid the rattling sound is created Running hot water in pipe will heat up material and cause a slight pipe expansion. As hot water stops running, the pipe cools off and the metal contracts. Pipe's expansion and contraction are responsible for the creaking or cracking noise Colored tap water Sudden valve closure Improper absorption of water energy due to leaky air cushioning in pipe Sediment build up in pipe Defective valve Plumbing Diagnosis

Water Hammer

Whistling Pipes

Rattling Pipes

Cushioning around securing loose pipe

and

Creaking Pipes

Insulate around pipe or create space for the pipe to expand and contract

Metal Pipe Corrosion

Pipes filled with harmful minerals (rust, dirt, sediment) Water in pipe freezes and expands to burst open the pipe

Burst pipes

Emergency plumbing flooding or water leaks

Plumbing Tip proper insulation of pipes before winter will prevent freezing/burst pipes plumbing emergencies Installation of flood proofing device, namely sump pump together with a back up pump Ruptured gas pipe requires immediate evacuation of home or office

Basement Flooding

water built up in soil due to heavy rainfall or melting snow penetrates basement

Gas Leaks

Distinctive gas odor

Plumbing vent discharging into the building attic or roof space plumbing vents should terminate outside, above the roof level. This defect should be corrected as soon as possible as there are both health and methane gas explosion hazards when sewer gases are vented indoors. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects
ShareThis How to fix sewer odor problems coming from the septic system or plumbing system: a remedy list Questions & Answers about how to get rid of or fix sewer gas or septic odors coming from the septic system or plumbing system References

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Here we provide descriptions of sewage smell sources and list of links to details about steps to take in curing methane gas, sewer gas, or septic gas smells that are traced to these building plumbing or to an onsite septic or cesspool or drywell system.
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Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects

Also see our broad-scope article on diagnosis and cure of sewer gas and septic odors:Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells.

Backdrafting in building causing sewer gas odors: bath or other building exhaust fans may draw sewer gases up from drain piping, especially if there are dry plumbing traps. See Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors and Trap Siphonage and Sewer Gases. Make sure that bath and other vent fans are properly installed and located, that the building has adequate fresh air intake, and that there are no dry traps or siphoning traps. Add plumbing venting or vacuum breaker vents (where permitted) to stop trap siphonage if necessarty. Clogged plumbing traps or drains may result in siphonage of the trap water, then releasing sewer gases into the building. See Trap Siphonage and Sewer Gases and CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - unclog the problem traps or drain lines. Cold weather correlates with sewer odors or slow, noisy drains: If your sewer or septic odors appear to occur only in cold or freezing weather, see Cold Weather Plumbing Vent Blockage. You will want to install a larger diameter plumbing vent stack from the roof surface up, or from the attic floor out through the roof (if your attic is un-heated). Also see SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER for more sewage odor diagnostic articles. Plumbing traps indoors, smelly: Special plumbing traps which include a built-in seal against gas backups are available for use in problem locations. We just pour mineral oil into unused traps to prevent evaporation of the trap seal. Plumbing vent: Inadequate plumbing vent diameter or height: If it's a plumbing vent diameter problem the solution would be to install a larger

diameter vent pipe, eg 2" up through the roof and outside. See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISES for an explanation of plumbing vent requirements, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Plumbing venting Inadequate: plumbing drain line venting: if building vent piping is missing or inadequate or improperly installed get advice from a plumber on both stop-gap ("V-200" vacuum breaker vents from Oakville Stamping & Bending)* or proper (vent piping) repair alternatives. See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISES for an explanation of plumbing vents, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Plumbing vent clogged - due to animals, insect nests, or damaged vent material such as transite piping. Repair or replace the clogged or damaged plumbing vent piping. See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS for more about diagnosing clogged plumbing vents See Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues for more about plumbing vents made of transite pipe See TRAPS on DRAINS and VENT PIPING

Plumbing Vent location, Bad: if a building vent is too close to a window or otherwise is delivering gases to occupants, it may be possible to extend or relocate it. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures. Plumbing vent discharging into the building attic or roof space plumbing vents should terminate outside, above the roof level. This defect should be corrected as soon as possible as there are both health and methane gas explosion hazards when sewer gases are vented indoors. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Odors and Plumbing Drain Line Leaks or Blockage Repairs

Diagnosing leaks and/or sewer gas odors due to damaged drain or sewer line piping

If a building drain is damaged and leaking the point of damage needs to be found and repaired. If it's an indoor drain the leak can usually be found by evidence of leaks into the building; if it's an outdoor drain leak, use of a plumbing snake, judicious careful probing, or excavation will be needed.

Sometimes simply lifting a section of sidewalk over a drain or lifting a large stone will disclose a previously unrecognized wet area where a drain line has been broken or damaged. Our photo (left) shows a source of both sewage odors and a blocked main drain line between a house and its septic tank. The sewer line was broken when a heavy commercial lawn mower drove over the concrete sidewalk below which the sewer line had been installed. We replaced the entire drain line between the house and the septic tank and our contractor made sure that the new plastic sewer line was properly protected from damage by bedding it in sand. See SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT for details about installing a new sewer line.

Blocked Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewage Odors

If building drains are blocked or appear blocked hire a plumber to snake the drains. If all drains are blocked, the plumber might start by snaking out the main drain. During this process an experienced plumbing power snake handler can tell if the drain line is broken or damaged or clogged by tree roots. If this is the case an excavator and drain line repairs are needed. See CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Slow Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewer Gas Odors

If building drains are not blocked but drainage is slow, sluggish, smelly, or backing up into the building, an inspection of the septic tank can indicate (by abnormally high level) that the tank inlet baffle or outlet baffle are blocked (or missing entirely), or that the tank outlet to drainfield is backing up, or blocked, or the drainfield not working. Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS &
REPAIR

Pumping out or cleaning the septic tank to address an "odor problem" probably won't help: while periodic pumpout of a septic tank is important maintenance to protect the drainfield, will never "fix" one of these problems. The cause of blockage or failure needs to be identified and repaired. We can think of a case, however, where pumping and inspecting the septic tank baffles might help diagnose a sewer gas odor outdoors or in the building. If the septic tank inlet or outlet baffle is partially blocked by the floating scum layer (the tank is past due for cleaning) sewer gases may back up into the building. See SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE and for a guide to inspecting septic tank baffles, see SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES.