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If you own or rent your own home, you’ll know that plumbing issues aren’t rare, and many of these problems can be hard to understand, let alone fix. Some of the most common home plumbing problems include clogged drains, leaking pipes, noisy water heaters, and water that won’t run hot.

When you inevitably encounter a plumbing issue, you’ll likely have some questions for your local plumber or drain cleaning service in Mansfield, TX.

So, whether you’re looking to solve a pre-existing problem, or just want to educate yourself on plumbing maintenance and common plumbing issues, this post can help you. Here are 12 of the most frequently asked plumbing questions.

Why Is My Drain Clogged?

Clogged drains are arguably the most common problem when it comes to your home’s plumbing, and this is for several reasons. Firstly, drains clog so easily because there are endless substances that can enter your drain and lead to a blockage.

Some of the most common causes of a blocked drain that may need a drain cleaning service include:

• Hair in your plug hole. Usually, this is caused by natural hair shedding during bathing.

• Soap in your drain. The thick consistency of soaps, shampoos, shower gels, and conditioners can build up in your drain.

• Dirt build-up. Dirt and grime are naturally occurring, but it needs to be cleaned regularly to prevent blockages.

• Accidentally flushed items. If you accidentally flush an item such as a feminine hygiene product, makeup wipe, or toothbrush down your toilet, it’s likely to lead to a clogged drain.

However, it’s not just items inside your drain that can lead to a blockage and drain cleaning service need. Other common causes of blocked drains are:

• Tree roots. Sometimes, growing tree roots gain access to drains via cracks and obstruct water flow.

• Offset pipes. Over time, shifting ground and concrete can move your home’s pipes, which can affect the water flow.

Usually, these types of blockages require the help of a professional drain cleaning service.

How Do I Unclog a Blocked Drain?

How you go about unclogging a blocked drain will largely depend on what caused the blockage in the first place.

There are many methods for unclogging blocked drains, such as pouring hot water down the pipe, pressure cleaning, plunging, and using store-bought drain unblockers. However, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you might actually cause more damage than good by trying to unblock a temperamental drain yourself.

Calling a dependable drain cleaning service in Mansfield, TX, like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is the most reliable way to unblock a drain. Our licensed plumbers will not only be able to identify why is causing the blockage, but also be able to remove the obstruction using professional equipment and in-depth knowledge.

To prevent blocked drains in the future, ensure you only flush flushable items down the toilet, remove hair from your plug holes regularly, and have a drain cleaning service.

Are Chemical Drain Cleaners Safe To Use?

Often, purchasing a chemical drain cleaner from your local Walmart seems like the quickest and most simple solution to a blocked drain. Not only does this method not require any specialist drain cleaning service equipment, but it’s also extremely quick.

However, there is a lot of debate as to whether the chemicals used in these products are actually safe for your pipes and health.

Usually, chemical drain cleaners as opposed to a drain cleaning service will remove minor clogs but will do near enough nothing for large obstructions of blockages caused by tree roots. The harsh chemicals in these products will also cause damage to the insides of your pipes, corroding your plumbing.

It’s also important never to mix chemical drain cleaners with other cleaning products like ammonia or sodium hydroxide as the combination can result in noxious gas or even result in chemical-laced water shooting out of your drain.

To be on the safe side, call a professional drain cleaning service like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Mansfield, TX, if you have any concerns over blocked pipes.

Why Do I Run Out of Hot Water so Quickly?

Another extremely common plumbing issue is running out of hot water quickly. Sometimes, this problem is the result of something simple like overusing hot water or your tank is too small for the household it’s serving. But, the answer isn’t always so simple.

Other causes of a lack of hot water include:

• Sediment and minerals have built up in the water heater system
• There is damage to your heater
• Your pipes are damaged
• The heating element has burned out
• Your water heater is old and needs replacing

If you’ve ruled out the potential that simple water overuse is the cause of your hot water, it’s advisable to call a local Mansfield, TX, plumber, and drain cleaning service to find the root cause. Once you know why your water heater is not providing enough hot water, you’ll be able to assess whether you need to install a new tank or whether you can repair your existing one.

Why Is My Water Cloudy?

It might come as a surprise to you that the cloudy water coming from your taps is most often caused by air bubbles. While it might look alarming, particularly if the problem is affecting drinking water, it’s rarely a health concern.

The air bubbles in your water increase when the pressure inside your pipes increases. When this happens and the water leaves your pipes and enters a non-pressurized glass, it takes on its cloudy appearance. Cold air temperatures are the most common cause of high pressure inside your taps.

Hard water and limescale can also cause your water to appear cloudy. In a hard water area, chalky limescale can form, resulting in a milky or cloudy consistency. However, you’ll be glad to know limescale and sediment caused by hard water has no negative health implications.

If you’re still concerned, consider calling a professional drain cleaning service to take a look at your pipes.

What Uses the Most Water in My Home?

There is no simple answer to this question because every household is different. For some people, even the appliances which use the most water per use might not make up their main water consumption, purely because they don’t use that appliance regularly enough.

However, some appliances use drastically more water than others. These appliances include:

• The toilet. Flushing the toilet is by far the biggest use of water within the home, and old, inefficient toilets can use as much as three gallons per flush.
• The Shower. Depending on the type of shower you have, just one minute of showering can use anywhere from five to 13 liters of water.
• The Washing Machine. Most washing machines use approximately 50 liters of water per cycle.
• The Bath. The average full bath requires 80 liters.

If you’re looking to curb your at-home water usage, some tips to consider are:

• Checking for any leaks and wasted water
• Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth
• Take shorter showers
• Install water-saving showerheads
• Only use your dishwasher for full loads

How Do I Tell If My Pipes Are Leaking?

Leaking pipes are the biggest cause of water wastage and, as a result, increasing utility bills. No one wants to be wasting money on the water they’re not even using, so knowing the telltale signs of a water leak is essential for anyone with their own home.

One fool-proof way to check if you have a water leak is to check your water meter. To do so, turn off all the appliances in your home that use water, for example, your dishwasher, washing machine, and faucets. Then, when you know no water is being used, check whether the meter continues to change. If the meter indicates water is still being used, it’s likely you have a leak.

Other ways you can check for a water leak include:

• Checking your water bill and usage
• Look for signs of mold to damp
• Check from dripping water coming from pipes or tanks
• Listen out for any strange noises coming from your plumbing

If you suspect there might be a leak in your plumbing system, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and drain cleaning service can help you. Our certified plumbers will identify the location of the leak, suggest a solution, and carry out any necessary work to stop the leak.

Why Does My Water Heater Make Loud Rumbling Noises?

Loud noises coming from your water heater might sound concerning, but the reassuring fact is these noises don’t usually indicate anything dangerous. However, just because your water heater isn’t about to spontaneously combust, doesn’t mean you should ignore the problem.

Ignoring a loud water heater not only leads to irritating noises, but will also allow the problem to worsen, and potentially damage your heater for good. But, before you can fix the issue, you need to consider what’s causing it.

Loud water heaters are usually caused by sediment build-up in the tank, which is particularly common in hard water areas. The frustrating thing about this issue is it isn’t usually caused by a fault, it occurs naturally. Therefore, the only way to prevent annoying noises and consequential damage is to seek regular water heater maintenance.

A reliable plumbing and drain cleaning service like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Mansfield, TX, can help you with noisy tanks and ongoing preventative maintenance.

What Plumbing Tools Should I Keep at Home?

While professional drain cleaning service and plumbing services are necessary for many scenarios, that’s not to say you shouldn’t keep some plumbing tools at home and attempt to carry out minor maintenance yourself.

You might not be able to replace your water heater or fix a blocked drain caused by an invasive tree root, but, in many instances, you can unblock your toilet or detect a pesky leak.

Some of the most useful plumbing tools that you can keep at home include:

• A plunger. Sink, toilet, and bath plungers are great tools to help you remove hair and debris from your drains to prevent a serious blockage.

• Leak detection devices. Leaks are a very common plumbing problem, and while you might not be able to fix them yourself, you can find where they’re coming from.

• A drain snake. Despite being one of the most expensive home-plumbing tools, drain snakes are exceptionally useful for unblocking drains.

• Pipe and basin wrench. These tools are beneficial for fixing issues with your pipes or sink.

While it’s possible to handle minor plumbing issues at home and without a professional service, it’s always important to call a qualified drain cleaning service or plumber for larger problems, or if you suspect your DIY fix was unsuccessful.

Should I Turn My Water Off While I’m On Vacation?

The simple answer to this question is yes, and there are several reasons why turning your water off when you’re out of town is a great idea.

Burst water pipes and flooded homes are some of the most common plumbing issues for returning holidaymakers. And, ensuring your water and appliances are turned off before you go away is a great way to prevent any catastrophic damage to your home.

You’ll also save money by turning your water off. Dripping taps are a common cause of rising utility bills, and while the amount of water coming from your tap might seem extremely small, over time it builds up. Turning your water off completely while you’re away will stop the dripping for the time being, and allow you to call a qualified plumber and drain cleaning service professional to fix the issue when you return.

Employ a Reliable Drain Cleaning Service Today

Understanding the most common plumbing issues and how to fix them is extremely important for saving money on your bills and preventing irreversible damage to your plumbing system and home.

And, while you may be able to identify and fix some of these issues on your own, there are some problems that require professional drain cleaning service help.

If you want to learn more about your plumbing system or suspect you need the help of a drain cleaning service or plumbing company in Mansfield, TX, don’t hesitate to call Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth today.