9 Issues That Require A Call To A Plumber | Arlington, TX
The plumbing system in your Arlington, TX home is essential to your daily life. You need running water throughout the day, and your water-based appliances need water to function. Also, the water needs a place to go and should drain quickly.
DIY home repairs are very common today. There are plenty of DIY videos online to teach homeowners to fix things themselves, allowing them to save money on repairs. While DIY repairs are great for certain projects, plumbing repair isn’t one of them. Licensed plumbers undergo years of professional training and apprenticeship to ensure they can install, maintain and fix plumbing systems correctly. If you aren’t trained and licensed, it’s best to leave the job to a professional.
If your plumbing system experiences any of the following issues, it’s best to hire a licensed plumber.
#1 Drain Issues
When you run the water in your home, it should flow quickly and freely down the drain. If your drains experience any of the following problems, it’s best to call a plumbing professional immediately.
- Slow drains: If there’s a small clog in the drain, it will cause the water to drain slowly and can be frustrating when you do anything that requires the water to run, such as showering, brushing your teeth, and washing the dishes.
Many homeowners will try a liquid drain cleaner to remove the clog, but this isn’t a good option. If the drain cleaner helps speed up the water flow, you can’t be sure the entire clog was removed. If any part of the clog remains, it won’t be long before the water starts draining slowly again. In addition, liquid drain cleaners contain harsh chemicals that can cause permanent damage to the pipes.
A licensed plumber will ensure the entire clog is removed, and the water will flow freely down the drain. - Clogged drains: Large clogs can prevent the water from going down the drain, resulting in standing water in the sink or shower. This is a serious problem because you can’t use the sink or shower until the clog is removed.
A liquid drain cleaner won’t be effective if it can’t go down the drain, and you’ll need to hire an expert. A licensed professional can use a drain camera to find the clog’s location and determine the size, ensuring they remove the entire clog.
You can start using the sink or tub when the drain is clear. - Multiple clogged drains: If multiple drains have clogged simultaneously, it’s doubtful that each drain has its own individual clog. The most common cause of multiple clogs is a clog in the sewer line.
A licensed plumber has the knowledge and equipment to clear the sewer line, allowing the water to flow freely down every drain in your home. - Noisy drains: Do the drains in your Arlington, TX home make a gurgling sound? If so, you have a significant problem, even if the water drains properly. The gurgling sound indicates a substantial clog in the drain. The water will change directions to get past the clog, and the change in direction creates air pockets, causing the gurgling sound.
Drain issues can affect your daily life, so it’s best to hire a licensed professional immediately.
#2 Clogged Toilets
It isn’t uncommon for toilets to clog occasionally; in most cases, it isn’t a big deal. Toilet clogs occur when too much waste and toilet paper are flushed or if something is flushed that shouldn’t have been, like baby wipes, paper towels, or a child’s toy. Plunging the toilet can clear most clogs, breaking them up enough so the toilet can be flushed. You’ll need to hire a professional if the plunger doesn’t work. It’s best to hire someone immediately because you can’t use the toilet until the clog is removed. You have a significant problem if you have one bathroom in your Arlington, TX home. Trying to flush a clogged toilet over and over won’t help because the toilet will overflow, making a mess in the bathroom.
The plunger won’t be effective if the clog is too large, too solid, or located too far down the drainpipe for the plunger to be effective, and you’ll need to hire a plumber. They can use a drain auger to break up the clog enough that it can be flushed. In severe cases, they’ll need to remove the toilet to reach the clog. When the clog is removed, you can start using the toilet again.
#3 Running Toilets
When you flush the toilet in your home, the toilet should run until the tank is full. If the toilet continues running and doesn’t stop, you’ll need to call a licensed plumber.
Your toilet will still function if it runs continuously but will waste a significant amount of water. A running toilet can waste 30 gallons of water per day, and 900 gallons per month, causing a considerable increase in your water bills. Also, this amount of wasted water is harmful to the environment.
A few issues can cause your toilet to run, including:
- The float height is off.
- A cracked or broken flapper.
- The refill hose isn’t the correct size.
- The toilet reached the end of its lifespan.
A licensed plumbing professional can inspect the toilet to determine why it continues running and resolve the problem.
#4 Dripping Faucet
A dripping faucet is more than a minor nuisance and can cause your water bills to increase significantly. According to the EPA, a dripping faucet wastes 11 gallons of water daily and 330 gallons per month, and it should be fixed immediately.
A few issues can cause a faucet to drip, including:
- A worn-out washer or gasket
- Loose O ring
- Corrosion in the valve seat.
- The faucet is old and needs to be replaced.
A licensed professional can inspect the faucet to determine why it’s dripping, and make the necessary repair.
#5 Water Heater Issues
The water heater in your Arlington, TX home is the most essential appliance in your home. You won’t have access to hot water if the unit isn’t working correctly, and your hot water-based appliances won’t function. Although the water heater is an appliance, it’s also an essential part of your plumbing system.
If your water heater experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to hire a professional plumber immediately.
- You have no hot water coming from the taps, often due to a faulty heating element or the unit has reached the end of its lifespan.
- The water doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm and can be due to a faulty heating element or the unit has reached the end of its lifespan.
- Poor hot water pressure due to a sediment clog in the waterline.
- Brown or rust-colored water due to sediment in the tank that has contaminated the water
- Strange sounds coming from the unit due to sediment banging against the inside of the tank
- Moisture around the unit due to a loose or cracked hose
- Water pooling around the unit due to a leak.
Water heater issues affect the water temperature or quality, and some can cause flooding or mold growth; therefore, it’s best to call a plumber as soon as you detect the problem.
Water heater repair can be complicated and shouldn’t be a DIY project. One minor mistake can cause more damage and will void the warranty.
#6 Leaks
Plumbing leaks aren’t uncommon and can cause severe mold growth and water damage in your Arlington, TX home. In addition, the leak will cause you to waste a considerable amount of water, causing your water bills to increase.
Some leaks are easy to detect, such as a leak under the sink. When you open the kitchen cabinet or vanity, you’ll see pooling water, indicating a leak. Leaks behind the wall are also easy to detect, and you’ll see water spots. Leaks under the house can be more challenging to detect and can make the basement floor feel warm or create puddles in the yard. In severe cases, the leak can cause damage to your home’s foundation.
A licensed plumber can use leak detection equipment to find the leak’s location, so it can be repaired before causing more damage.
#7 Reduced Water Pressure
Adequate water flow is essential to perform daily household tasks. If the water pressure is poor, simple tasks like washing your hair or doing the dishes will take longer than necessary. Also, your water-based appliances won’t function properly without adequate water flow, and you should hire a plumber immediately.
