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Plumbing problems are stressful, inconvenient, and may cost you a fortune. To save money, it’s best not to encounter them in your homes. Thankfully, there are ways to help you avoid costly plumbing emergencies. In this article, we’ll talk about the most common plumbing issues and how to prevent them. If you need assistance now, contact a plumber in Arlington, TX, immediately.

What Are the Most Common Plumbing Problems in Homes and How Do You Remedy Them?

Below are some of the problems that you may encounter. Call a professional right away for assistance.

Slow Drainage

Slow drainage usually leads to a major clog. When your drains are slow, we suggest that you get a plumber at the soonest possible time for an inspection. A trusted and reliable professional can professionally clean the drains to remove whatever is restricting water flow. Please address this problem asap if you want to avoid water damage.

To prevent slow drainage, install a sink strainer to catch food debris and hair. Please put a strainer in the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry sink. Don’t forget to clean them at least once a week to avoid smelly drains. Try pouring boiling hot water down the sink and never use chemical-based drain cleaning. The latter isn’t a permanent solution; they can only harm your pipes and even pose some dangers.

You can also consider installing a garbage disposal to help you properly manage food waste. It’s a good addition to your kitchen but make sure that the unit is well maintained to ensure its efficiency.

You can avoid major clogs in your plumbing by not throwing grease oil and other food debris down the drain. If there are children in your household, educate them properly on how to take care of your plumbing.

Well maintained and clean drains prevent a major clog. Clogs can lead to problems such as pest infestation, foundation damage, leaks, and smell drains. Contact a plumber in Arlington, TX, for regular maintenance of your drains as it’s the only way to ensure your drains are healthy. Get in touch with Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth for our plumbers are experienced and highly skilled with drain cleaning services. We’re also fully equipped with state-of-the-art tools to help us effectively clean your drains.

Low Water Pressure

Imagine when you’re in a hurry for a very important meeting, you turn on the shower to get ready, but the water pressure is slowing you. Low water pressure can be annoying if you’re always on the go. They also pose problems to your plumbing system. To resolve the problem, contact a professional in Arlington, TX, for a thorough inspection of your entire plumbing.

Some causes of low water pressure include debris building up in the pipes, leaks, corrosion, issues with the utility company, broken pressure regulator, or problems with the water meter valve. The only way to get to the root of the problem is by calling a plumber in your area for an inspection. An experienced professional can help you diagnose the problem and provide you with permanent plumbing solutions.

If the water pressure regulator is broken, simply get a new one if yours is beyond repair. When your water bills are also high, there might be leaks in your plumbing. Look for signs of leaks or call a plumber in Arlington, TX, for professional leak detection. Regardless of the cause, please make sure that you get in touch with a professional at the onset of the problem to avoid an even bigger problem down the road.

In addition, don’t ignore high water pressure too as it can strain the pipes and lead to plumbing leaks. Remember, water damage can cost you thousands of dollars in repairs and restorations. But you can avoid this by not ignoring a plumbing problem.

Dripping Faucets

You may think that dripping faucets are harmless. While they don’t always lead to plumbing emergencies, you’re wasting hundreds of gallons of water. You’re not helping the environment and it’s going to cost you more money.

One of the reasons for a dripping faucet is incorrect installation. We recommend that homeowners always hire the services of a licensed and professional plumbing company to ensure that their fixtures and appliances are properly installed. Poor installation (especially with your plumbing appliance) doesn’t only lead to frequent repairs but can also cause efficiency issues with the unit. If not addressed right away, you’ll end up paying for a costly bill and may even replace your appliance.

Save more money in the long run by hiring professional plumbers. No matter how minor the task is, we suggest that you get help from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth. Homeowners with plumbing experience may be able to do some minor repairs, but if you have little to zero experience, it’s best to call us at your earliest convenience.

Toilet Constantly Runs

Do you know that you can waste up to 200 gallons of water with a running toilet? You need to address this problem now to avoid a hefty bill. One of the causes of a running toilet is usually a broken flapper valve. If you don’t know how to fix this, contact a plumber for assistance.

Sediment buildup and hidden leaks can also cause your toilet to run. If there is a sediment buildup, reach out to a professional for help. To test if there is a toilet leak, pour a few drops of food coloring into the tank and check the toilet bowl after 15 minutes. If the water in the toilet bowl changes, there is a leak in your toilet. Call a professional to avoid other issues.

Pipe Leaks

Just like a dripping faucet and a running toilet, leaky pipes can also waste hundreds of gallons of water. If not addressed, they can also cause costly water damage.

As mentioned earlier, high water pressure can severely strain the pipes. It’s one of the reasons why your pipes leak. If there is high water pressure, call a plumber in Arlington, TX, or buy a water pressure regulator. During winter, ensure that you also insulate the pipes. When the temperature reaches below zero and your pipes are not protected, the water inside them can freeze. With frozen water, the pipes can expand and burst.

Other causes of leaky pipes include clogged lines, tree roots damage, underground movements, damaged pipe joints, and broken seals. During installation, work with licensed and experienced plumbers to ensure that the pipes are properly installed. Also, please be careful with hidden leaks. Some signs include water spots in the ceiling or in the walls and higher water bills. If you suspect that there might be hidden leaks in your plumbing, contact a professional immediately.

Additionally, make sure that you don’t plant trees near your plumbing foundation as that may cause problems in the future. Most importantly, never fix a plumbing leak by yourself. You can prevent a plumbing emergency when you hire a qualified person to help you alleviate the problem.

Clogged Bath

It can be annoying and uncomfortable when you’re in the shower and the water is already in your ankles. When there is a buildup of hair and soap scum, your bathroom sink can also clog. And it’s unsanitary when the water just doesn’t go down the drain. To fix this, consider using a vinegar and baking soda solution to help you dissolve the debris. If it doesn’t work, we suggest that you contact a professional in your area for assistance. Our plumbers at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing are quite skilled with any plumbing repairs — we can help you fix any plumbing issue. Just contact us at your earliest convenience and we’ll quickly dispatch a technician to help you resolve the problem.

Broken Sump Pump

It’s crucial to have a sump pump if your home has a basement because it prevents flooding. However, you need to make sure that the unit actually works before using it. We suggest that you buy an extra battery just in case there is a power outage in your area. It’s also best to get your sump pump well maintained to extend its lifespan.

Clogged pipes and stuck switches are some of the causes why your sump pump isn’t working. Contact a professional right away to resolve the problem. Sump pumps also don’t last forever — if yours is more than 10 years old, please consider getting a new one.

Water Heater Isn’t Working

Regardless of the water heater type installed in your home, it’s important that it’s well maintained to avoid plumbing emergencies and other issues. Switching to a tankless water heater can be beneficial though as it requires less maintenance and you won’t have to worry about flooding in your home.

However, if you have a water heater tank, please make sure that you flush out the sediment buildup at least once a year, or frequently when there is a high concentration of hard water in your plumbing. Failure to flush out the buildup in the tank can lead to leaks. It can also affect the efficiency of your water heater — you may end up with higher energy bills. We suggest that you also get in touch with a professional plumber to have your unit serviced.

How to Avoid Costly Emergencies

If you’re a homeowner, please never ignore minor plumbing problems, as some of them can lead to costly plumbing emergencies. As much as possible, contact a reliable plumber in your area for help. Don’t wait until the problem becomes serious and you have no choice but to spend more money on repairs and replacements. Below are a few helpful tips to prevent a costly plumbing nightmare.

Get Regular Plumbing Maintenance

In addition to properly caring for your plumbing, it’s best to get help from professionals. With a regular inspection, the plumber can check for any problems that may lead to something serious in the future. He can correct the issue and make sure that your plumbing is in excellent shape.

If you want to extend the lifespan of your plumbing and avoid costly repairs, contact us today! Don’t worry; Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is an established and trusted plumbing company serving residents and businesses in Arlington, TX. We only employ licensed plumbers to ensure that our customers are delighted with our services.

Install Several Shut Off Valves

One of the things you need to know is the location of the shut-off valve. Why? When there is flooding, the first thing you need to do is not call a plumber but turn off the main water supply. Better yet, consider installing several shut-off valves and make sure they are all accessible. Put them near your washing machine, water heater, dishwasher, or garbage disposal.

You can also install leak detection devices so you are alerted when there are leaks in your plumbing. These devices can also automatically shut off the water supply to prevent further damage. For installation, please make sure that you only hire a licensed plumber in the area.

Regularly Check for Leaks

As homeowners, it’s your responsibility to check your plumbing. In addition to getting a professional inspection, try to periodically check your fixtures and appliances for wear & tear, and for leaks. If there are issues, please call us right away so we can help you fix them.

Contact Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth

Do you need a plumber in Arlington, TX? We’re here to help! We are a trusted plumbing company in the area offering a wide range of plumbing services to residents and businesses. We can help with any plumbing repairs, installations, or maintenance. Our team of certified and highly skilled plumbers can also help with professional leak detection and drain cleaning services. Call us at your earliest convenience or during emergencies — we are available 24/7! Our goal is to ensure that all our customers are delighted with our service. Please reach out to us today for an appointment.