Common Plumbing Red Flags That Might Be Risky to Ignore
By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning
As we head into winter, many homeowners often prioritize checking their furnaces and other heating equipment, potentially neglecting other important systems. While supporting your heating is a smart move, your home’s plumbing system might need professional service too.
You may want to consider a yearly plumbing inspection. After all, plumbing issues are often only found when something breaks, but it’s also probably true that your system may have been trying to warn you for weeks. To minimize your risk of needing serious repairs, here are several often overlooked signs that your home’s plumbing needs our attention.
1. Restricted Water Flow
If the plumbing’s water pressure falls suddenly, that’s often because there’s an issue with the main water line. It might be a failure somewhere within the main line or even a pipe within it, explained BJ Richardson, a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning plumbing manager.
However, if the pressure drop is isolated somewhere, like the bathroom or kitchen, it may be a fixture problem. It might be a simple fix, such as replacing a faucet aerator or addressing a water heater issue. Or it could possibly be something a little more complex, like a supply line leading to that room.
“I always encourage families to review their water bill too. If you notice these drops in pressure come at a time when you’re also faced with a higher bill, there may be a deeper problem,” Richardson said. “It’s also a good idea to check your water meter for changes even when you aren’t using water. That’s also pointing to a leak somewhere.”
In certain situations a sudden drop in water pressure starts at the municipal supply – if that’s the problem, that is easily corrected with a booster pump.
2. A “Sewer” Smell Somewhere in the Plumbing
“While a clog in a plumbing fixture like your sink can sometimes produce unpleasant odors because of debris, a persistent sulfur or rotten egg smell suggests a problem. Drains include traps and vents inside them and one of these components can clog. If the smell persists, you may have to consider a blocked sewer or even a sewer gas leak. Identifying and addressing these problems is best left to the professionals, Richardson said.
Remember that while propane and natural gas carry a distinctive smell, those leaks are often mistaken as a sewer smell. When in doubt, consult with a professional.”
3. Discolored Pipes
Visible wear and discoloration on exposed pipes are other signs that are often ignored. If you’re in the basement or near exposed piping, it’s a good idea to examine the pipes in plain view. Discoloration and noticeable wear usually indicates a coming leak.
Discoloration commonly occurs in an area of the plumbing where two pipes join. Failing to notice discoloration can be problematic when it comes to the main water supply because they are pressurized, Richardson explained. When an exposed pipe breaks, it can lead to serious flooding in your home very quickly.
For some sections of the piping, discoloration is in fact caused by different chemicals local authorities have for water treatment.
4. Slow Draining Fixtures
We understand it may be tempting for homeowners to solve clog-related problems with liquid drain cleaner, but those chemicals are usually only a temporary option that could backfire and damage your plumbing system. While we’ve all heard of clogs caused by hair, the truth is hair is not the clog’s culprit. Products like cleaning supplies, toothpaste, hand soaps and even the oil produced from our skin create a layer of scum on the drain walls that catches hair and other small particles, something most liquid drain cleaners won’t remove. Using a mechanical snake or drain machine is our recommendation for the most effective way to tackle this type of obstruction. Usually, if a clog is right inside the pipes below the sink, flushing it away usually takes care of the problem. But if it doesn’t, it could mean you need to look for a more significant issue.
“The thing you should monitor is if multiple drains are experiencing blockages, and the problem doesn’t clear up itself despite cleaning the drain under those sinks,” explained Brian McMasters, a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning division plumbing manager. “The sewer line may also need cleaning, but in some plumbing systems, the issue comes from tree roots that slowly damage and crack a sewer line. Handling this kind of situation is obviously more complex to perform and requires trenching down into the ground until we find the exact location of the leak to repair it.”
5. Wet Spots in Your Front or Back Yard
Regularly check all around your house, including your yard. It’s advisable to take care of this every week. Frequently, a broken underground water or irrigation line leak, or even a sewer main line leak, presents itself gradually, once a significant amount of water has already leaked out. Keep an eye out for soft, sunken spots in the grass as these may suggest a hidden issue.
“You also want to be vigilent for things such as unusually green patches in typically dry or yellow areas of the lawn,” mentioned McMasters. “In our experience, that’s a sign you have a problem that needs an expert’s attention.”
Find out everything you need to know about solving common issues with plumbing systems and get expert help at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.
