7 Plumbing Problems That Require A Call To A Plumbing Service | San Antonio, TX
Have you ever thought about how often you use your plumbing system a day? If so, you know that you rely on your plumbing system all day long. You rely on the plumbing in your San Antonio, TX home for hot and cold water, to flush the toilet, and to run your water-based appliances, such as your washing machine, dishwasher, water heater, and refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser. All plumbing problems, including minor ones, can affect your daily life.
DIY plumbing repairs aren’t recommended because your plumbing system is complex. If you don’t have the necessary training, it’s easy to make a mistake resulting in more problems and a more expensive repair bill. It’s best to hire a plumber to fix the problem because they have undergone professional training and have the knowledge and experience to fix plumbing issues correctly the first time.
If the plumbing system in your home experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to hire a licensed plumber.
#1 Dripping Faucet
A dripping faucet may seem like a minor nuisance, but it’s more serious than you think. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), dripping faucets waste up to 11 gallons of water per day, and 330 gallons per month, causing your water bills to increase considerably. In addition, wasting any amount of water is harmful to the environment. If you allow the problem to persist, the dripping can escalate to a steady stream, and it’s best to call a plumbing service as soon as the faucet stops dripping.
A few issues can cause a faucet to drip, including:
- Worn-out washer
- Worn-out gasket
- Loose O ring
- Corroded valve seat
- The faucet is old and should be replaced.
A plumbing service will send a licensed plumber to your home to check the faucet to figure out why it’s dripping. When the problem is resolved, the water will stop dripping, and you won’t waste any more water.
#2 Running Toilet
When you flush the toilet in your San Antonio, TX home, it will run until the tank is full. If the toilet doesn’t stop running, you should call a plumbing service. A toilet that runs constantly wastes a significant amount of water. A running toilet can waste 30 gallons of water a day, and up to 900 gallons per month, significantly increasing your water bills.
A few issues can cause the toilet to run constantly, including:
- The flapper is broken or cracked.
- The float height needs to be adjusted.
- The refill hose is too long.
- The toilet is old and has reached the end of its lifespan.
A plumbing service will send a plumber to your home to inspect the toilet to figure out why it’s running to resolve the problem.
Because a toilet that runs constantly wastes so much water, it’s best not to ignore the problem and hire a plumber right away.
#3 Drain Issues
When you turn on the water in your home, you expect it to flow freely down the drain. Unfortunately, drain issues can prevent the water from draining, affecting your ability to complete everyday tasks.
If your drainage system experiences any of the following problems, it’s best to call a plumbing service as soon as the trouble starts.
- Slow drains: If the water drains slowly, there’s likely a small clog in the drain, preventing the water from flowing down the way it should. Many homeowners try liquid drain cleaners to remove small clogs to save on the cost to hire a plumber. Although the drain cleaner will break up the clog to allow the water to drain, you can’t be sure if the entire clog was removed. If 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 to break up clogs and can cause damage to the pipes, resulting in a leak that can damage your home.
Slow drains are a hassle because anytime you do anything that requires the water to run, the sink or tub will fill, and it will take time for the water to drain.
A plumbing service can send a plumber to your San Antonio, TX home to remove the entire clog safely, allowing the water to flow freely down the drain.
- Clogged drains: If a drain in your home is clogged completely, the water won’t drain at all, and standing water will remain in your sink or tub, and you can’t use it until the clog is removed. Liquid drain cleaners won’t treat a completely clogged drain because it will sit in the sink or tub.
If the water doesn’t drain, it’s best to call a plumbing service. They will send a plumber to your home to perform a drain inspection to find the clog’s location and remove it from the pipes. The plumber will ensure the entire clog has been removed to prevent further drain issues.
- Multiple drain clogs: If the water drains slowly in multiple drains in your home, it’s unlikely that they all became clogged simultaneously, and there’s likely a clog in the sewer line. This type of clog will prevent the water from every drain from flowing quickly down the drain.
Sewer line clogs are complex and require a call to a plumbing service. A plumber can use one of a few methods to remove the clog, depending on the size and the clog’s location.
- Noisy drains: There’s likely a significant clog in your drains make a gurgling sound when the water goes down. Just because the water still drains, the gurgling sound indicates a problem.
When there’s a large clog in the drain, the water will need to change directions to find another route. The change in direction creates air pockets in the pipes, causing a gurgling sound.
Ignoring the problem can result in a complete drain clog, preventing the water from draining, so it’s best to call a plumbing service as soon as the gurgling starts.
#4 Plumbing Leaks
Plumbers often get calls to fix a leaking pipe. A few problems can cause the pipes in your San Antonio, TX home to leak, including:
- Pipe corrosion
- Seal damage
- High water pressure
- Untreated drain clogs
- Drastic temperature change
Plumbing leaks can cause significant water damage in your home and cause mold growth. In addition, the leak can waste a considerable amount of water, and it’s best to call a plumbing service immediately.
Leaks under the sink are easy to see because there will be standing water under the kitchen cabinet or bathroom vanity. However, clogs in other areas can be more challenging to detect.
Leaks behind the walls often cause water spots on the walls or ceiling and are a sign of water damage. Leaks under the house cause puddles in the yard or a warm basement floor. If the pipe has been leaking for a while without you knowing, the water can damage your home’s foundation. Some leaks are hidden so well that the only sign will be significantly higher water bills.
A plumbing service can send a plumber to your home with leak detection equipment to find the leaking pipe. They can use a drain camera for a visual inspection to find the leak. They can also use acoustic equipment to help them hear the sound of the water leaking to find the leak’s location.
#5 Water Heater Issues
The water heater in your San Antonio, TX home is an appliance, but it’s also essential to your plumbing system. The water heater is designed to heat and store the water that fills the tank, so you’ll have hot water when you need it.
You need hot water to perform many daily household tasks, and if the unit isn’t working properly, you should call a plumbing service.
DIY water heater repairs aren’t recommended because it’s a complex unit. If you make a mistake, you could do more damage. Also, working with electricity, natural gas, oil, and propane appliances isn’t safe if you aren’t professionally trained, and a DIY repair can be dangerous.
If your water heater experiences any of the following problems, the temperature and safety of the water can be affected, and some issues can cause 50+ gallons of water to flood your home. Therefore, it’s best to call a plumbing service right away.
- You have no hot water.
- The water doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm.
- The water is brown or rust-colored.
- Strange sounds are coming from the unit.
- Poor hot water pressure
- Moisture or water pooling around the unit
A licensed plumber can inspect the unit to figure out what’s causing the problem. There can be multiple reasons for one problem, and you’ll need a licensed professional to determine which is causing the problem with your unit so that it can be resolved quickly.
#6 Brown or Rust-Colored Water
It can be very shocking if you turn on the water in your San Antonio, TX home, and it comes out brown or rust-colored. Discolored water indicates contamination, and you should call a plumbing service immediately.
If it’s just the hot water that’s discolored, the problem is with the water heater. When sediment builds up in the tank, it can break apart and contaminate the water. A plumber can try to flush the sediment, but you’ll need to replace the water heater if they can’t. If the unit is over ten years old, the inside of the tank could be breaking down, causing sediment, mineral deposits, and tiny shards of metal to contaminate the water. This problem can’t be fixed, and you need to install a new water heater.
If the hot and cold water is contaminated, corroded pipes are likely the cause. As the pipes in your house age, they can start to rust, and the rust will contaminate the water. A plumbing service can send a plumber to your home to locate the corroded pipes and replace them.
#7 Poor Water Pressure
If the water pressure in your home is suddenly reduced, it’s best to call a plumbing service right away. You rely on adequate water pressure to do simple things like washing your hair or rinsing a dish, and poor water pressure will make these tasks take longer than necessary. In addition, your water-based appliances need adequate water pressure to function at peak performance.
If it’s just the hot water pressure that’s changed, the water heater in your San Antonio, TX home is to blame. When sediment builds up in the tank, it can clog the water line, reducing the water pressure. A plumbing service can send a plumber to clear the water line, but if they can’t flush the sediment from the tank, the line will keep getting clogged, and you’ll need to replace the water heater.
If the hot and cold water pressure is poor, the problem is with the plumbing system. A few issues can reduce the water pressure in your home, including:
- A significant clog in the water line.
- A significant leak in the pipes.
- An issue with the main shutoff valve
- The pressure regulator isn’t working.
- Corroded pipes
A plumber can inspect the plumbing system to figure out what is reducing the water pressure to resolve the problem.
Why Call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio?
If you have a plumbing problem and want to work with the best plumbing service around, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio. We are a full-service plumbing company serving customers in the San Antonio area. We provide various plumbing services, including plumbing installation, drain cleaning, and repairs. We are also water heater experts and can install, maintain and repair tank and tankless models. We also provide emergency service and have plumbers available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you have an emergency issue that can’t wait, we’ll send a plumber to your house quickly.
Our plumbers are professionally trained, highly skilled, and knowledgeable and can handle any plumbing problems. We have an excellent reputation in the community, thanks to the excellent service our plumbers provide. We are a Google Guaranteed business with a 5-star rating. In addition, we are an Accredited Business with the Better Business Bureau and have an A+ rating.
To schedule an appointment for plumbing service, give us a call today.
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