9 Issues That Require A Call To A Licensed Plumber | Universal City, TX
Have you ever thought about how often the plumbing system in your Universal City, TX, is used? If you really think about it, you will see that it is used many times throughout the day. Every time someone turns on the water or flushes the toilet, your plumbing system is used. The same is true when you do a load of laundry or run the dishwasher. Because you rely on your plumbing system all day, it’s essential that it always functions correctly.
Your plumbing system is made up of three different parts. The first is the pipes and fittings that run through your home, providing clean, treated water to the taps. The second part is the fixtures that receive water, such as sinks, tubs, toilets, dishwashers, and washing machines. The third part is the drainage system. This is responsible for removing water and waste from your home to the dedicated drainage area.
If any part of your plumbing system fails to do its job, DIY repairs are not recommended. Your plumbing system is complex, and without professional plumbing training, it’s easy to make a simple mistake causing the damage to escalate, resulting in a more expensive repair bill.
If your plumbing system experiences any of the following issues, it’s best to call a licensed plumber.
#1 No Water
If you try to turn on the water in your home, and nothing comes out, you may need to call an emergency plumber. You should check a few things before making the call to avoid an unnecessary service call. First, try running the water in another sink to ensure the problem isn’t isolated to one tap. The aerator could be clogged if every other tap works, and rinsing it in vinegar and water will help. Next, make sure your water bills have been paid, and your service hasn’t been terminated. Finally, check with a neighbor or the water company to rule out a widespread outage.
If everything checks out, it’s time to call a licensed plumbing service. A few issues can prevent water from coming into your home, including:
- A problem with the main shutoff valve
- An issue with the water meter
- A significant clog in the pipes preventing water from getting to the taps
- A significant leak somewhere in your home
A lack of water is an emergency because you rely on running water all day long; therefore, it’s best to call an emergency plumber right away.
#2 Slow or Clogged Drains
Over time, food, grease, hair, soap scum, and other debris can clog the drains, preventing the water from draining. As careful as you are with what you put down the drains in your Universal City, TX home, you can keep everything out of the drains, creating a clog.
Small clogs will block the drain enough that the water drains slowly. This is an inconvenient problem because the sinks and tubs will fill when doing something that requires you to run the water. For example, when you shower, the tub will fill quickly, and by the time you finish, you will be standing in several inches of water than can take over an hour to drain. Over time, the clog can grow enough that it clogs the drain completely, resulting in standing water in the sink or tub.
Many homeowners use liquid drain cleaners to break up the clog enough that the water drains; however, hiring a plumbing service is better. Even if the drain cleaner allows the water to drain, you can’t be sure if the entire clog was removed. If part of the clog remains, it will get larger over time, and you will have another drain issue to deal with soon. Also, these products contain harsh chemicals necessary to break up a clog and can do permanent damage to the pipes.
A licensed plumbing company can use a drain camera to get a good look at the inside of the pipes to find the clog’s location and determine the size, which will help them choose the best method to remove the entire clog safely. When the plumber finishes, you can be sure that no part of the clog remains, and the water will continue draining the way it should.
#3 Multiple Drain Clogs
If every drain in your home is clogged, it’s unlikely that every drain in the house becomes clogged simultaneously. Multiple drain clogs often indicate a clog in the sewer line, and a liquid drain cleaner won’t help remove the clog, and you will need to call a licensed plumbing company. They will use a snake or hydro-jet to remove the clog, allowing the water to flow freely down the drains again.
#4 Toilet Clogs
Toilet clogs are very common. If someone flushes too much toilet paper and waste, it will be too large to flush. The same is true if someone flushes something that shouldn’t have been, such as a child’s toy, baby wipes, dirty diapers, or a washcloth.
In most cases, plunging the toilet will break up the clog enough that it can be flushed. If you try plunging the toilet and it doesn’t help, the clog could be too large, too solid, or located too far down the drainpipe for the plunger to be effective. If you keep trying to flush the toilet, it will overflow, creating a nasty mess on the bathroom floor; therefore, you can’t use the toilet until the clog is removed. This is a frustrating problem, especially if you only have one bathroom in your Universal City, TX home. If plunging the toilet doesn’t help, you will need to hire a plumber.
A licensed plumber can use a toilet auger, which is a flexible coil of wire that extends into the pipes to clear obstructions without damaging the pipes. If the drain is located too far down the drainpipe, a licensed professional will need to remove the toilet to reach the clog.
#5 Water Heater Issues
The water heater in your home is one of the most essential appliances and is critical to your plumbing system. When cold water comes into your home, it fills the water heater to be heated and stored, so you have hot water when you need it. If your water heater isn’t functioning correctly, it can affect your ability to use hot water, and some issues can damage your home.
If you experience any of the following issues in your home, it’s best to hire a licensed plumbing company immediately.
- You have no hot water.
- The water doesn’t get hotter than lukewarm.
- You run out of hot water often.
- The hot water pressure is poor.
- The hot water is rust-colored.
- Strange sounds are coming from the unit.
- Moisture or leaks around the unit
A plumber can inspect the water heater to figure out what is causing the problem to make the necessary repair. If they determine the water heater can’t be fixed, the plumber can replace your existing water heater with a brand new one.
#6 Leaks
Plumbing leaks can occur if the pipes are rusted and corroded. In addition, leaks can also happen if the pipes are old or have a loose connection. A leak in your Universal City, TX home can cause water damage and promote mold growth; therefore, calling a plumber is essential.
Leaks under the sink are easy to detect because you will see standing water under the kitchen or bathroom sink. However, leaks behind the wall or under the house can be more challenging to detect. Water spots on the wall around the leaking pipe can help you see a leak behind the wall. If a pipe under the house leaks, it can cause puddles in the yard, a warm basement floor, or damage to your home’s foundation, which is a serious and expensive problem. In some cases, you might not see any of the signs listed above, and poor water pressure and high water bills will be the only signs of a leak.
Unless you are a professionally trained plumber, you should leave the job to a licensed professional. A plumber can use leak detection equipment to find the leaking pipe quickly so it can be fixed. Leaks can cause problems in your home; therefore, it’s best to call an emergency plumber as soon as you suspect a pipe is leaking.
#7 Water-based Appliance Installation
Appliance installation isn’t a plumbing issue but still requires a call to a licensed plumber. If you buy a washing machine, dishwasher, garbage disposal, or refrigerator with an ice maker and water dispenser, it’s best to hire a professional rather than trying to install the appliance yourself.
A DIY installation will void the appliance’s warranty, and you will have to pay for any future repairs yourself. In addition, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could damage the appliance or cause a flood in your home.
A licensed plumbing company will have the necessary training to install water-based appliances, and you can be sure the appliance was installed correctly, and your warranty will remain valid.
#8 Frozen Pipes
Winter nights in Universal City, TX, are cold, and it isn’t uncommon for the nighttime temperature to drop below freezing. The same is true during a cold snap, and freezing temperatures can cause the pipes to freeze. When pipes freeze, the water in the pipes freezes and expands, which can cause the pipes to burst. This is a serious problem because it can cause a considerable flood in your home.
If it’s freezing outside and nothing comes out when you turn on the water, you should call an emergency plumber. A licensed professional can thaw the pipes quickly and safely, eliminating the risk of burst pipes. When the pipes have thawed, the plumber can wrap your pipes in heated tape to prevent the pipes from freezing the next time the temperature drops below freezing.
#9 Leaky Faucet
A leaky faucet in your Universal City, TX home is more than a minor nuisance. The faucet drips because of an issue with the faucet’s mechanics, and if the problem is ignored, the dripping can escalate to a steady stream that you can’t turn off. In addition, even though the faucet is only dripping, it will waste up to 11 gallons of water per day and 330 gallons a month, causing your water bills to increase significantly.
There are a few issues that can cause your faucets to drip, including;
- A worn gasket or washer
- A loose O ring
- Corrosion in the valve seat
- The faucet has reached the end of its lifespan
If your faucet is dripping, you should call a plumber as soon as it starts. A licensed professional can inspect the faucet to determine if they can fix it or if it would be better to replace the faucet.
Why Choose bluefrog Plumbing & Drain of San Antonio?
If you have a plumbing issue in your Universal City, TX home, call bluefrog Plumbing & Drain of San Antonio. We are a full-service plumbing company, are a one-stop shop for all your household needs, and are members of the Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association. In addition, we have an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and are a Google Guaranteed business with a 5-star rating.
Our plumbers are professionally trained, licensed, and insured and can handle all plumbing jobs, both straightforward and complex. We understand how essential your plumbing system is to your daily life and provide emergency service. If you have a plumbing issue that can’t wait, we will get a plumber to your home as quickly as possible to solve the problem.
We understand that our customers live on a budget, so we do everything possible to offer the lowest prices around. When you call us for plumbing service, there will be no trip charge or overtime charges. We also have money-saving coupons on our website to make the plumbing service cost more affordable.
If you need to schedule an appointment with a plumber, give us a call or book online.
Priority Service