Running toilets, dripping faucets and clogged drains are common residential plumbing emergencies that require you to summon an emergency plumber. Most plumbing problems can be prevented by practicing regular maintenance. You should service your plumbing system regularly, as you do with your car, if you want it to continue performing optimally.
Practicing preventative maintenance in your plumbing system not only allows you to keep the pipes, drains, and other fixtures functional for long but also helps in detecting problems at the earliest stage of development. Plumbing problems detected early are easily repaired, and at a lower cost compared to those that are discovered after they have already caused further damages.
Below are the top plumbing emergencies that may require you to summon an emergency plumber.
Dripping Faucets
Having dripping faucets in your home can be wasteful and annoying, and also results in high water bills. To determine the extent to which a dripping faucet is costing you, use a drip calculator.
Faucets drip due to wearing out of the O ring or washers, which can be easily replaced with new ones. Other causes of dripping faucets are improper installation of the faucet and corrosion. You should contact an emergency plumber to help you diagnose the cause of the drip, and also help in fixing it.
Low Water Pressure
When you open your sink faucet and realize that you have low water pressure, check whether the pressure is still affecting both hot and cold water. If that’s the situation, the cause could most likely be the aerator. Water that enters your house is not pure as it has various mineral deposits, especially calcium and magnesium.
On the faucet aerator, these mineral deposits slowly buildup, causing it to block, thus resulting in low water pressure. In case of such a plumbing emergency, with the right tools, you can carefully remove the aerator and clean out any debris and buildup on it.
Running Toilets
It is a common plumbing problem that happens when water runs from the tank to the bowl continuously. This continuous flow causes the level of water in the tank to fall, triggering the float to restart and top up the tank. Running toilets are caused by a damaged sealing flapper valve or a loose fill tube.
With toilet repair kits, you can replace either of the damaged fixtures by yourself. Making installations or repairs wrongly can cause further damages; therefore, it’s imperative that you contact an emergency plumber to fix the problem.
Leaky Pipes
One of the most common plumbing emergencies you can expect as a homeowner is leaky pipes. Leaks should be fixed as soon as they are noticed because no matter how small they appear, with time, they get bigger. Leaky pipes attract bugs and cockroaches and can cause damage to the floor and ceiling of your house.
Leaks can be fixed using tapes and fillers, but this is not the best idea. To stop leaks permanently, you should contact a professional emergency plumber in Tustin, CA, to fix them.
Clogged Drains
Having clogged drains is a plumbing emergency that not only inconveniences you but also leads to extensive damages. This can also be an indicator of a more serious plumbing problem in the main sewer line. Clogged drains should be unclogged right away to avoid widespread destruction.
A blocked drain is indicated by water failing to flow out of the bathroom or overflowing in the toilet bowl. If you notice such signs, you can use a plunger to clear the drain before it gets worse. If a plunger fails, seek the services of an emergency plumber. To avoid such experiences, be careful of what you flush down your drain. Never flush substances like sanitary products.
Faulty Water Heater
If you have a water heater in your home, then expect some problems that may occur to it like hot water low pressure. In case you notice a problem with the water heater, check whether the heater is on or off. When you experience low hot water pressure, it might be because of a blockage in either the tank or the pipes that needs to be cleared. If you try to fix this on your own and nothing happens, then you should summon a professional emergency plumber in Tustin, CA.
Slowly Draining Bathtub
Slowly draining bathtubs result from the collection of dirt, debris and hair in the drain. Slow draining tubs indicate that the pipes are almost getting clogged, which is an issue that might be difficult and costly to resolve.
Hair, dirt, and other debris accumulate either in the tub drain or the trap. If the block is in the tab drain, then you should remove the tub stopper and using needle-nose pliers, pull out all the hair and other debris. If the blockage occurs in the trap, products like Bio Smart are used to clear the gunk, but if it fails to work, seek the services of an emergency plumber.
Slow Draining Sink
This is another type of the most common plumbing emergencies that most homeowners experience. Over time, hair, dirt, and other debris tend to accumulate in the sink drain, thus blocking it. For the waste to flow smoothly, objects causing blockage should be cleaned out. To clean the sink drain, you can use a handy plumbing tool called the Zip-it. You can also solve this by removing the pop-up and cleaning it out.
Leaking Hose Bibb
During spring and summer, a leaking hose bibb is a common plumbing problem that many homeowners’ experience. After a long winter season, unprotected hose bibb can crack, resulting in a leakage. Professional plumbers in Tustin, CA, recommend you to purchase a frost-proof hose bibb to reduce the chances of dangers that may result from future leaks.
Gas Leaks
This is a serious plumbing emergency that, once noticed, should necessitate immediate evacuation from the residence. Once out, you can now call your gas company or an emergency plumber to come and fix the leak.
Call the Pros!
When you experience either of the above plumbing problems, contact the pro emergency plumbers at bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of Orange County to help you fix the issue immediately.
Photo By JJ Gouin at istock

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