Sooner or later, a plumbing problem will rear its ugly head. It often pops up at the most inconvenient time and diverts your attention from other pressing matters.
If you address plumbing issues early on, you can avoid significant problems in the future. What are some signs you should look out for?
Draining takes a while
Noticed that the kitchen sink is taking a while to drain the water completely? Is the same issue present in the bathroom sink or the toilet?
Slow or clogged drains are a sure sign of plumbing problems. If you observe these issues in just the kitchen or the bathroom, it’s most likely that the problem is limited to that area. Localized slow drains are relatively easy to address. They are usually caused by the buildup of tiny bits of food leftovers or hair.
However, if slow or clogged drains are experienced in multiple areas of the home, it’s most likely an indication of larger problems.
For instance, the home could potentially have hard water. The term describes water that has high levels of natural minerals and trace metals. While hard water isn’t hazardous, it can cause clogging in plumbing systems over time.
Investing in a water softener is an excellent way to address hard water issues. It comes in several shapes and sizes. The softener tank is attached to the water supply line and helps filter out excess minerals.
Smelly odors
Aside from slow drains, smelly odors can permeate certain areas of the home.
All drains are equipped with a trap and a vent. Both parts work together to prevent nasty odors from the sewer from infiltrating your home.
A drain trap makes use of a water seal within the pipe to keep sewer odors from coming through the sink. A vent will redirect those odors upwards to the roof, where it mixes with outside air. However, there are instances when these mechanisms break down.
A drain trap tends to dry up, and you might need to refill the area with some water. With vent pipes, it can be tricky to find the exact spot where sewer gas leaks are coming through. These pipes run long — from top to bottom — and they are usually embedded within walls.
Contact professional support if you’re not confident with resorting to do-it-yourself measures.
Unusually lush greens in the yard
Usually, a healthy-looking yard is a good sign that it’s being taken care of. However, this can also be a sign of underlying sewer problems.
Sewer water is rich in nutrients and minerals that are good for the soil. A busted sewer line can leak sewer water into your property, causing the growth of yard vegetation. Additionally, foul sewer smells will also be apparent.
This problem is a fairly common problem for homes near a city sewer line. Some causes of sewer line leaks include: clogging, damage from roots of nearby large trees, and wear and tear of pipe materials.
Professional expertise is usually required to repair broken sewer lines effectively.