If you’re a new homeowner, then you’re likely getting to grips with basic maintenance and repair tasks in the house. There are many things you can do yourself without hiring a professional. These tasks will give you an inordinate degree of satisfaction given the simplicity of the job.
It’s all part of feeling proud to have your own home. Plumbing problems with the water mains or other domestic plumbing issues within the home are very common. If you haven’t experienced it already, you will soon be adding basic plumbing repairs to your repertoire of tricks.
In this article, we’re going to talk you through 10 common issues with the water mains. Make sure you read on because one of the skills you want to develop early on, is to spot the difference between basic repairs you can do yourself and those that need a professional look.
1. Pressure Drop
Whenever you go to the doctors, one of the first things they will check is your blood pressure. Low blood pressure is a symptom of something else. In a similar way, low water pressure is indicative of a problem with your plumbing system.
If you’ve noticed a drop in your water pressure, you check the pressure in all the rooms that have a water supply. If the water pressure has dropped in all the rooms then there may be a problem with the water supply coming into your home. There may be a leak in the supply pipe.
If you find there is low pressure in one room in particular, then that’s your starting point in tracing a potential leak. In contrast, high water pressure isn’t always a good thing either.
2. Follow Your Nose
As unpleasant as this sounds, it is a beneficial tip. If it doesn’t smell right, then it most likely isn’t right. If you’re getting unpleasant smells coming through your plumbing system, then your pipeline to the sewerage may be blocked.
Unblocking the pipes or drains is most likely a job you will want to ask the professionals to do and save yourself an unpleasant task.
3. Pool of Water — Not the Swimming Kind
Keep your eyes out for these. As a general rule, water doesn’t pool but drains. That means if you see pooling water outside in the street or even in your own yard, then there is likely a leak in the water main or in the supply pipe that comes to your home.
4. Drywall Should Be Dry
Sounds obvious so don’t dismiss damp walls as just a bit of condensation. If the walls or ceiling show signs of damp then it could indicate a leak somewhere in your plumbing system.
Another sign to look out for is the forming of circle-like stains on wall and ceiling surfaces. These form when the surface gets damp and then drys leaving a mark. If left unchecked, mold can form and you also risk damaging the structure of your house.
5. Drip Drip Drop
Slow leaking pipes are a common problem in homes. Some leaks are so slow and subtle they may be only leaking a drip at a time, so they can be difficult to notice unless you’re deliberately looking for them. Good places to check are where the pipes make their connection close to the wall.
6. Slow Drain
When you pull the plug in the sink and it takes forever to drain, it’s time to put your thinking hat on and work out why. Some of the most common causes are blockages in the drainpipe which get clogged with hair and other debris. This can often be remedied with some elbow grease and a plunger.
However, more serious issues can come from damage to the sewerage line, especially in older homes. Another contributing factor is the pitch of the drain pipes. If the pitch is shallower than the standard recommendation, then the water will drain slower than it should.
7. Trap Problem
Your plumbing system should have traps installed so that water can enter your and waste can exit without letting in anything else unpleasant. That includes smells from the waste system but also vermin like rats. If you suspect a problem, it’s time to call your plumber.
8. Clogged Corrugated Pipes
You may have noticed that some of your pipes look smooth and normal while others have a corrugated surface. The latter might seem like an innovative idea but they are poorly suited for plumbing systems.
The best pipes have a smooth surface because that ensures all the water and waste properly drains away. The problem with corrugated pipes is that the irregular surface traps debris, which can slowly build up clog, or block the pipes. You may want to consider asking your plumber to replace corrugated pipes with proper pipe fittings.
9. Cracking — No Joke
If you see cracks in the wall or foundation of your property, then you need to get a professional in to assess the damage and locate the problem. Not all cracks automatically mean you have a serious problem, but you may have a water mains leak under your home or in the supply line, which is then undermining the integrity of your walls and foundations. So it’s best to get it checked.
10. Ears Your Problem
You may not associate your ears with plumbing; however, if you can hear strange noises coming from the system, then something is wrong. Your plumbing system will obviously make some noise, but if you can hear strange new sounds like whistling, clanking, bubbling that you do not normally hear, then this is a possible indication of problems with some of your pipework.
Getting a plumber to track down the problem may save you hours of trying to interpret what the plumbing system is trying to ‘say.’
Need Help With Your Water Mains?
In this article, we have reviewed some common issues with the water mains and associated problems. It’s not an exhaustive list as there are always other things that can go wrong. Still, there’s no need to get depressed because a lot of these things you can sort out yourself.
That said, there are several jobs that are either unpleasant or potentially quite time-consuming. So if you want to spend your hard-earned rest on the weekend doing just that instead of fixing the plumbing, you can get in touch with a professional plumber here.
