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One of the things we all dread is dealing with the plumbing. When there is an issue like this, chances are, we need to break all the tiles, remove the floors, find the damaged pipe, and then realize that there are issues with the foundation. When there is an issue like this, which usually starts in the bathroom, we may end up spending up to ten digits on reparation.
The good thing here is that not all problems are going to cost that much, and there are some issues that you can intercept before they do damage, and deal with them before you need to do a deep remodel. Here, we are going to list some of the most common bathroom plumbing issues and we are going to tell you how to fix them.
1. Clogged pipes
The number one issue that all of us had to deal with is clogged pipes. Even if your system is brand new, chances are, you will deal with this at least once. This problem can occur for a number of reasons, including what we throw in the toilet and what we think can be washed away.
Sometimes we hope that we can just throw away food leftovers in the toilet, or we hope that the products we use on our faces and bodies can be just washed away with water instead of proper products. This easily leads to clogged pipes, and the problem can be fixed either with a plumber’s snake, or specialized products and boiling water. Keep in mind that in some cases, you won’t be able to do this on your own, and if you use the wrong product, or if you put too much pressure on your pipes, you may damage them.
2. Leaky pipes
Leaky pipes can easily damage not only your bathroom but also your whole home’s foundations. If you don’t notice them, or if you don’t react on time, you risk flooding, mold, mildew, bacteria, and even pests. If you notice that your water bill has increased and if you cannot notice any other plumbing issues, chances are, there is a leaky pipe somewhere in your home.
You need to find the problem as soon as possible ad address it. This can be done in one of two ways. You can either use a proper tape that is made for this, and try and bring the pipe to its original condition, or you will need to fully replace the pipe.
In some cases, if there is a small leak, this can easily be done with tape, but if there is a big hole or if there is a lot of water running out, you have to contact the professionals. This is one of the cases when you should not do it on your own, because you can easily flood your whole home if you do even one small mistake.
3. Slow draining
We’ve all dealt with this – we’ve tried to take a shower or a bath, and we’ve realized that the water takes hours to fully drain. This causes an issue with so many things, and it can easily lead to mold and harmful bacteria gathering.
The most common reason why this is happening is our hairs that fall every time we wash out hair. If we don’t properly brush, or even if we do, when we wash our hair, we lost some of it, and this can lead to clogged drains and slow draining. To deal with this, you just need to use the right product that is going to remove the blockage, or you can use a plumber’s snake to remove the obstacle on your own.
You can read more about bathroom plumbing issues here, and you can find out when is the right time to stop trying to do things on your own, and instead call a professional.
4. Running toilet
The problems with a running toilet may not seem too big until you calculate how much water you are wasting and how much your bills are going to get increased. It is estimated that you may end up spending close to 100 dollars per month on this just because your toilet is leaky.
The first thing you need to do is check if there is a physical issue, if something is disconnected, or if there are any cracks. If this is the problem, then you need to replace either just those parts or you will need to change the whole toilet. More often than not, there is an issue with the flapper valve, and this is pretty easy and simple to fix and replace.
5. Sewer backup
We left the scariest one for last, and no one wants to deal with this problem. We will accept and gladly take on all the other issues listed here if we never have to deal with a sewer system backup. This is not only a dirty job but it can also be complex and it can lead to many other problems.
The good thing about this is that in some cases, this problem can be dealt with pretty easily. You should first start by letting the water and everything else drain on its own. Don’t flush the toilet again, don’t use it for a few hours, and just let everything drain. Once that is done, you should find a good product that is going to penetrate the pipes and remove any blockages.
You can combine those products with boiling water and hope that it is going to help. More often than not, this problem appears when there is toilet paper blockage, or if someone threw something they are not supposed to. If you cannot do it on your own, then contact a professional that will remove the blockage without doing any further damage.
There are a lot of other problems that may occur with your bathroom plumbing, but these are the most common ones. Everything usually starts with a clogged pipe, so make sure you know what you can pour down the drain and what you can flush into the toilet.
Prevention is the best solution, so do your research, learn how to protect your pipes from freezing in the winter, and do regular inspections. Keep in mind that it is better to let the professionals handle these issues than risk and do more damage than good.
