Plumbing is an integral part of your house. As a homeowner, you are responsible for keeping the plumbing functional. Unfortunately, plumbing issues are more common than you think. From dripping faucets to clogged toilets, plumbing emergencies can happen anytime. If not addressed on time, these seemingly simple issues can turn into disasters.
While calling a 24-hour plumbing service provider will be the right thing to do, knowing a thing or two about common plumbing issues can also help. With some basic plumbing work, you can prevent problems from occurring. You can also mitigate the potential damage until the professionals reach your home.
Here are a few common plumbing issues and insights into how professional plumbers in Margate handle them. Hopefully, these tips can help you hold the fort until help arrives.
1. Dripping Faucets
Dripping faucets are perhaps the most prevalent plumbing issue. It is impossible to find a homeowner who hasn’t called professional plumbing services in Margate to fix a dripping faucet. Although dripping faucets are not a plumbing emergency, they are a nuisance. Also, they can waste a lot of water and increase your water bill.
Usually, a damaged washer or O-ring is the cause of a dripping faucet. Also, the internal parts of a faucet tend to deteriorate over time. The damage could be a result of mechanical wear-and-tear, dislodging, or stiffening over time.
You can Google “plumbing services near me” to find the nearest plumber. However, you can also perform a simple DIY job. The professionals often recommend replacing the damaged washer or O-ring. If you have the right tools, you can do it yourself.
You can’t avoid the natural deterioration of the washer over time. However, putting less pressure on faucets when turning them on and off can help slow it down. This, in turn, can reduce the chances of developing faucet leaks.
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2. Running Toilets
Just like a dripping faucet, a running toilet is also an irritating plumbing issue. It results in a significantly higher waste of water, sending your water bill through the roof. Also, it can cause long-term damage to your toilet’s flooring and walls.
Depending on the type of toilet you have, several things can lead to a running toilet. They include a damaged flapper valve, a lose filler tube, or an imbalanced float. Check each part to see where the problem is. You can buy the spare parts at a hardware store and replacing them is easy enough.
Tank leaks can also result in a running toilet. You can put a few drops of food coloring or dye in the tank and wait for 15-20 minutes. Check the tank and the toilet bowl to see if there is a leak. It is possible to fix minor leaks on your own using the right tools. However, if you can’t fix it, you need to call emergency plumbing services in Margate immediately.
3. Clogged Sinks
Both the bathroom and kitchen sink will start draining slowly over time. While hair and soap will block the bathroom sink, food particles will cause the kitchen sink to drain slowly. The simplest way to repair a clogged sink is to pour a chemical clog remover down the drain. After a few minutes, you can turn on the tap to see if the clog is gone. You can also use a plumber’s snake to remove the clog manually.
If these tricks fail, you may have to clean or replace the drain under the sink. You will need basic plumbing knowledge and a few tools like an adjustable wrench, pipe cutter, hacksaw, safety goggles, and gloves, among others. The other option, of course, is to google “plumbing services near me.”
4. Clogged Toilets
The most common cause of a clogged toilet is flushing solid waste in it. People in Margate often dump female hygiene products, paper waste, and other solid waste down the toilet, causing them to clog.
Repairing clogged toilets can be tricky sometimes. However, before calling expert plumbing services in Florida, you can try using a plunger. You can place the open end of the plunger over the toilet drain. Now move it up and down to remove the clog. You can also use tweezers to remove the clogged object once it is visible.
If you can’t remove the clog easily or your toilet gets clogged frequently, it’s time to Google “plumbing services near me.” A professional plumber can provide you with a more permanent solution to this problem. Not repairing the clog on time can damage your drainage pipes. Remember, if the drainage line breaks, you will have a much worse and more expensive plumbing issue on your hands.
5. Water Heater Issues
Water heaters can fail for a variety of reasons. For example, mineral deposits can reduce the efficiency of the heating component in your water heater. Leaks can also cause heating efficiency to drop. If you have a gas-fired water heater, the damaged pilot can also result in water heating issues.
Before inspecting the water heater, you need to take a few precautions. Make sure to turn off the water supply to the heater. If you have an electric water heater, ensure you are dry and use rubber gloves when working. If it’s a gas-fired water heater, turn off the main valve.
Try simple adjustments like changing thermostat settings or turning on the pilot (gas-fired water heater) to see if the issue gets fixed. You may also need to clean and flush the tank to remove mineral deposits and sediment if required. Make sure to check the water heater for leaks as well. However, if these simple repairs don’t work, you will need to search for “plumbing services near me.”
Conclusion
If you own a house, plumbing issues are going to be a part of your life. Although plumbing issues are better left to professionals, knowing what to do in a plumbing emergency can prove helpful. With the right knowledge and tools, you can prevent plumbing issues from escalating further. Hopefully, these five tips will help when you are facing such emergencies.
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