It’s not a steady sound, and it’s not always consistent, but when you hear a pitter-patter as you watch late-night TV in your living room that can only mean one thing: A leak from your kitchen faucet at midnight.
Very rarely does a plumbing problem take five minutes to fix. But generally, you’re going to need a plumber.
But why? Attempting to resolve the problem on your own may worsen it. A small water leak from the underside of your bathroom sink could, if you’re not sure what you’re doing, become a Niagara Falls-style disaster.
Fortunately, some people do. Today we will go over 10 Diagnosing Reasons it’s Time to Put the Wrench Down and Call a Professional.
Interested in learning more? Keep reading!
Why a DIY Fix Isn’t Feasible
Some things in life we can wing it, but plumbing isn’t one of them. Unless you are up to date with the newest coding standards and have many years of experience, you will be lucky if you only guess the diagnosis and the solution.
Not only would this create a more difficult situation for you, this could also be a safety concern. Everything from working at heights to hand tools involves safety considerations while in the throes of a plumbing project. It is also not the best time, in the middle of the night to be looking for your flashlight and screwdriver in the dark.
To do this, you best start calling your local plumber now. If you take this route you can know that there will be a solution.
Signs You Need to Call a Plumber Now
When a plumbing disaster strikes it can be hard to think straight. They have water everywhere, and it is not stopping. And this list can be helpful to keep on hand so you always know when the top 10 signs are that it’s time to make that phone call.
And this is when you call your local plumbing experts for help.
Your Sink is Slow to Drain
Does it feel like you’re walking through a kiddie pool when you take a shower? Is your kitchen sink elbow deep when you do the dishes? If that’s the case, you probably have a drainage problem.
There may be several offenders, but it can be summed up in one sentence – something is clogging your plumbing. Your pipes could be clogged with anything from children’s toys to food scraps to small rodents, and you won’t know by peering down your dark drain.
A plumber, conversely, would use a plumbing auger to force the clogs out. This is a long, flexible instrument, referred to as a drain snake that is 10 times more effective than that old wire coat hanger you’ve been using. Instead of attempting to chip at it and maybe destroying the inside of your pipes do just that – call!
Your Water Pressure is Non-Existent
Are 20 minutes required in the shower simply to rinse the shampoo from your hair? The culprit is often poor water pressure.
If it seems like you’re standing there for ages and you still don’t feel clean, you’re not only wasting time and energy but you may actually see an increase in your water bill as well.
In these cases, it is most likely that there is a minor clog in the aerator of the faucet. This is causing the water not to come out of it completely even if you turn the handle to the max.
Easy enough, right?
Simply take something small and sharp and push through the many tiny holes in the aerator. Eventually it will dislodge and it will all be good!
Just stop.
Poking around, you might create additional damage to the internal parts of the faucet or even create a leak. Don’t, just call your plumber and they will solve the problem quickly and easily.
You’ve Got a Serious Back-flow Issue
Most likely, you did not acquire your floor coverings for free. Carpets, rugs, hardwoods or all three, regardless of the combination you’ve dedicated time and money to maintaining a clean and functional space underfoot in your home.
So, when the back-flow water begins spewing into the sink and pooling on the bathroom tile, your heart sinks a bit. The reality is that once water goes down your sink and down the drain, it’s in a plumbing system that surely does not smell like a rose garden.
Basically you don’t want that liquid to ever surprise you by coming back up the drain, especially if that liquid is sewer water.
While back-flow is disgusting to handle, it has a fairly straightforward cause. A sudden loss of water pressure in your home, for whatever reason, can cause water to flow back instead of down. Your plumber can close your main water valve down and deal with it from there.
Water is Gurgling Up
You take a shower and your toilet immediately begins to gurgle: something is wrong but you can’t quite figure out what. If your drain is clogged and water is pooling in the faucet, you need to call a professional stat.
But why? In other words, gurgling is the drainage system in search of air. The more it has to struggle, the more the water has chances to flow out inside your premises. You may as well turn off the water and get a plumber before it’s too late.
There is No Water Available
Perhaps, nothing could be more discouraging than approaching your kitchen sink and turning the faucet only to find that no water comes out. And no, you probably didn’t forget to pay your water bill. It’s not simply a plumbing problem, but rather a more major plumbing issue.
The water could be not coming to your house for several reasons. Perhaps, there is a blockage somewhere that has not been detected or a leak. If all of your plumbing was laid bare, and you could identify it that way, it would be easier.
But most of your plumbing is hidden within your walls or under your house. This said, you will never guess to find out where to look. A plumber can diagnose the problem with the help of tools and fix it in no time.
Water Comes Out But Doesn’t Get Hot
Wanting a hot shower but upon returning home you realize that the only shower on the menu is a cold one?
It’s getting chilly outside and this is when warm water is most needed. From cooking to bathing to doing the laundry, it is something that we enjoy daily and only miss when we do not have it.
The most common culprit when you have lost hot water is a water heater that has failed. Perhaps your system is completely wrecked or maybe it just needs some minor repairs. Either way, you’re going to want to call a plumber, as well as an HVAC expert, to troubleshoot the problem and advise you on next steps.
The electrical and gas systems in these are best left to a professional to prevent risks to your body and home.
Your Pipes Have Burst
Lines can burst in the winter months when the water in the line freezes. If not addressed immediately, this can cause major water damage.
You probably don’t know what pipes are affected, but your local plumbers do. They will be able to determine if the pipe has burst behind the wall, on the nearby yard, or beneath the foundation of the home.
This knowledge can provide an immediate start to mitigation and save your home from expensive and unattractive flooding. A good plumber can even prevent leaks from occurring by being able to detect abnormal pressure in a pipe and notice a bulging pipe.
On the other hand, if you instead took the time to search for the leak yourself, the time wasted in the process could actually increase the problem even when the water is turned off from the main valve.
You’re Installing New Appliances
Are you planning a kitchen or bathroom remodel? How about construction of a new site?
Similarly, if you plan to integrate large appliances, like a refrigerator, washing machine, or new sink or dishwasher into a space, DIY it is not advisable.
While this is a costly endeavor and you may be trying to shave a little off or save a bit of money, you will want to have professional plumbing services now more than ever.
But why? It’s more complicated and complex than you think.
These individual components feed into your home’s overall plumbing system, including drains and supply lines. And, if they are to work efficiently, the labor needs to remain in the hands of trained plumbers who can connect everything smoothly.
That way, when you need to use them, you can feel good knowing that they are in a working order.
Your Toilet Won’t Stop Running
You urinated in the toilet hours ago. Then why is it still going? It’s one of those issues that can sneak up on you and can remain unnoticed for some time because it doesn’t make a whole lot of noise.
But a toilet that is running is indicative of something more serious going on with your plumbing. If water is continuously running into the tank, then your water bill will be as well.
There is a seal between your toilet tank and the bowl. Once this seal has been compromised, water will leak into the tank and it will be prompted to continue refilling itself indefinitely.
So, that explains the running noise you’re hearing down the hall. This problem can be solved by your plumber and you can have that silence and peace of mind again.
Your Basement is Soggy
Have you started to dread going downstairs every time a big rain comes through?
If your basement is persistently damp do not shrug it off and do not blame it on the weather. While poor insulation and weatherproofing might to blame, leaking pipes could be a major cause of the problem.
Your plumber will find the source of the leak and that can rule out rainwater or something else as a cause.
Note also that this issue must be tackled immediately because bacteria would breed in that moist environment. In other words, the water at your feet is not the only concern. So does mold, which can result in a number of respiratory health problems for you and your family.
Find The Plumbing Solutions You Need Today
If you find yourself amidst a plumbing catastrophe, a million thoughts will run through your mind. You shouldn’t have to figure out who to call for help.
And that’s where we come in. Day & Night Plumbing has a full line of plumbing services, and we provide live customer representatives to assist you 24/7.
If you’d like to discuss an existing plumbing problem or are curious about what we can do for you the next time you require repair or maintenance services, contact us today!
