The Most Common Plumbing Problems and When to Get Help

Almost every homeowner or renter has a few essential tools on hand to cope with minor plumbing emergencies. Many times, a clogged toilet or slow drain may need a little elbow grease and a plunger to work as intended. If you’re handy around the house, you can generally tackle a small repair such as changing out a worn washer or replacing a drain cover. However, bigger plumbing repair jobs need professional attention. Here are the most common plumbing problems and when to call professional.

1. Dripping Faucets – If you’ve ever tried to fall asleep with a dripping faucet in the next room or wrestled with a kitchen sink that didn’t know when to stop, you know how annoying this common problem can be. A dripping faucet also drives your water bill higher.

2. Low Water Pressure – when water that should gush only trickles from the tap, you have low water pressure. This problem might not be related to the pipes in your house but to the municipal water supply. A very common cause of this problem is a build-up of deposits or sediment on faucet aerators.

3. Running Toilet – if you’re tired of jiggling the handle to make your toilet behave after flushing, it might be time to replace its inner workings. Toilets typically run when the flapper valve that lets water pass from the tank to the bowl no longer fits properly, the float is imbalanced or the fill tube comes loose. Toilet repair kits work for most models and require little effort to install.

4. Leaky Pipes – whether your regular inspection reveals a puddle under a pipe or you get an unpleasant surprise when you reach under your sink, leaks can be a costly nuisance. Leaks usually happen at joints, which is why commercial joint fillers and fitting compounds occupy plenty of shelf space in your local hardware store.

Some issues are too dangerous or complicated to tackle alone. Hire a certified professional plumber for the installation of new pipes, sinks or tubs, water heater problems new construction that requires building permits, septic tank leaks and
sewer line breaks or leaks.

For plumbing concerns, contact Keithley Plumbing at www.keithleyplumbing.com or by calling (626) 449-0387. They are located at 3579 E Foothill Blvd #227, Pasadena.