Common Plumbing Problems That Could Be Dangerous to Ignore

By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

As we move into winter, many homeowners often prioritize checking their furnaces and other heating equipment, potentially neglecting other important systems. While maintaining your heating is a smart move, your home’s plumbing system will sometimes need help now and then too.

You and your family will want to consider a yearly plumbing checkup. After all, plumbing issues are often only found when something breaks, but chances are your system might have been trying to alert you to the trouble. To minimize your risk of needing serious repairs, here are a few often overlooked signs that your home’s plumbing needs our attention.

1. Low Water Pressure

If the plumbing’s water pressure drops suddenly, that’s usually because of an issue with the main water line. It may be a failure somewhere inside the main line or even a pipe within it, explained BJ Richardson, a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing plumbing manager.

However, if the drop in pressure is isolated to one room, like the bathroom or kitchen, it may be a fixture problem. It might be a simple fix, like swapping out a broken faucet aerator or addressing a water heater issue. Or it could be something a little more complex, like a supply line leading to that room.

“I always tell people to review their water bill too. If the pressure drop comes at a time when you suddenly see a higher bill, there might be a deeper problem,” Richardson said. “It’s smart to check your water meter to see if it’s running even when no appliances are turned on. That’s also pointing to a leak somewhere.”

Sometimes a sudden problem with your water pressure can be related to the municipal supply – in these cases, that is easily resolved with help from a booster pump.

2. A “Sewer” Smell Somewhere in the Plumbing

“While a clog in a plumbing fixture like your sink can sometimes lead to unpleasant odors because of debris, a persistent odor of rotten eggs suggests a more serious issue. Drains have a trap and vent inside them and one of these components can fail. If the smell never goes away, you may have to consider a clogged sewer line or even a sewer gas leak. Solving these problems is usually best handled by the professionals, Richardson said.

Keep in mind that although propane and natural gas possess a distinctive smell, those leaks are often mistaken as a sewer smell. When in doubt, call a professional.”

3. Discoloration in the Pipes

Discoloration and visible wear on exposed pipes are other signs that are often ignored. If you’re in the basement or near exposed piping, it’s useful to examine the pipes in plain view. Noticeable wear and discoloration usually points to the presence of a leak.

Most discoloration happens in sections where two pipes join. Ignoring such discoloration is risky when it comes to your main water lines because they are pressurized, Richardson explained. If the plumbing breaks, it can release a substantial amount of water into your home very quickly.

For some sections of the piping, discoloration comes from the different chemicals municipalities use for water treatment.

4. Poor Drainage

It’s tempting for homeowners to remedy this issue with liquid drain cleaner, but those chemicals are usually only a temporary solution and can potentially damage your plumbing system. Although we’ve all heard of clogs caused by hair, the reality is hair is not the true culprit. Products like chemical cleaners, toothpaste, hand soaps and even the oil produced in our skin create a layer of scum on the drain walls that catches hair and other small particles, something most liquid drain cleaners won’t eliminate. Employing a drain machine or snake will be the most effective way to tackle this type of slow drain or clog. Usually, if the clog is just inside the pipes below the sink, cleaning it usually clears up the problem. But when this doesn’t work, it could suggest a more significant issue.

“The thing you ought to monitor is if multiple drains are clogged, and the problem doesn’t clear up itself despite cleaning the drain under those sinks,” said Brian McMasters, a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing division plumbing manager. “The sewer line might also be in need of cleaning, but in some cases, the cause of the problem is tree roots that reach and crack a sewer line. Repairing a main sewer line is obviously a bigger project and requires trenching down into the ground until we find the exact location of the leak to repair it.”

5. Wet Spots in Your Front or Back Yard

Regularly examine around your house, as well as your yard. It’s a good idea to do so every week. Frequently, a broken underground water or irrigation line leak, or even a sewer main line leak, becomes more obvious gradually, when lots of water has already leaked underground. Search for soft, sunken spots in the grass as these may suggest a hidden issue.

“You also want to be vigilent for things including sudden green patches in typically dry or yellow areas of the lawn,” noted McMasters. “In many cases, that’s a sign there’s a problem a trained plumber can solve.”

Find out everything you need to know about avoiding common issues with plumbing systems and receive expert help at Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing.