Troubleshoot9

Plumbing ProblemsDo-it-yourselfer find the cause of ordinary plumbing problems in the home. Low water pressure, excessive water usage, slow drains, noises, or other problems relate to specific

elements of your plumbing system. The following steps may help you locate the source of a plumbing problem and describe some

of the most basic repairs for each type of problem.

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Listen for dripping sounds. As simple as this step may seem, it may be overlooked in a busy,

noisy home.

Even though a dripping faucet may not seem to Even though a dripping faucet may not seem to waste significant amounts of water, over the course of day, each individual drop adds up to thousands and thousands of drops, or gallons

and gallons of water.

Look for evidence of a leak along the base board of walls near the location of your

plumbing fixtures. Pipes that contain water under pressure can Pipes that contain water under pressure can become corroded, develop loose fittings, or crack because of freezing, allowing a continu-ous loss of water until repaired. Mildew or mold, darkened surfaces, or even puddles of

water may occur below leaks.

Look under vanities and sinks for drips or similar evidence noted in the previous step.

Use a flashlight to follow the path of exposed pipes, looking for droplets of water that will accumulate at the lower section before dropping off, and run your fingertips along these pipes to feel for wetness.

Check your water meter. Municipal water systems use a meter to measure the amount of water used, and by turning off all faucets and appliances that consume

water, the flow to your home will cease.

Locate your water meter, read the amount displayed, note it, then wait an hour or two, and reread it to see if water has gone through it when none was being used in your home. Very small leaks will not appear to move the meter over a short period

of time, so these will be harder to detect using this method.

Listen for noises from your commodes/bath-rooms, to determine if they are running at unusual intervals, when no one has recently

flushed them.

When there is a seal leak in the water closet (toilet), the tank will drain slowly over a period of time, until the water level drops sufficiently for the float valve to open and replenish it. Sticking flush valves and leaking seals in toilets can waste a lot of water.

Identify the problem that is occurring with your drains, specifically, the individual drains which are not functioning correctly.Slow sink or tub drains.Water backing up in the bath tub, shower, or sink. Wet areas in walls or along floors in rooms adjacent to walls containing drain pipes. Wet areas in the lawn near drain piping.

Try to determine the extent of your "slow drain" problem. If it is isolated to only one sink or other fixture, it is probably localised to the individual pipe that connects that fixture to the main line. In other words, if only the kitchen sink drains slowly, the problem is in the sink trap or drain line that connects to the larger pipes which additionally carries water from other sinks, the commode, and the bath tub.

Determine the route the waste water takes to reach the main drainpipe. Many times, the individual drain pipes are routed though the wall cavity, interconnecting to other pipes, which then go below the floor and exit the home to either the septic system or sanitary sewer.

Flush the drain which is not operating like it should with very hot water. For a bathroom or kitchen sink, this can be done by stopping the drain and filling the sink with hot water from the faucet.

Unstop the plug, and the water will drain into the material which is clogging the pipes, and it the material is a residue of grease or greaselike waste, the hot water may dissolve it sufficiently to flush enough of it out the pipes to restore your flow.

Source:http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_repair_plumbing_leak.htmlhttp://www.wikihow.com/Troubleshoot-Plumbing-Problems