Common Plumbing Problems

Common plumbing problems are easily repaired by plumberswith the relevant professional experience to back up their work. Indeed finding the right plumbing solution is no challenge for plumbing companies, yet without the appropriate plumbing know-how we can keep guessing the correct treatment. If you too are not familiar with do it yourself plumbing repair, save yourself the trouble and energy that is invested in such work, and call in your local plumber.24/7 emergency plumbers and comprehensive plumbing service providers tackle troubling plumbing malfunctions for you. Equipped with professional plumbing tools and supplies, trained and licensed plumbers carry out extensive repairs, replacements and installations at competitive plumbing costs to your complete satisfaction.Don't let common plumbing problems escalate into complex plumbing emergencies. Provide prompt solutions by submitting the form on your right to receive plumbing quotes for repair, replacement and installation services.

Familiarize yourself with the root of common plumbing problems:

Common Toilet Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Noisy Toilets Abnormal sounds after flushing Damaged fill valve

Running ToiletsContinuous water running with the capacity to waste up to 200g of water in 24 hours

Defective flapper

Offensive Toilet Odor Strong sewage smellburst pipedefective wax ringInsufficient water in bowl

Toilet Clogs

Slow if not no drainage of water from bowlImproper or no flushingBathroom flooding

Build-up of waste matter/tissue paper in the pipes

Poor Flushing Toilet does not flush completelytank's float ball set too high or too low

Common Shower Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Clogged Showerhead Limited water flow or thin jets of waterAccumulation of mineral deposits to be removed or dissolved

Shower LeaksPaddles of water in or around shower enclosure

A defective or worn shower part in need of repair or replacement

Water temperature Fluctuations

Sudden bursts of cold water during hot showers – often happens when another

Clogged, rusty or corroded water plumbing pipes

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

plumbing fixture is turned on simultaneously

Closed or swollen hot water shutoff valveBlown pilot light in gas water heatersDamaged temperature control or defective thermocouple in water heatersSediment buildup in the water heater's tank

Common Bathtub Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Foul odorsBathtub's drain emits sewage odors into the room

Broken or leaky trapDry trap due to infrequent use of bath

Blocked drain Slow to no water drainageAccumulation of bodily fats and grease, soap scum and hair along the drainpipe

Common Kitchen Fixture Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Low water pressure/water temperature fluctuations

Turning on the sink taps reduce water pressure or leads to temperature fluctuations throughout the plumbing fixtures in home

Damaged aeratorsRotting cold or hot water pipesDefective plumbing partsIncorrect sink installation

Foul Odors See common bathtub problems

Sink stoppages/Clogged sink

Slow to no water drainageRusty drainpipesAccumulation of debris in drain

Garbage DisposalScreeching sounds when appliances is turned onSlow to no working

Burned out motorBlocked drainClogged blades

Common Water Heater Problems

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Low to no hot water supplyRunning out of hot water during showering

Sediment build up in water tankDefective dip tube due to rust or wear and tear

LeaksAccumulation of mineral deposits in water tankFaulty drain valves

Plumbing Problem Symptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Noisy water heater

Sediment build up in water tankDefective plumbing partsImproper installation of unitHigh setting of temperature

Other Common Plumbing Problems

Plumbing

ProblemSymptoms Plumbing Diagnosis

Water Hammer

Water running through the pipes contains energy. If water supply is suddenly turned off this energy will cause loud banging sound, also termed the "water hammer" effect

Sudden valve closureImproper absorption of water energy due to leaky air cushioning in pipe

Whistling PipesWater flowing through a restricted section of the pipe causes a whistling sound as a plumbing fixture is turned on

Sediment build up in pipeDefective valve

Rattling Pipes

Water pressure running through a loosely attached pipe causes vibration. When the pipe vibrates against something solid the rattling sound is created

Cushioning around and securing loose pipe

Creaking Pipes

Running hot water in pipe will heat up material and cause a slight pipe expansion. As hot water stops running, the pipe cools off and the metal contracts. Pipe's expansion and contraction are responsible for the creaking or cracking noise

Insulate around pipe or create space for the pipe to expand and contract

Metal Pipe Corrosion

Colored tap waterPipes filled with harmful minerals (rust, dirt, sediment)

Burst pipes Emergency plumbing flooding or water leaks

Water in pipe freezes and expands to burst open the pipe

Plumbing Tip – proper insulation of pipes before winter will prevent freezing/burst pipes plumbing emergencies

Basement Flooding

water built up in soil due to heavy rainfall or melting snow penetrates basement

Installation of flood proofing device, namely sump pump together with a back up pump

Gas Leaks Distinctive gas odorRuptured gas pipe requires immediate evacuation of home or office

Plumbing vent discharging into the building attic or roof space - plumbing vents should terminate outside, above the roof level. This defect should be corrected as soon as possible as there are both health and methane gas explosion hazards when sewer gases are vented indoors. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects   ShareThis   

How to fix sewer odor problems coming from the septic system or plumbing system: a remedy list Questions & Answers  about how to get rid of or fix sewer gas or septic odors coming from the

septic system or plumbing system References

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Here we provide descriptions of sewage smell sources and list of links to details about steps to take in curing methane gas, sewer gas, or septic gas smells that are traced to these building plumbing or to an onsite septic or cesspool or drywell system.

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Remedies for Sewer Odors Caused by Plumbing Defects or Septic System Defects

Also see our broad-scope article on diagnosis and cure of sewer gas and septic odors:Sewer Gas Odors diagnosing, finding, and curing septic tank and sewer line smells.

Backdrafting in building causing sewer gas odors: bath or other building exhaust fans may draw sewer gases up from drain piping, especially if there are dry plumbing traps. See Backdrafting & Sewer/Septic Odors and Trap Siphonage and Sewer Gases. Make sure that bath and other vent fans are properly installed and located, that the building has adequate fresh air intake, and that there are no dry traps or siphoning traps. Add plumbing venting or vacuum breaker vents (where permitted) to stop trap siphonage if necessarty.

Clogged plumbing traps or drains may result in siphonage of the trap water, then releasing sewer gases into the building. See Trap Siphonage and Sewer Gases and CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - un-clog the problem traps or drain lines.

Cold weather correlates with sewer odors or slow, noisy drains: If your sewer or septic odors appear to occur only in cold or freezing weather, see Cold Weather Plumbing Vent Blockage. You will want to install a larger diameter plumbing vent stack from the roof surface up, or from the attic floor out through the roof (if your attic is un-heated). Also see SEWER GAS ODORS in COLD WEATHER for more sewage odor diagnostic articles.

Plumbing traps indoors, smelly: Special plumbing traps which include a built-in seal against gas backups are available for use in problem locations. We just pour mineral oil into unused traps to prevent evaporation of the trap seal.

Plumbing vent: Inadequate plumbing vent diameter or height: If it's a plumbing vent diameter problem the solution would be to install a larger

diameter vent pipe, eg 2" up through the roof and outside. See PLUMBING

DRAIN NOISES for an explanation of plumbing vent requirements, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Plumbing venting Inadequate: plumbing drain line venting: if building vent piping is missing or inadequate or improperly installed get advice from a plumber on both stop-gap ("V-200" vacuum breaker vents from Oakville Stamping & Bending)* or proper (vent piping) repair alternatives. See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISES for an explanation of plumbing vents, and see Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Plumbing vent clogged - due to animals, insect nests, or damaged vent material such as transite piping. Repair or replace the clogged or damaged plumbing vent piping.

See PLUMBING DRAIN NOISE DIAGNOSIS for more about diagnosing clogged plumbing vents

See Transite Pipe Chimneys & Flues for more about plumbing vents made of transite pipe

See   TRAPS on DRAINS and   VENT PIPING

Plumbing Vent location, Bad: if a building vent is too close to a window or otherwise is delivering gases to occupants, it may be possible to extend or relocate it. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Plumbing vent discharging into the building attic or roof space - plumbing vents should terminate outside, above the roof level. This defect should be corrected as soon as possible as there are both health and methane gas explosion hazards when sewer gases are vented indoors. See Plumbing Vent Defects for diagnostic procedures.

Odors and Plumbing Drain Line Leaks or Blockage Repairs

Diagnosing leaks and/or sewer gas odors due to damaged drain or sewer line piping

If a building drain is damaged and leaking the point of damage needs to be found and repaired. If it's an indoor drain the leak can usually be found by evidence of leaks into the building; if it's an outdoor drain leak, use of a plumbing snake, judicious careful probing, or excavation will be needed.

Sometimes simply lifting a section of sidewalk over a drain or lifting a large stone will disclose a previously unrecognized wet area where a drain line has been broken or damaged.

Our photo (left) shows a source of both sewage odors and a blocked main drain line between a house and its septic tank.

The sewer line was broken when a heavy commercial lawn mower drove over the concrete sidewalk below which the sewer line had been installed.

We replaced the entire drain line between the house and the septic tank and our contractor made sure that the new plastic sewer line was properly protected from damage by bedding it in sand.

See SEWER LINE REPLACEMENT for details about installing a new sewer line.

 

Blocked Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewage Odors

If building drains are blocked or appear blocked hire a plumber to snake the drains. If all drains are blocked, the plumber might start by snaking out the main drain. During this process an experienced plumbing power snake handler can tell if the drain line is broken or damaged or clogged by tree roots. If this is the case an excavator and drain line repairs are needed.

See CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Slow Drains as a Cause of Septic or Sewer Gas Odors

If building drains are not blocked but drainage is slow, sluggish, smelly, or backing up into the building, an inspection of the septic tank can indicate (by abnormally high level) that the tank inlet baffle or outlet baffle are blocked (or missing entirely), or that the tank outlet to drainfield is backing up, or blocked, or the drainfield not working. Also see CLOGGED DRAIN DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR

Pumping out or cleaning the septic tank to address an "odor problem" probably won't help: while periodic pumpout of a septic tank is important maintenance to protect the drainfield, will never "fix" one of these problems. The cause of blockage or failure needs to be identified and repaired.

We can think of a case, however, where pumping and inspecting the septic tank baffles might help diagnose a sewer gas odor outdoors or in the building. If the septic tank inlet or outlet baffle is partially blocked by the floating scum layer (the tank is past due for cleaning) sewer gases may back up into the building. See SEPTIC TANK PUMPING SCHEDULE and for a guide to inspecting septic tank baffles, see SEPTIC TANK BAFFLES.