Signs Your Plumbing Needs a Checkup

Your home’s plumbing is a lot like its roof: as long as nothing’s leaking, you usually don’t think twice about it. However, recognizing plumbing problems early on can save you some serious stress and money on expensive replacements or repairs. If you think your plumbing may need a checkup, here are some clear-cut signs of a potential plumbing issue.

Reduced Water Pressure

Burst pipes, clogs, and even pinhole pipe leaks can affect the flow of water from your plumbing fixtures. Whether the reduced pressure is intermittent or occurs every time you turn on the faucet, it’s important to address the issue right away as leaks can result in substantial water damage and expensive plumbing replacement projects.

Signs of Water Damage

You should also watch the bottom of walls and floors for structural weakness, dark patches, mold growth, and other signs of water damage. If you notice any of the above, it usually means there’s some sort of leak a plumbing professional will need to locate and fix.

Frequent Clogs and Slow Moving Drains

A sink or toilet clog is not too uncommon from time to time, but if a clog is too bad it completely backs up and water doesn’t want to drain, a serious issue may be to blame. Aside from the obvious, the source of the problem may be freezing pipelines, a root intrusion, or even sewer drain line damage, all of which are too tough of a job for the average homeowner to tackle on their own.

Discolored Water and Unusual Drain Odors

If your water is yellow, brown, or has obvious sediment, chances are it’s due to the condition of your home’s water heater or pipes. While a new water heater or boiler repair may be able to fix this issue and get your water back to crystal clear, an odd smell by itself or associated with dirty water may mean a more serious sewer line problem might be to blame.

Knocking Sounds in the Walls

Hearing a knocking sound in the walls whenever you turn on the kitchen faucet, shower, or another water fixture? If so, the problem should be immediately addressed. Knocking-in the walls is usually a sign of irregular changes in pressure or pipes that have become loosened from their fastenings, both of which can seriously damage your walls given enough time.

Even if your plumbing issues seem small and not a huge deal, a dripping faucet or slowly draining shower may be a sign of something worse brewing on the horizon. Your home’s plumbing doesn’t need an annual pre-summer checkup like the AC, but a plumbing checkup every now and then can help you avoid costly issues further down the road and repair things around your house before they grow into an expensive problem.