5 Common Bathroom Plumbing Problems

As a homeowner, the maintenance of your home falls on your shoulders and no one else's. This ranges from making sure your roof is still functioning as it should to keeping up with your plumbing maintenance. However, even with the best attention to detail, problems still occur. That’s nothing to get upset about, but it is something that you need to be aware of. Here are five plumbing problems that you’re most likely to encounter when it comes to your bathroom.

Clogged Pipe

A clogged pipe is probably the most common plumbing issue you’ll face in the bathroom. When your toilet gets clogged, that’s a simple fix. A plunger is all you need. For your sink and shower drains, using a drain snake will help break up the debris and let the water flow freely. If you find yourself constantly having to use a drain snake, consider installing some drain catchers to help prevent debris from going down.

When it comes to drain cleaners, it’s important to be careful. Many drain cleaners utilize harsh chemicals that do well to break up the debris. However, continued use of these chemicals often results in damage to your pipes over time. This damage will cost you when you have to replace your pipes, so stick to natural drain cleaners or avoid using them altogether.

Leaky Faucet

A leaky faucet is not only an annoying sound but also a drain on your bank account. Every drop is another cent your water bill rises. However, leaky faucets are easy to fix on your own. Check to make sure everything is screwed on tight. That is a common (and often embarrassing) issue that people have, but it’s not the only thing that could be wrong.

Look for where the leak is coming from, and you’ll often find the part that needs to be replaced. Things like O-rings, valve seats, and washers can wear down over time, causing the leak. However, fixing them can be easy. All it takes is a quick trip to the hardware store and a tool kit to replace a part of your faucet.

Running Toilet

Similar to a leaky faucet, a running toilet is annoying and expensive. Even though it’s not leaking outwardly and causing a mess, the internal leak is still costing you money every day you let it be. Use food dye in your toilet to determine where exactly the source of the leak is. The most common culprit is the flapper, but not always. Once you’ve identified the problem, most can be fixed on your own with items you can buy from the hardware store. Follow the instructions on the packaging or online and stop wasting money.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure isn’t the end of the world, but it can put a serious dent in your productivity if it takes more time to rinse the shampoo out of your hair. The first thing to check when the water pressure lowers is if it’s lower throughout your entire home or only in your bathroom. If it’s low throughout the home, it’s time to call a plumber. If it’s only low out of one fixture, your showerhead, for example, there’s likely a blockage in that pipe. Unscrew the showerhead and clean out any debris that has accumulated, along with cleaning off the showerhead itself. If that doesn’t fix it, you might need to call a plumber for help.

Discolored Water

Discolored water is a serious problem that you need to take care of quickly. If your water comes from a city water supply, check to see if they’ve reported an issue. These issues normally take a few hours to clear up, and they’ll let you know when it’s safe to use your water again. If the problem isn’t on their end, you need to call a plumber.

If your water comes from a well, discolored water normally means something got into your water supply. You’ll either need to flush it out yourself or call a professional to do so.

Plumbing problems aren’t the end of the world, but they need to be addressed sooner rather than later to avoid them getting worse (and more expensive in the process). Don’t ignore small signs of bigger issues. Fix them yourself or call a reliable plumber to get your home’s plumbing back to functioning properly.