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Knowing what to watch out for is half the battle when it comes to owning a home. The sooner you can spot a plumbing problem in your home, the sooner you can get it fixed and the less damage it’s going to do. However, most homeowners don’t know the first thing about plumbing, especially as it pertains to discovering and identifying problems. If you want to make sure you’re calling a plumber as soon as possible every time, here are six signs you need to watch out for.
1. A pipe or fixture is leaking
No matter how minor a leak in your home may be, it’s a big problem. Leaks only get worse with time, and they can cost you a lot of money in wasted water and water damage to your home. If you notice any pipes or fixtures leaking, call a plumber right away before you end up with a larger repair bill.
Oftentimes, stopping a leak is as simple as replacing a component of a fixture or replacing a pipe fitting. While these repairs are still going to cost you a bit of money, you’ll save a fortune compared to what you could pay for the water damage leaks can cause.
2. A pipe is frozen
Burst pipes are one of the biggest problems plumbers have to deal with, and it all starts with a pipe freezing. When the water inside a pipe freezes, it expands to the point that it can crack the pipe. If it’s below freezing outside and one of the fixtures in your home isn’t working, chances are you’ve got a frozen pipe.
A professional can help thaw your pipe out before it gets damaged, so it’s important to call the pros right away. The sooner you have somebody check out your frozen pipe, the less likely it is to burst. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in water damage, so preventing frozen pipes from bursting should be a top priority.
3. A pipe is badly clogged
Slow or clogged drains aren’t an uncommon plumbing problem, but they certainly can be. If you can’t get rid of a clog using a liquid drain cleaner and a plunger, that’s a sign that you need to call a professional. Any further drain cleaning needs to be handled by a professional and trying it yourself could result in hundreds or thousands of dollars of damage.
Bad pipe clogs can lead to sewage backups, which introduce dangerous sewage to your home. Drain clogs can also lead to pipe corrosion or flooding, both of which result in costly repairs. These major clogs have to be removed using an auger or snake, which can cause significant pipe damage and even flooding if done wrong. This is why you need to call a plumber if you have a drain clog you can’t take care of on your own.
4. Your water tastes, smells, or looks strange
When you fill a glass with water or turn a faucet on, you can usually tell if there’s something wrong with your water. If you notice the water coming out of a faucet tastes, smells, or looks strange, stop drinking it and have somebody check it out as soon as possible. While some changes in water quality aren’t a huge deal, you could be drinking toxins that can lead to serious health problems. In particular, you want to look out for:
- Water that has a blue or green color
- Cloudy or foamy water
- A chlorine taste in water
- Dirt and sediment in water
- Water that smells like sulfur
If you notice any of these water quality issues in your home, call a plumber to have it checked out. The last thing you want to do is put your health at risk by drinking contaminated water.
5. You have no hot water
Every morning when you wake up, you expect to have hot water. Whether you’re washing your hands on a particularly cold day or taking your morning shower, hot water is an essential part of modern life. Unfortunately, there are several water heater problems that can lead to a lack of hot water in your Jacksonville, FL, home.
The best-case scenario is a simple breaker problem. If a breaker is tripped, it can prevent your water heater from heating up. Most of the time, however, you need to replace a heating element or thermostat. And in most cases, it’s the bottom element or thermostat that goes out first, since it does more of the work.
6. Your water bill is significantly higher than it should be
It’s normal for your water bill to fluctuate a bit from month to month, but a sharp increase in your water bill is a sign that you need to call a plumber. It could be that you’ve got a leak, a running toilet or a dripping faucet. In some cases, a high water bill can result from water meter problems.
If you haven’t added members to your household or significantly changed your water use habits lately, you shouldn’t see a massive change in your water bill. If you do, it’s time to call a plumber.
Give Us a Call
Knowing what to watch for is only half the battle when it comes to taking care of your home’s plumbing; you also have to know who to call when you have a problem. If you’re in the Jacksonville, FL, area, the best way to solve your plumbing problems is by calling Bert Norman’s Plumbing. We have a team of experienced plumbers who can help you get leaks, clogs, and other problems fixed in a hurry no matter how severe they are. We can even handle major work like plumbing an addition or remodel and repiping your home. When you need a plumber, give Bert Norman’s Plumbing a call at 904-225-5888.