The Seven Signs Your Plumbing Needs Service

Right up at the top of the list of situations that home and business owners don’t want to have to contend with is having plumbing issues. They can run the gamut from small in nature to downright catastrophic. Which underscores the importance of plumbing services.

Before you can call in the pros to do the job, it helps to be able to recognize the various signs that something is amiss. Here are seven signs in particular that you may be in need of plumbing services.

1. Water Damage

This is the one with the flashing red lights. It is the one that you want to see the least because it means that there is something seriously wrong and that it requires attention right now. Water damage has big-time potential to do damage to your home or business.

It can start small, too. Look along walls and floors for the signs of damage. Structural weaknesses, dark patches, even mould growth can all be signs that there is a problem. If you think there are potential water damage issues, call in a professional to check it out.

2. Less Water Pressure

It can be extremely frustrating when water pressure isn’t what it is supposed to be. When water pressure is down, it is a clear indication that there is something wrong though there are a few possibilities as to why that is.

It could be due to pinhole pipe leaks, clogs, or even burst pipes. What’s worse is that water pressure can slowly decrease, making it tough to notice for a little while. With any of those things, it can lead to potential water damage, which can be substantial without the right help to resolve the issue in a timely manner.

3. Frequent Clogs

Clogs are going to happen eventually. With enough sediment and buildup, your pipes may experience slower draining if not outright clogging. While it is normal once in a while, frequent clogging is a potentially major issue that needs to be addressed.

Generally speaking, it means that there is a problem further down in your plumbing. This requires professional intervention as they have the tools to not only perform a proper inspection, but to clear the blockage or identify other potential issues. Don’t just grab some store bought liquid and hope that it does the trick.

4. Discoloured Water

Water is meant to be clear in nature and any kind of colouring should be a clear indicator that it is time to call in plumbing services. Water that is brown, yellow, or has flecks of sediment in it are generally related to your water heater or the condition of the pipes in your home.

When a water heater hasn’t been flushed in some time or is even corroded, it can create that off-colour, gunky water that we all cringe about. Don’t ignore changes in colour as it is an indication that there is a greater issue at play that needs to be fixed.

5. Weird Noises

This can be a tougher one to identify because, depending on the home, there are going to be a plethora of sounds coming from the various systems in the home. But there are definitely sounds that you should not expect to hear when it comes to your plumbing.

When you hear knocking in the walls, it generally means that there is an irregular change in pressure in the pipes or that they have become loosened from fastenings. This can have potentially catastrophic results, so don’t ignore those noises.

6. Funky Smells

There are times where you may notice a funky smell emanating from your drains. There are odd drain line smells that generally come from the lowest drain in your home, typically somewhere in the basement.

When you start to smell something funky coming from the drains, it could mean that there is a sewer line clog or even damage done to the sewer line. That means major repairs that should be done sooner rather than later. Sewer line issues have the potential to be very serious, so make sure that you call in your local professional right away.

7. Lack of Hot Water

One of the most common issues related to plumbing is a lack of hot water. Sometimes it can mean no hot water at all, other times it can be a gradual thing where the water in your faucets or shower doesn’t quite get as hot as it used to.

This is generally an issue with water heater maintenance, an improperly sized water heater, or a greater issue with the water heater. Having a professional come out to assess the problem can provide a clearer indication of what the problem may be as well as what potential solutions can be taken to get that hot water back.

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