The bathroom may be the most indispensable room in your home. Everyone uses it. You typically start and end your day there. Sometimes you get your best ideas in the bathroom. If you still aren’t convinced, see how you feel when it isn’t available. Since all roads lead to the bathroom, you’ll want to identify signs your bathroom plumbing needs repair as early as possible.
Pipe Knocking
Pipe knocking frequently signifies either loose valves or support straps somewhere within the pipe infrastructure, or pressure in the pipes after usage. High water pressure that triggers jerking motions can cause pipes to spring leaks or break free of their mountings.
Water Cools Too Quickly
You waited all day for a relaxing, hot shower, but only have a few minutes before the water turns lukewarm or cold. Unless hot water was recently used by other appliances or people, the water heater may be failing or leaking. If the thermocouple in a gas water heater fails, burners may not stay on long enough to heat water to the desired temperature. Burned-out elements in electric water heaters also limit water-heating capabilities.
Dripping Water
If the faucet or showerhead drips continuously, no matter how slowly, you have a plumbing issue that needs to be solved. The water pressure could be too high, the water may not be draining as it should after the faucet has been turned off, or a valve that controls the on and off settings may be broken. While this issue may seem minor, it can lead to permanent plumbing damage.
Water Discoloration
Only clear water should flow out of your bathroom faucets. If water is cloudy or white, there may be excess air in the pipes. Water that looks red, yellow, or brown can signify the presence of rust from water main breaks or decades-old pipes. Blue or green staining on fixtures can indicate that corroded pipes are allowing copper or lead into the water source, which may pose health risks.
Basins Drain Too Slowly
If your sink or tub drain is emptying slowly, or if the bathtub starts to fill when you turn on the faucet in the sink, you may have accumulated debris clogging the pipes. Just because substances were supposed to go down the drain doesn’t mean they made it all the way out. Other potential issues include broken pipes or unwanted pooling at the main drain. Stagnant water can become a breeding ground for harmful bacteria and mold.
Lower-Than-Normal Water Pressure
When you turn on the faucet, and less than a steady stream of water appears, you could be experiencing signs your bathroom plumbing needs repair. Low water pressure can occur because of pipe or faucet clogs, a leaky water main, water heater damage, a failing pressure-reducing valve, or broken pipes that are leaking behind walls somewhere in the house.
Answering Your Plumbing’s Call
Bathroom plumbing issues, when left unattended, can grow into larger, more expensive problems and create health risks. As one of your home’s most frequented rooms, it is important to respond to early warning alerts and address issues promptly to keep water flowing freely down the drains for years to come.
