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How to Diagnose Common Home Plumbing Issues

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You may not think about your home's plumbing until the day you notice a problem like low water pressure or a water stain on the wall. You can correct some of these issues if you have a few home plumbing supplies and tools. Other problems require the expertise of a professional. To determine whether you're dealing with an easy fix or a larger problem, it helps to diagnose household plumbing problems.

Clogged Drains

When the kitchen sink or bathtub backs up or drains slowly, chances are something is clogging the drain pipe. If the backup happens at a single sink or tub, check the fixture trap and snake the line. The next step is to inspect the house's drain lines. Check for signs of a clog near the main drain, roots in the pipes leading to the sewer or septic tank or a broken drain pipe.

Dripping Faucet

A dripping faucet is more than annoying. It wastes water and can lead to more expensive repairs if left untouched. Faucets usually start leaking when the fittings for plumbing (washers, o-rings and valves) break or wear down just enough to let water through. To find the source of the problem, identify the location of the leak—at the handle or the spout—and start checking the washers and o-rings that seal them.

Leaking Pipes

The first sign of a leaking pipe in your house is often an increase in your water bill or a decrease in water pressure. If you suspect a leak, determine whether the leak is inside or outside the house. Visually inspect the faucets in the kitchen and bathroom for water. Add food coloring to the toilet tank. If the colored water makes its way into the bowl, you probably have a leak in the toilet. You can also look for signs of water damage on the ceiling, floor, walls and furniture.

Locating leaks outside the house can be more challenging. If you cannot find leaks inside the house or you fix the ones you find and still have a problem, it's time to look outside. Puddles and wet spots on concrete can appear near leaking pipes and might be the only sign there's a leak underground. You may need to call a professional to help with this.

Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure makes it difficult to bathe, wash dishes or run the washing machine. If you're not getting an adequate amount of pressure at the sink or shower, inspect the water pressure reducing valve. You can open this valve to increase the level of pressure. Another common source of low water pressure is a clog in the faucet, shower nozzle or water supply line.

If the water pressure is low only when you try to use the hot water, check the hot water heater for problems. A leak in the main water line can also lead to low water pressure. Look for signs of a leak near the spot where the main water line meets the sewer. Call a professional for help if you see wet areas on the ground, especially if you haven't received much rain.

No Hot Water

If you have no hot water in your house, it's time to check the hot water heater instead of the plumbing for the shower. Water heaters last eight to 12 years, but other problems crop up that prevent it from heating water properly. Make sure the circuit breaker controlling the water heater is on. Then, move on to inspect the thermostat and heating element. You might be able to replace them. If that doesn't solve the problem, look for sediment build up or corrosion in the tank.

Overflowing Toilet

In most cases, the cause of an overflowing toilet is a clog somewhere in the system. Turn off the supply of water going to the toilet. Try to dislodge a clog using a plunger or a toilet snake. For clogs deep within the system, you may need to call a professional who has the right tools and expertise to quickly take care of the problem.