This article aims to help you find the causes of the most common plumbing problems in the home, such as low pressure or excessive water consumption, small leaks, noises or other problems related to specific elements of your plumbing system. The steps below can help you locate the source of the plumbing problem and describe the simplest repairs for each type of problem.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: High water consumption (or too high bills)
Step 1. Listen for dripping
As simple as this suggestion may seem, in a noisy home the drip often goes unnoticed. Even the slight loss of a tap that does not seem to consume significant quantities of water over the course of the day can lead to the consumption of liters and liters of water over time. So pick a time when there is no activity in the house, like early in the morning or late at night, and listen.
Step 2. Look for signs of the leak along the base of the walls near the plumbing connections
The pipes contain water under pressure and can corrode, loosen or break in the cold, releasing a continuous stream of water. Underneath the leaks you can find signs of mold or rust, darkened surfaces or even puddles of water. If the problem is inside the wall, it may be necessary to remove the cladding, tiles or break the wall to fix it.
When cold water flows, which then enters a heated environment, the pipes can "sweat" and the condensation water that forms on the surface of the pipes can drip, creating humidity problems without causing any real leaks
Step 3. Check under bathroom fixtures and sinks for signs of leaks similar to those described above
Use a flashlight and follow the outer tubes to see if there are any drops of water that accumulate in the lower section of the tube before falling. Run your finger along these tubes and check for any traces of moisture.
Step 4. Listen for noises coming from the bathroom and if they come at irregular intervals, such as when no one has flushed the toilet
When there is a leak in the toilet bowl, the water tank slowly empties and when the water level reaches the limit beyond which the float triggers the valve, the tank will fill up again. Jammed valves or leaks in the toilet bowl can cause significant water leaks because the flow, even if limited, is incessant.
- Check for leaks from sink and toilet dispensing valves. The block that stops the valve is usually sufficient to avoid leaks, as long as it is pulled properly but without forcing too much to prevent it from being difficult to reopen it. Turn the lock nut (surrounding the block) slightly clockwise (no more than 1/8 turn) and see if the leak around the block stops.
- The dispensing valves are designed to be fully open or fully closed. Close the valve by turning the lever clockwise until it stops. Open the valve by turning the lever counterclockwise to the stop. Sometimes, if the valve has been partially opened and then fully closed or fully opened, it is possible for a minimal leak to stop.
Step 5. Check the water meter
Municipal aqueducts use a meter to check water consumption, so close all taps and devices that use water by cutting off the supply to your home. Locate your meter, read the indicated quantity on the display, write it down, wait an hour or two and then go back to reading the data to see if it has increased while no one was using water in the house. Very slight leaks will not appear on the meter in such a short period that it will be difficult to detect them with this method.
Part 2 of 2: Water drainage problems
Step 1. Identify the drainage problem by identifying the drain that is not functioning properly
Some typical problems are:
- Slow drainage in the sink or pipe.
- Backflow of water in the bathtub, shower or sink.
- Moisture on the walls or along the floors in the rooms adjacent to the wall containing the pipes.
- Wet areas in the lawn near drainage pipes.
- Unusual sounds of gurgling as the water is draining.
Step 2. Try to understand the extent of your slow drainage problem
If it is an isolated problem with only one sink, it is probably also located in the single pipe that connects the sanitary in question to the main pipe. In other words, if it is only the kitchen sink that drains slowly, the problem is in the sink pipe or drain pipe that connects it to the larger pipes that also carry water from the other sinks, the bathtub, etc..
Step 3. Identify the drain path from the sink to the main pipe
Many times the individual pipes are passed through the walls and are interconnected with other pipes which then descend under the floor to exit the house to a cesspool or to the municipal sewer.
Step 4. Run boiling water into the tube that doesn't drain properly
In the case of the bathroom or kitchen you can do this by putting the plug and filling the sink with boiling water taking it directly from the tap. Remove the cap. The water will flow to the material that is blocking the pipes and if the material is a compound of grease residues or the like, the boiling water will dissolve them enough to remove them and return to having a regular flow.
- If necessary, use a specific chemical product to unclog or dissolve the material (soap residues, grease, etc.) blocking the tube.
- Be very careful if you choose to use a plunger. If you don't know the right technique, you risk compacting the material that is blocking the tube, making the task of removing it more difficult.
- Also take a look at How to Unclog a Toilet, How to Free the Tub Drain and How to Free the Sink Drain.
Advice
- Look at your plumbing system analytically. Usually a home has two separate systems, one for the supply that supplies drinking water to the kitchen, bathroom, laundry etc. and a drain that after use removes the water with all the residues it may contain.
- Learn where the general shut-off valve is located and where the individual valves are located. This way you can temporarily eliminate any leaks as they appear and the plumbing system can be shut down for repairs. The bathroom fixtures and the kitchen sink normally have a valve for each delivery pipe that is located in the adjacent wall under the fixtures.
- Insulates exposed pipes to protect them from freezing that could otherwise cause them to rupture. The water expands when it freezes and the pressure in the pipes becomes very strong.
- If you thermally insulate the hot water supply pipes, you will reduce the energy used to supply you with hot water in the bathroom or at the sink, especially if the pipe has to travel long distances before reaching the tap.
Warnings
- Learn about the type of plumbing in your home. Old copper pipes have been soldered with lead and the lead could dissolve in the joints and expose you to the danger of poisoning when you drink the water.
- If you use a chemical to unclog the clogged pipe, read the instructions carefully.
- If you don't have enough confidence in your abilities, don't attempt repair. It is better to leave to specialized personnel with suitable equipment the task of welding pipes, replacing valves or changing taps.
- If there are rusty pipes to be repaired be careful not to force them too much or you could make the problem worse.
