When to call a plumber
People often think of a plumber when they have an urgent plumbing issue, like a blocked drain or a leak. There are many other signs, however, that you need the services of a plumber.
You may not see an obvious problem, but there are some clear signs in your home that indicate it’s time to call in a plumber.
Here is our list of the top ten ways your home is telling you to call your local plumber:
Slow drainage
This is a very common sign that there is a plumbing issue somewhere in your home or on your property. The water in your kitchen sink, your shower drains, or elsewhere in the house goes down the drain more slowly than expected. Often, it’s a simple clog that needs to be cleared. But if you notice slow drainage in more than one area of the home, it may mean there is a problem in the main sewer line or in the pipes, such as tree roots interfering with your pipes.
Blocked or gurgling sinks
If you have drains that are regularly getting blocked, or you notice water gurgling up from the sink, this is a sign that water isn’t draining away properly. Somewhere down the line there is a blockage, a tree root interfering with the pipes, other debris interrupting the drainage, or possible damage to the pipes.
You’ll want to have this checked out by our drain unblockers before it becomes a more severe overflow or leak.
Clogged toilets
An occasional clogged toilet is normal. As much as we try our best to prevent a blocked toilet, they sometimes do happen. But if your toilet is regularly getting blocked no matter how careful you are, you likely have a drainage issue or a problem in one of the main pipes that needs the attention of a professional plumber.
Bad smell
If there are bad smells coming from your sinks or drains, or there is a general sewage smell anywhere in your house, this is a good indication that there is a problem somewhere in your drainage system. Either the water isn’t draining away properly, or sewage gases are coming back up into your house because drain traps aren’t doing their job.
A foul smell could also mean that there is food or other residue stuck in the pipes. It will start to decompose and the water around it will become stagnant and smelly. These are all potentially harmful issues, and you’ll want to resolve the problem quickly.
Low water pressure
If you notice a change in the water pressure in your home, it’s a clear sign that there’s an issue somewhere in your plumbing system. Several things could be causing this.
There may be something clogging your pipes, there may be an issue with your hot water heating system, there may be an issue with the water main, or there may be a leak in the supply somewhere. You’ll need the help of a professional plumbing service to fix the matter.
Mould or brown spots on the walls or ceiling
If there are signs of mould or brown patches on the walls or ceilings, these are most likely caused by water or moisture damage. The worst-case scenario is that these patches are caused by a leak that is causing damage to the walls. But it may also mean that there isn’t proper run-off or ventilation.
You’re best to have a plumber investigate as soon as possible. Household mould can not only cause damage to your walls, but it can also lead to serious health issues.
Noisy pipes
When your plumbing is installed correctly and working properly, you shouldn’t hear any banging or rattling from your pipes. If you do hear strange noises, this may indicate a cracked pipe, a fitting that has come loose, or something that has become trapped in the lines. A knocking or banging sound coming from the pipes is often referred to as “water hammering”.
The technical name for it is hydraulic shock, but because it sounds like someone hammering, that’s how it is usually referred to. It’s caused by a sudden stop or change of direction of the water in your pipes and is usually caused by an irregularity in your water pressure. There are a few things we can do to fix this and prevent it from continuing.
Peeling or bubbling paint
If you notice that the paint on your walls or ceiling is starting to bubble or peel off, this is a sure sign of moisture damage. There may be a leak somewhere and our best advice is to have it looked into immediately. There may possibly be damage forming to the structure underneath, and the longer you leave it, the more problematic and expensive it becomes.
Discoloured water
If the water coming out of your pipes is discoloured, stop and call our plumbers on 0800 437 021. Yellow or brown water usually means rust in the water, which is caused by old or damaged pipes that need replacing. Very rarely, you may see a green tinge to your water.
This is a sign of corrosion in copper pipes, and this also needs to be looked at immediately. You should never be drinking or using water that is coming from damaged, rusty or corroded pipes. If, on the other hand, the water is cloudy, that is okay. Cloudy water is caused by air in the pipes, which is completely harmless.
High water bills
An increase in your water bills will occur, obviously, when your usage changes. Over the summer holidays, for example, you may have members of the family home from university. Or you may do more laundry during some months because of winter sports, for example.
But if you notice an unexpected rise in your water bills, this may be an indication that you have a plumbing issue. There may be a leak somewhere in your house that is, quite literally, washing money down the drain. You’ll want to have a plumber look into this immediately to not only stop the wasted expense, but to ensure that the leak isn’t creating costly damage.
If you notice any of these things in your home, it’s time to call our plumbers. We can get on to the problem quickly and help avoid any further damage and costly repair bills in the future.