If you are a homeowner or planning to be one some day, you will likely have to deal with a few plumbing problems. It helps to maintain your composure and know what to do in these situations. As far as plumbing problems go, here are 4 most common ones along with tips for fixing them from our Maryland plumbers.
Clogged Kitchen Sink Drain
No matter how good of a drain strainer you have and how careful you are when emptying it, any kitchen drain is prone to clogs. Even drains with garbage disposal are. Soap, grease and small food particles make their way into the pipes and may slowly accumulate into clogs. One frequent culprit of drain clogs is coffee grounds—they make it through most strainers and can solidify when cooled.
Unless you let something big drop down your drain, clogs usually form over time and start with slow drainage. This is a good sign you should clean your pipes before the water stops going down completely.
Clogged Sink Solution
If you are dealing with a clogged kitchen sink, start with a plunger. A plunger uses pressure to dislodge a clog and help it get flushed from the pipes. If that doesn’t work, a commercial drain cleaner can be poured down the drain. Be careful, however, as it can be damaging to some pipes and septic systems. As an alternative, emptying a cup of baking soda followed by a cup of vinegar into the drain also works in most cases. If you did all of the above with no results, the next step would be to call your Sykesville plumber to locate the clog and clear it.
Running Toilet
You’ve probably encountered a running toilet before in a public restroom or in your own home. It’s a toilet that never stops filling up the tank after you flush because the water keeps running back into the bowl. A running toilet can waste up to 500 gallons of water per year! The most common cause of a running toilet has to do with the flapper that doesn’t close properly. It may be damaged or improperly adjusted, leaving a gap where water can escape back into the bowl.
Running Toilet Solution
In many cases, replacing a flapper solves the problem and it’s an easy DIY project most homeowners can easily accomplish. Also check the chain the flapper is attached to to make sure it’s long enough to allow for the flapper to fully close. However, if that doesn’t work, you may need to call a plumber to further investigate the issue.
Clogged Toilet
Oh-oh! You flushed the toilet and instead of going down, the water started to rise. What’s going on? Maybe your toddler was testing whether his toy cars would float. Or maybe some family member (you know who that is!) used too much toilet paper again for no reason. Either way, your toilet is clogged and you can’t use it until it’s fixed.
Clogged Toilet Solution
It’s time to reach for the old and faithful plunger. Put some force behind it and hopefully the clog will come out. If not, the next solution to try would be a plumbing snake. At this point you may need a plumber to properly operate the snake and get the clog dislodged. If all else fails, it may be necessary to dismount your toilet to get to the clogged area.
Dripping Faucet
Dripping faucets are not only annoying, but they also waste large amounts of water. There are numerous reasons why your faucet may drip. They include things like a worn-out or improperly installed washer, loose O ring, corroded valve seat, etc.
Dripping Faucet Solution
Fixing a dripping faucet may be as easy as tightening a few screws. But it may also get complicated if you don’t know what you are doing. If you feel confident in your skills, start by disassembling the faucet and checking each part for damage. If nothing looks damaged, put it back together and hope for the best! Still dripping? Contact a plumber to get to the bottom of this.
Michael Runk Plumbing and Heating will be happy to help you with these or any other plumbing problems.