Usually, homeowners don’t realize how much they rely on their plumbing systems until something suddenly breaks down. Even if you take good care of your pipes, drains, and appliances, many potential issues can pop up. When plumbing emergencies occur, they can be devastating to your comfort, finances, and even how your household functions. However, if you can recognize the situation early on, you may be able to have it remedied before it truly disrupts your daily routine. Aside from being diligent and proactive, the best way you can catch plumbing problems early is to be informed about how they present themselves. If you know which symptoms to look for and what they mean, you can stay one step ahead of most issues that pop up.
1. Burst Pipes in Winter
If the temperature drops low enough, you may end up with burst pipes. When a section of your piping bursts, the primary symptom you’ll encounter is the presence of large puddles below the plumbing system. If your pipes aren’t somewhere where you’ll see the leak, you may be alerted by the odor of growing mold spores or the appearance of water stains on your walls. There’s also a good chance you’ll notice worsened or inconsistent water pressure and an increase in your monthly water bills.
Burst pipes don’t usually give you much warning ahead of time unless you’re proactive about looking for the signs. If your pipes are somewhere that you can see them, make sure to occasionally check their condition. Additionally, ensuring that the temperature of your home doesn’t drop below freezing will go a long way towards keeping your pipes from bursting. If you’re in the Phoenix, AZ area, and you find or suspect that you’re dealing with this emergency, you can hire our trained plumbers at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical to fix your piping.
2. Clogged Toilets
You likely don’t need any reminders regarding clogged toilets. There’s nothing worse than flushing your toilet and having the bowl fill up and overflow with water. The problem may not be what you’d typically think of as an emergency, but if all of your home’s toilets are clogged, it’s clearly a major issue. If more than one toilet is clogged, it likely means there’s something obstructing your pipes. This can occur because of excess toilet paper, feminine products, or waste being backed up within your plumbing system.
In some cases, using a plunger might work as a temporary solution. However, if the pipes themselves are clogged, the problem will most likely reappear quickly. Usually, professional plumbers will need to get in there and remove whatever is backing up the pipes.
3. Lack of Hot Water
Every household needs access to hot water. In addition to bathing and washing your hands, you need it to effectively wash clothes, dishes, and other parts of your home. So, when your home’s hot water suddenly disappears on you, it can be a stressful, frustrating experience. More often than not, this problem is the result of something going wrong with your water heater. It could be that the appliance’s heating mechanism is malfunctioning. It could also be a broken dip tube or a buildup of scale or sludge inside the water heater. Any of these occurrences could result in your hot water diminishing or even disappearing completely.
Whether you have a traditional or tankless water heater, you can contact the skilled plumbers at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical when you need it inspected or repaired.
4. Sump Pump Malfunction
Most homes that feature a basement or crawl space will also have a sump pump installed. The sump pump is the appliance that prevents your basement from flooding should there be a water leak or heavy rainfall. Unfortunately, these pumps are susceptible to malfunctioning or becoming clogged with small debris. If your sump pump does stop working, your basement or crawl space will be at a serious risk of flooding the next time there’s a rainstorm. Whenever it rains around your home, it’s a wise idea to check the basement and make sure there isn’t an unusual amount of standing water. If there is, it could be a sign that your sump pump isn’t doing its job. In that case, your local plumbers can promptly get it back running again before the next storm.
5. Broken Household Water Line
Your home’s water line serves as the delivery method for bringing you all of your household water. Every house has one of these lines, and they deliver the water directly from the local source.
If your home’s water line is old and deteriorated, the pipe could burst or spring a leak. When this happens, you’ll likely notice a sudden drop in the water pressure of your household. In worst-case scenarios, your water may stop flowing altogether. Another telltale sign of a damaged water line is the presence of soft, wet spots in your front yard. Those damp patches are caused by the moisture seeping from the pipe and into the soil. Even though the problem isn’t inside your house, your local plumbing professionals will still be able to work on your water line for you and get your home’s water flow back on track.
6. Clogged Sinks and Drains
Your toilets aren’t the only place in your home where you can experience the consequences of plumbing obstructions. Depending on the location of the clogged pipe, you may observe that your toilets are working fine, but your sinks or bathtubs are having trouble draining. Clogged sinks can be a major hassle, as you’ll have trouble washing dishes, using the garbage disposal, and even washing your hands or brushing your teeth. Plus, the last thing you need is your sink overflowing all over the kitchen or bathroom.
With clogged sinks and tubs, you can attempt to remedy the problem on your own. Before calling in a plumber, you may have some success snaking your drain or even using your hands to search for the source of the blockage. If those attempts don’t work, though, you shouldn’t attempt to go deeper into your plumbing on your own. Instead, trust our local experts who are trained, experienced, and possess the necessary equipment. Otherwise, you’ll risk exacerbating the problem and costing yourself more money to get it fixed.
At Christian Brothers Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, we’ve been proudly serving the greater Phoenix area since 1976. Over the years, we’ve built our reputation for guaranteed up-front pricing and quality service. In addition to comprehensive HVAC services, we offer top-notch heating, electrical, and insulation services as well. We want you to have peace of mind with every job, which is why we always include a warranty on parts and labor. We also care deeply about our community. That’s why we regularly support charitable causes, such as Rockstar Rescue and Helping Hands. If you’d like to schedule an appointment with our team, call our offices at Christian Brothers Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical today.
