Minor Plumbing Repairs: Leaks & Blocked Drain
Leaks and blocked drain are among the most common household and commercial plumbing problems. Is no surprised why these issues develop slowly, making them hard to detect until they have gotten out of hand. The sooner you find and correct them, the less likely they progress into serious pipe and water damage.
Detecting Leaks & Blocked Drain:
Detecting a leak and blocked drain in its beginning stages, you will have to recognise the early warning signs. Although these changes can be hard to notice, once you are able to detect the early signs, you should be able to pick them up. Key signs include:
- Reduced water pressure– blocked drain often begins as mineral or debris build-ups that reduce but do not completely block the flow of water. Similarly, leaks start small and slowly expand over time. Both issues cause small changes in water pressure. If you find that water is not flowing as fast out of your sink or shower head as you are used to, it is a sign to start looking for deeper damages.
- Visible leaks– once you have identified a change in water pressure, check the pipes in your house for visible leaks. Leaks start small and often are as minor as a slight increase in moisture near the seams, so make sure to inspect your pipes carefully. If you are unable to find a leak, that suggests the low pressure is due to a blocked drain or some other issue.
- Mildew & mold– unfortunately, leaks wet your floor and walls, making it easier for mold, mildew, and other fungi to grow. If you find these growths near a sink, toilet, or other appliance that uses water, inspect it thoroughly for leaks.
- Cracks on foundation– internal leaks may cause water to build up in your home’s interior, putting pressure on the foundation.
- Unexplained water use– if your water meter is running when no one is home or your water bill goes up for no clear reason, odds are the excess water use is due to a leak.
- Drain speed– in its early stages, a block in the pipes leading from your drain may cause water in the drain to empty more slowly than usual. If only one drain is slow, this indicates that only that drain is blocked. If multiple drains slow down at the same time, you may be dealing with a blocked drain line.
- Gurgling & backwash– a blocked drain line will cause your drains to make gurgling sounds even when there is no water running through them. It may also cause debris and sewage to wash up through the drains.
Occasionally, you may be able to diagnose most plumbing problems on your own, but complex problems call for advanced diagnostic methods. Call us today 0208 545 7225.
When To Call A Plumber?
Unless quailed, you should try to avoid repairing a blocked drain or leaks because you may not know the actual problem. Minor problems such as leaks caused by hair in the drain, are easy enough to diagnose and repair. However, if you try to fix a plumbing problem you do not understand, you are more likely to make it worse. Far better you let a professional do the job right.
Even if you know what the problem is and how to fix it, calling a plumber may still be the best option. Consider the value of your time; if a plumbing problem takes two hours to fix, what else could you be doing with those two hours? An experienced plumber will be able to do the job much faster than you, so even if you know what to do, let professionals handle the complex jobs.
Even though you do not have leaks and blocked drain, our team can still survey your pipes for leaks and blocked drain as well as for outdated equipment, structural problems, and other issues that can lead to future plumbing problems.