Frequently Asked Plumbing Questions for New Homeowners

Demystifying Common Plumbing Questions

Plumbing is not a common topic of discussion unless a problem comes up, so many homeowners, especially new homeowners, might not know when to call a plumbing service to help and when to try to fix a plumbing problem on their own (if ever). Plumbing maintenance is not something most people think about when moving into a new home because the excitement of finally having a space of their own consumes emotions, and then daily life takes over and things get busy.

Causes of The Most Common Plumbing Problems

Clogged Drains: Many bathroom clogs occur when soap scum, hair, skin flakes, and grime bind together within pipes. This leads to reduced water flow over time and can lead to water not draining at all if the problem is not addressed. Clogged drain repair should NOT include liquid drain cleaner for drain cleaning and should include a call to a licensed plumber.
Running Toilets: This problem can cause water to run constantly and drive the household water bill through the roof quickly. Toilet repair could include replacing the flapper, adjusting the float height, shortening the refill tube, reseating the wax ring, or fully replacing the toilet based on what a plumber determines is wrong with the unit.
Burst Pipes: Can be caused by many different factors such as high water pressure, clogs, age, freezing, corrosion, ground movement, and external pressure. Sometimes, pipes burst without warning, but often signs are present before an incident happens. Freezing occurs if a house is not heated properly when freezing temperatures are present outside the home. Causes of corrosion include water acidity, high water temperature, and minerals in the water.
Backed Up Sewer Lines: This happens when pipes are older and deteriorate, gutters being routed into the sewer, tree roots growing through the pipes, and sewage backups.

Is It Time To Call a Plumber?

Most of these common problems require assistance from a licensed plumber because they have experience with quickly and accurately diagnosing problems, whereas homeowners don’t have that same experience. Self-diagnosing issues can be frustrating and expensive. Homeowners can take care of clogs by removing debris from the drain if it's accessible.

Preventing These Plumbing Problems

Clogs can be prevented by being mindful of what is sent down the drain and installing a hair trap in the drain to prevent hair from causing clogs. A toilet repair can be avoided by not flushing feminine hygiene products, diapers, condoms, paper towels, wipes, Q-Tips, etc., and finding the problem early and repairing it. Keep the heat set at a consistent temperature during the winter to prevent burst pipes and have sewer lines cleaned out every 3-5 years by a professional.

About First Choice Plumbing Solutions

First Choice Plumbing Solutions, located in Port St. Lucie, FL, offers dependable service using innovative solutions by expertly trained plumbing technicians. Angie’s List Top Rated A Listing for seven years means this is the company to call when wanting a trustworthy company to handle all plumbing needs!