The infographic briefly explains what some of the most common plumbing problems that households run into everyday. The weather in Toronto can range to become very hot in the summer and extremely cold in the winter, exposing your drains to harsh climate changes. This can have a negative effect on the durability of a plumbing system.
1. LEAKING PIPES
In the case of leaky pipes, you will want to be especially caution to first examine if there is hot or cold water leaking from the particular pipe. Hot water can burn you if you are not careful in attempting to seal or tighten the pipe. In most circumstances this is due to the age of the pipe and would require a plumbing specialist to be called in. If you try to fix the issue on your own, you could make it worse and the leak could become more severe.
2. DRIPPING FAUCETS
A faucet that does not stop dripping can be a similar case as with the leaky pipe. Age causes deterioration and your faucet may need to be replaced. If your faucet is leaking, try to shut it off with minimal force and see if the problem persists. If it does, certain parts of your faucet could be loose and need adjusting, or simply has deteriorated. Depending on how much water is leaking it could add up to a large amount of additional water usage per year. Usually it is worth it replace the faucet yourself, or to call a Kitchener plumber to complete the job for you.
3. NO HOT WATER
In the case of having no hot water, you will need to check your hot water heater. If you have a gas heater, you will first need to check if the pilot light is on. If not, you may have to re-light your heater by following the instructions found on the water tank. In some cases if there is a large amount of water used by members of your household, you can have a shortage of hot water. Be sure to check the temperature of hot water tank. You may want to increase the temperature if you find that the hot water is running out too quickly. This will increase the ratio of your hot to cold water, so be sure to inform your family to make adjustments when balancing the temperature when dispensing water. If the issue is that you simply do not have enough hot water for the household, you may want to look at getting a larger water heater altogether. If you have tried these steps but still cannot get hot water to come out, call your gas company to come service your water heater. The service can often be free if you are renting your water heater.
4. CLOGGED DRAINS
A clogged kitchen drain can be irritating and frustrating, resulting in you having to wait by your sink for the water to clear. The best solution for this is prevention. It may be common sense, but always keep a strainer in your sink when washing dishes or preparing food within your sink’s proximity. Remnants of food can fall into your sink and cause a clog over time. Also avoid pouring oil down the sink. If your sink becomes clogged, you should avoid using chemical treatments to de-clog the sink. De-clogging solutions can damage the environment. Start by using a plumber and plugging the other side of the sink (if you have a double sink). If this does not work, call a plumber to help you quickly remedy the situation.
5. RUNNING TOILET
In the case of a toilet that just doesn’t stop running, you should first lift off the rear cover to examine the flapper. The reason the toilet is running is because your toilet’s flapper is not properly covering the hole, allowing water to continuously drip from the water compartment. Try manually moving the flapper into place and flushing again to see if flapper naturally falls into place the next time. If not, part of the mechanical portion of your toilet could be broken, or needing adjustment. If you cannot fix this, call your plumbing to come take a look. Running toilets often waste a large amount of water.
6. SMELLY DRAINS
There’s nothing worse than walking into a kitchen and having a putrid odour coming from your drain. Buildups and partial clogs can lead to rot and mold forming in your drain, sometimes coming from deep within your drain. One trick you can try is to pour a good amount of degreaser (such as dishwasher solution) into your drain and then rising it with hot water to try to push the source of the smell down the drain. Baking soda and vinegar can also help. If you find the smell persists, you may be in need of drain cleaning. The team at Aquamater Drain, Plumbing & Waterproofing Inc. are professionals providing all types of plumbing and drain solutions. If you have a water problem, or need your drain cleaned, give us a call and we’ll come right over.
About Aquamaster
Aquamaster is your full-service basement waterproofing & underpinning company assisting the Greater Toronto Area residents. We offer services such as drain repair, drain cleaning, basement waterproofing, sump pump installation, and more.
