Your home’s plumbing system works hard behind the scenes, delivering water to your appliances and taps while draining wastewater away from your home. That said, even a properly built plumbing system can experience issues over time.  

Unfortunately, when these issues occur, most homeowners tend to ignore or put off their repairs. Doing so can end up costing you thousands and put your family and personal belongings at risk. In this article, you’ll learn some of the most common plumbing issues that you should never ignore.  

1. Leaky Faucet 

This is probably the most common plumbing problem that almost all people in the world tend to ignore. Unless you’re an extremely sensitive sleeper who can hear even the faintest dripping sound in your kitchen and bathroom, you’re probably guilty of letting a leaky faucet go on for weeks or months.  

Sure, a leaky faucet may not be as harmless as other types of plumbing issues, but it’s never a good thing to ignore it, especially if you’re worried about the higher monthly bills.  

Assuming a faucet drips 3–5 times a minute, that’s 4,320–7,200 drips a day. At 4,000 drips per liter, you’ve already wasted 1–2 liters of water in a single day or a gallon of water (15,140 drips) in just two days.  

These are sample numbers for just a single leaky faucet. If your home has more than one leaky faucet, the water you waste multiplies quickly and so does the amount you pay for your water bill.  

So, the first time you see your faucets dripping, make sure to fix the issue right away to prevent future issues and higher water bill costs. What’s more, fixing a dripping faucet can be as simple as replacing the O-rings or some tightening here and there. 

If persistent leaks occur, you have multiple leaks in your home, or you simply don’t have time to fix a leaky faucet, a plumber like Fergusons Plumbing Group should be able to handle it at a competitive price. To know more, visit their website at fergusonsplumbing.com.au/leaky-taps/. 

2. Running Toilet 

This is an even more wasteful version of a dripping faucet problem. Some people would fix it right away to prevent wastage, but others tend to still put it off for a few days or weeks. Don’t be the latter.  

A small toilet can easily waste about 20–30 gallons of water a day. That’s 140–210 gallons of water for a week you put it off. However, a medium-sized toilet could waste even more. Thus, it’s not something you should delay fixing.  

Fixing a running toilet could be as simple as fixing or replacing the leaking flapper or a worn-out stopper. However, if a couple of quick fixes don’t get it to stop, you want to call an expert plumber right away.  

3. Low Water Pressure 

Having low water pressure can be frustrating, especially in high-use areas of your home. In most cases, it’s a temporary issue caused by a small hiccup in your municipal’s water supply. However, if you’ve been having low water pressure for weeks or months now, it may indicate a more serious issue with your plumbing that should be checked and fixed immediately.  

If low pressure occurs in a single faucet, then you can easily replace the fixture right away. However, if multiple fixtures are not giving you the water pressure they should, then it may indicate a major leak in one of your plumbing pipes. Not only does it waste water, but it may also cause significant water damage.  

If you suspect a hidden leaking pipe, calling a professional plumber can help you figure out the origin of the leak and resolve the issue. This way, you prevent further damage and wastage.  

4. Slow-Draining Sinks And Clogged Drains 

Most people simply can’t ignore a slow-draining sink or clogged drain. After all, a clogged drain is useless until you fix it. That said, even if a clogged drain may seem easy enough to fix on your own, you shouldn’t just fix it with a few DIY methods without getting to the core issue.  

If you have frequent clogging on your sinks, don’t just perform the same unclogging techniques every time. If you don’t take it more seriously, the clog could cause wastewater to back up into your kitchen or bathroom, causing a very unsanitary condition.  

For instance, if your kitchen sink has stubborn clogs that go away and come back in just a few days, consider checking and cleaning the sink traps. These refer to areas where debris tends to accumulate and cause frequent blockages. You can also use a drain snake to deeply clean your lines.  

Takeaway 

It’s easy to overlook plumbing issues, such as dripping faucets, especially if they’re just minor. That said, it’s best to never ignore a plumbing system that’s acting up. Ignoring or putting off these issues can result in more serious problems down the road, putting a strain on your wallet.

Jane