Common Plumbing and Heating Problems

As the owner of B&J Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning Inc., and a licensed and certified plumbing heating and cooling specialist, Mark Wethington has seen it all. From garbage disposals leaking food to hard water eating away at tanks, Wethington is no stranger to making repairs, big or small, for the homeowners that rely on his team’s services. Having noticed a pattern of some of the most typical reasons that customers call his company, Wethington has devised a list of some problems you’re most likely to see in your home, as well as some solutions.

Poor Installation: Many homeowners get a sense of satisfaction knowing that they got their hands a little dirty and updated their house themselves. But, a lot of the time, since they are not experienced professionals, they run into small problems that escalate and turn into major repairs. Approximately eight out of every 10 jobs Wethington is called to are the result of improper DIY installation, he explains. Sometimes, it is because the installer didn’t follow the instruction manual’s directions, or he just didn’t have the correct materials. When it comes to installing piping, heaters and other important things in the home, there really is no room to cut corners. Everything has to be done properly. While you may be trying to save money by doing the work yourself, in the long run, a professional will need to come in to correct mistakes. Save yourself the hassle by hiring someone who is experienced and whom you are confident will do the job correctly the first time.

Outdated Pipes: Many older homes were built using cast-iron pipes. The problem with this, says Wethington, is that the pipes have a rough interior that collects a lot of the larger particles that pass through it and cause a lot of clogging. Instead, he recommends replacing your old pipes with PVC alternatives. The interior of PVC is much smoother, so food, soap scum and other materials can pass through it easily.

Kitchen Sink Drains: Your sink drains are exposed to dozens of substances every day. Some are small and cause no problems, while others build up, requiring a plumber’s tools and expertise to extract the clogs. The culprits of most clogs are of course, food, but also grease and soap. If you don’t have a garbage disposal, then you should have a trap in your sink to catch large pieces of food before they have the opportunity to make their way down the drain and clog your pipes. And, you should never pour cooking grease down your sink, as it coats your pipes, hardens, and limits the amount of space for other things to pass. Soap, on the other hand, is probably not something that most people consider a plumbing problem. But, like grease, soap tends to build up in pipes, forming large globs that can be difficult to dissolve.

Washing Machines: Most people don’t think about cleaning their washing machine’s drains and pipes. In reality though, all the soaps and softeners you are using don’t make it to your clothes. The leftover detergents, powders and gels fuse together, causing sticky masses that get caught in your pipes, restricting water from entering the machine. Once every few months, or more often if you feel necessary, start your washing machine at a setting for a large load, without adding any clothes. As the water begins to fill up, add 2 cups of vinegar and let the cycle run completely. When the cycle stops, take off any attachments for bleach and fabric softener and rinse them. Once you reattach everything, wipe away any excess particles you find in the machine and go about your laundry routine as usual. It is also important, instructs Wethington, after every few loads to clean the lint tray that accumulates lint from particles that become detached from your clothes.

Whenever a plumber visits your home, ask what caused your problems and what you can do to prevent the same issues from happening again.