Old home with plumbing emergency in Twin Falls, ID

Help! The Most Common Plumbing Emergencies in Old Homes

plumbingPlumbing can be complicated and tricky to understand. Because we never actually see our pipes, most homeowners have very little familiarity with their home’s plumbing system. And while common plumbing issues like clogged drains can be easy to fix, others… not so much. Plumbing services can come to the rescue when you’re experiencing a plumbing emergency and don’t know what to do, but many common home plumbing problems require fast action. That’s especially true if you live in an older home with fragile pipes.

 

The article is going to take a look at some of the most common plumbing emergencies that you should definitely call a plumber for. If you encounter any of the problems below, don’t hesitate to call for professional help.

 

A clogged drain may not necessarily be an emergency. You may be able to successfully remove whatever is clogging the drain yourself. However, if the clog becomes severe, it can lead to a slowed water flow throughout your home. In this case, a plumber may be your best option. In addition, if water or waste starts overflowing, it’s time to call in the professionals.

 

Any sort of leak or problem disrupting your hot water heater could cause you to waste a lot of money on water heating. In fact, water heating accounts for approximately 18% of energy use in a home in the best circumstances. Additionally, any sort of leak can quickly cause property damage or even flooding. Luckily, a leaky water heater valve can easily be replaced. However, if the water heater wall itself is damaged or rusted through, you may need to purchase a new water heater.

 

If you’re noticing no or very low water pressure, poor water quality, or soggy, wet areas in your yard, you may have broken water lines. This can happen when tree roots, earthquakes, or some other disruption underground causes the lines to break. If this happens, a plumber will need to dig up the ground surrounding the pipes in order to fix them and stop the leaking water.

 

Homeowners must be very careful to look for any pipe leaks, no matter how small. Whether it’s from a frozen pipe that cracked or other damages, burst pipes can cause extensive property damage and flooding that may require a complete pipe replacement.

 

If you’re experiencing bad sewage odors coming from drains, gurgling toilets, multiple drain clogs, or water pooling around your basement floor drain, you may have a sewer system backup. Sewer system backups can be an absolute plumbing nightmare. They are messy, inconvenient, and costly. It’s important to contact a plumbing expert immediately if you’re experiencing a sewer system backup in order to avoid as much damage as possible.

 

Plumbing emergencies can not only be inconvenient, but can also be costly, damaging, and possibly dangerous. If you’re ever experiencing a plumbing situation that you don’t know how to handle, it’s important to contact a professional as soon as possible. When it comes to the most common plumbing emergencies in old homes, hoping for the best simply isn’t an option.