All bathrooms eventually experience plumbing problems. Although you may be able to complete minor repairs on your own, complicated tasks should be handled by a licensed plumber. Below are some bathroom plumbing issues you should never ignore:
Loose Toilet
Although a loose toilet may not seem like a major problem, we can tell you firsthand that it should never be ignored. This is because if it wobbles long enough, its watertight, wax seal may break. If this occurs, water will quickly seep out from the base of the bowl and make its way to crawl spaces, cracks, gaps. It could also potentially flood the room below it, and cause water damage that could potentially cost thousands to mitigate.
One of our clients in Aliso Viejo offers her words of caution: “My upstairs toilet had been wobbly for a few months and I really didn’t think anything of it. It was a minor inconvenience and I thought it would be an easy fix that I could just have dealt with next time I called a plumber out for a clogged drain or something, right? Wrong! Water had been leaking into the crawlspace, and eventually burst through the ceiling of the guest room and soaked everything!”
Water Stains on the Ceiling
Reddish-brown discolorations on your ceiling are not just unattractive, they are almost always the warning sign of a pipe leaking from above. Therefore, if the room overhead is a bathroom, there is a high potential for extensive and costly damage if it is not dealt with immediately. A plumber in Laguna Niguel will be able to look at stains and determine their source and how best to remedy the problem.
Each of the aforementioned concerns can easily lead to expensive repairs if they are ignored. Therefore, when in doubt, contact a professional to evaluate the situation before simple problems become major, costly repairs. A lot of plumbers will even perform leak detection free of charge.
Missing Tile or Grout
The last line of defense tile has against water is its grout. If there are gaps in the grout and water makes its way through the cracks, moisture eventually builds up behind the tile, and this means the tile may come loose from the wall. If you suspect water is seeping in behind your bathroom tiles, contact a plumber before the problem gets worse.
Leaking Flapper
Faulty flapper valves waste a significant amount of water and greatly increase wear and tear on the toilet. When this component leaks, water slowly drips out of the tank to the bowl and down the drain. Eventually, the slow leak trips the fill valve of the toilet, causing the valve to allow water into the tank. This is what is often referred to as a toilet that will not stop “running,” as this cycle typically goes on until the flapper is repaired.
Drains Clogging on a Regular Basis
Light clogs can often be remedied with over-the-counter products or by simply plunging the drain. However, if more than one drain is clogged at a time or if bathroom drains clog repeatedly, there may be an underlying issue of a serious nature. For example, a heavy build up of deposits may require professional drain cleaning. Similarly, a clog deep within the piping or the sewer line is not a repair you should attempt without assistance.
Dripping Faucets
Replacing a washer may be all it takes to remedy a dripping faucet. However, if you try this simple repair and it does not stop the drip, it is best to contact a plumber.
Low Water Pressure
If the water pressure seems low when you flush your toilet and this is not coming from a municipal problem, you should call a plumber in Laguna Niguel right away. You may have a major leak somewhere in your home or the source of the problem may be a water main blockage.