Plumbing problems can be difficult to spot, especially without professional maintenance services. Even if you schedule preventive maintenance on an annual basis, you need to keep an eye out between appointments for signs that the system is in trouble. If you can identify problems faster, you can have them repaired faster and prevent more damage. Call for repairs if you notice the following signs that your plumbing system is in trouble.
Falling Water Pressure
If your water pressure is dropping it typically means one of two things: either you have a leak or a blockage in your plumbing system. Neither one of them is good, and should be dealt with as quickly as possible. If the issue is already advanced enough to cause a noticeable drop in water pressure, then it’s likely a serious threat to the health of the plumbing system. You should make sure that a plumber takes a look at the system as quickly as possible.
Unusually High Water Bills
You should always keep an eye on your monthly water bills, and call for repairs if you notice that they start to rise faster than your water usage would justify. Sudden water bill spikes are often a sign that there is a leak somewhere in the system that is diverting water out of it, costing you in the process. As with the symptom above, a leak large enough to cause a noticeable symptom like this is one that should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Visible Limescale
Limescale is a type of mineral deposit that builds inside pipes due to exposure to hard water, which is water with high levels of magnesium and calcium in it. This is problematic because the mineral deposits eventually begin to restrict the flow of water through the system, and become nearly impossible to remove without damaging the affected pipes after a certain period of time. Fortunately, you can gauge how likely you are to have limescale in your pipes by looking at other areas of your home that deal with your water supply. If you see a white, chalky sort of film in your bathtub, around your faucets, or in your sinks, that’s limescale. And if you have it there, you almost certainly have it building up in your pipes. You should talk to a plumber about installing a water softener as soon as possible.
Visible Water Damage
Sometimes, you don’t notice that there’s a leak in your plumbing system until the damage is staring you right in the face. Such is often the case with visible water damage. This can happen due to pinhole leaks, or other plumbing issues that are too small to cause obvious symptoms. Unless detected during a maintenance appointment, they can spend months damaging the surrounding area before being discovered. Always call for repairs if you notice water damage anywhere in your home.
Murphy’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning provides a full range of plumbing repair services in Springfield, PA. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional plumbers.
