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There are a lot of things you have to take care of when you own a home, from your electrical system and roof down to your plumbing system. However, that’s a lot to ask from somebody who isn’t a professional in any of those areas. One of the most useful things you can do for yourself is learn about some of the basics so you know when to call a plumber. If you want to prevent serious plumbing problems in your Rockwall, TX, home, make sure you’re keeping an eye out for these signs that could signify a major problem.
Discolored Pipes
You might not spend a whole lot of time looking at the pipes in your home, but discoloration in your pipes is a big sign that you’ve got a problem with your plumbing. This discoloration is generally caused by the presence of moisture in the area, which means you could have a slow leak somewhere that you haven’t even noticed.
The big problem with pipe discoloration and that leaks that generally cause it are that you never know when a leak is going to get worse. Just because you haven’t noticed a spike in your water bill or any water damage from a leak doesn’t mean it’s not getting worse. Since supply lines are pressurized, this leak could get worse at any time and cause some serious water damage.
High Water Bills
For the most part, you probably have a pretty good idea of how much your water bill should be. If that water bill is way higher than it normally is and you didn’t use any extra water in the past month, there’s a good chance you need to call a plumber to take a look at your plumbing.
There are lots of different plumbing problems that can cause a big spike in your water bill, but running toilets are the most common cause. There’s also the possibility that you’ve got a leak somewhere that you don’t know about. If there’s constantly water leaking out of a pipe in your home, the meter is going to continue running and increasing your water bill. If a leak is bad enough and it’s causing a big enough spike in water usage, you may even have your water shut off to keep you from wasting too much water.
Sewer Odors
Of all the things you need to look out for when it comes to plumbing, sewage and sewer odors are perhaps the worst. There are traps in sinks specifically designed to prevent sewer odors from coming back up into your home, so chances are you’ve got a big problem if you notice a sewer odor in your home.
A plumber can help you figure out the exact cause of the sewer odor in your Rockwall, TX, home, but the two common causes are a trap that’s dried out or a crack in a vent line. If the problem is a trap that’s run dry, it’s not a very big problem at all. All a plumber has to do to fix a dry trap is fill it up with a little bit of water again. Cracked or damaged vent lines, on the other hand, are a little more severe in terms of plumbing problems. Sewer vents are usually located in the wall so they can run up and out of your home, which means fixing a damaged vent line means doing a bit of demolition to locate and replace the line.
No Water in Winter
Of all the plumbing problems you may have to deal with in your home, nothing is worse than simply not having any water at all. If you’ve got a problem with getting water to your home during the winter, chances are you’ve got an even bigger plumbing problem: frozen pipes.
Any pipes that run through a poorly insulated part of your home, such as the attic or an exterior wall, are at higher risk of freezing. This problem is even worse if you live in an area where it gets particularly cold during the winter. When these pipes freeze, the water inside them expands and can cause them to burst.
The good news is, there are a lot of things you can do to prevent frozen pipes in your home. Aside from making sure areas that get particularly cold are properly insulated, you can have a plumber insulate your pipes and use heat tape or cable to keep your pipes from freezing.
Bubbling Paint
One thing that a lot of Rockwall, TX, homeowners don’t notice in their home is bubbling paint on the walls or ceilings. While this isn’t the easiest thing to notice depending on where it’s happening, it’s something you should always call a plumber for.
Bubbling paint is most often caused by a buildup of moisture in your walls or ceiling, which means there could be a leak in your roof or plumbing system somewhere. Because of the potential for mold growth and the water damage a leak can cause, you should call a plumber as soon as possible if you think you might have a leak in your home.
A Helping Hand
There are a lot of plumbing problems that are easy to spot, but there are also a lot of things that can go unnoticed if you don’t know what you’re looking for. Taking care of your Rockwall, TX, home means knowing how to spot those problems and knowing when you need to call a plumber.
If you think you might have a serious plumbing problem in your home, the best thing you can do is have a professional check it out and get it fixed. bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of North East Dallas is here to help with a team of experienced plumbers. If you need help identifying and fixing a plumbing problem, call bluefrog today at (972) 483-2583.
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