Plumbing problems don’t tend to happen often, but when they do, they can be incredibly inconvenient. The worst part is imagining how a single clogged toilet can mess up not just your entire schedule for the day, but also those of everyone else in your home.
Sometimes, it’s easy to assume that everything is fine: oh, it’s just a small drip; the pipe makes some funny noises sometimes; the water in the tub is just taking a few more seconds before it fully drains; or the toilet smells a bit. However, these minor issues can add up to a single, much larger headache the longer you wait.
At Willow Services, we believe that getting your home back in order should be quick and easy.
You’re here because you’re starting to see signs that there might be a problem with your home’s plumbing, so below is a list of the most common plumbing problems, as well as some of the ways you can tell if your home has a plumbing issue.
7 Common Types of Plumbing Problems
Leaking Taps
A dripping tap looks annoying, but just wait until you realise how it could spike your bills. Worn-out washers or O-rings are the usual culprits for leaking taps, particularly when they can no longer create a watertight seal. There’s also the fact that the constant drip of water could lead to limescale buildup and stain your sink.
Leaking Pipes
The most common causes of leaking pipes are corrosion, high water pressure, and joint damage. The nature of the damage varies depending on the pipe material, but leaks are bad news nonetheless.
What makes these leaks tricky is that they often start behind your walls or floorboards. To spot them, check for any unsightly, dark patches on the ceiling or walls. Another sign to look out for is a sudden musty smell that you haven’t noticed in your house before. That scent doesn’t just come out of nowhere, so it usually means you have a leaking pipe somewhere.
In rarer cases, it is also possible for your pipes to crack or burst due to cold weather. This is particularly true for drains; it can happen when accumulated debris—such as hair, soap scum, and grease—collects together and freezes over.
Clogged Drains
You know you’re dealing with a clog if the water starts backing up in the sink or shower. The causes for this are usually quite specific. In kitchens, it is typically a buildup of fat, oil, and grease (often called FOG). In bathrooms, it’s usually a combination of hair and soap scum. It is easy to dismiss this as harmless, but it can turn into a total headache if left untreated.
Low Water Pressure
It’s frustrating when your shower feels more like a light drizzle than its usual spray. Low water pressure is often caused by either a hidden leak in your main line or simple limescale buildup in your aerators or showerheads (a common issue for homes around hard water areas in the UK).
No Hot Water
It’s also equally frustrating to be surprised by a freezing cold shower in the morning. This plumbing problem is likely caused by a faulty hot water cylinder or boiler, depending on your home’s heating system. This particular issue requires the eyes and the hands of a professional.
To learn more about how you can take better care of your boilers, click here.
Running Toilets
You have a running toilet on your hands if you see water continuously flowing from the cistern into the bowl long after you’ve flushed. This particular problem is often caused by a faulty flapper valve or a misaligned float arm. The fix isn’t too difficult, but you should address it immediately unless you want to see a very unwanted spike in your water bill.
Clogged Toilets
This is a separate issue altogether because, unlike a running toilet, a clogged toilet prevents water (and everything that’s currently in it) from leaving the bowl. This plumbing problem is usually caused by flushing non-flushable items, such as baby wipes or paper towels. If the toilet bowl’s water level rises close to the brim when you flush, you have a blockage that demands immediate attention to avoid a very unpleasant situation.
Common Signs of Plumbing Problems
Most of the common plumbing problems mentioned above have signs that are very evident, but that’s not always the case. Here are a few more subtle signs that your home has a plumbing issue:
- Slow drains, it’s a problem if you find yourself standing in an inch of water every time you take a shower
- Discoloured water, it’s a problem if you turn on the tap and the water isn’t perfectly clear
- Overall lower water pressure, if the pressure is low all over your home, there may be a hidden leak or a broken pipe behind your walls or floorboards
- Lingering smells, if there is a persistent “rotten egg” smell near your sink or in your bathroom; it won’t go away on its own
- Unexplained noises, it’s not normal for your pipes to make sounds, so have your plumbing checked out if you hear gurgling, whistling, or any other unusual noises.
- Spike in your water bill, there is definitely a problem if your bill suggests you are filling three bathtubs every day when you don’t even have one!
Fixing Plumbing Problems With Willow Services
When it comes to fixing plumbing problems, you need a team of specialists who are fast, experienced, and professional. Willow Services is built on decades of technical expertise and industry-standard certifications:
- Over 40 years of supporting residents, agents, and landlords
- Fully insured and certified
- Gas Safe registered engineers
- Baxi Registered Installer
- G3 Unvented qualified
- All work is guaranteed for at least one year
Rest assured that our specialists will provide you with honest recommendations tailored to your home, not sales-driven solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Can I fix my plumbing problems myself?
Yes, in some cases. While unclogging a sink can be a simple task, things can get complicated quickly if the entire drainage system is involved. It is usually best to let a professional handle the work to avoid making a small problem much worse.
How often should I have my plumbing checked?
At least once a year or as needed. It is always best to catch minor issues early before they turn into a back-breaking headache.
How do I know if a plumbing problem is an emergency?
It’s usually quite evident. If your pipes are visibly leaking, if water is backing up into your drains, or if your toilet isn’t flushing at all, it’s an emergency. In these situations, it is best to involve a professional rather than attempting a DIY fix with little to no experience.
Plumbing Problems? Fix Them Fast With Willow Services
There are a number of plumbing problems, and they can all be quite a handful to deal with. What’s worse is that if these problems do appear, they are almost always significant enough to derail your entire schedule for the day.
Willow Services is here to help, especially if you need these plumbing problems fixed fast. We have been supporting homeowners, property owners, and landlords for over four decades; we are so confident in our work that you have a one-year guarantee on everything that we’re going to do.
We’ll fix your plumbing problem in no time. For more information, you can email us at james@willowservices.co.uk or give us a call at 01733 590501.