6 Signs That Your Plumbing Needs a Plumber

Some plumbing problems can be fixed quickly, like a clogged drain or leaky faucet, while others can require a bit more work, like a sump pump failure or water heater leak. Either way, it’s important to skip do-it-yourself plumbing fixes and turn to a trusted plumbing company like Mr. Rooter Plumbing of Yavapai, Coconino and Maricopa Counties for help.

Turning to a professional helps you avoid the pitfalls of DIY plumbing, like damaged pipes and worsening clogs – but when should you call outside of your home’s routine plumbing services? As soon as problems pop up!

Delaying plumbing repairs will only make the problem worse. Schedule a plumbing appointment with a plumber at the first sign of trouble:

1. No Water

One of the most obvious signs you should call a plumber and common calls we get is about not having water. This can be scary at first, but there is always an explanation. Here are some things you can do to get to the bottom of your home’s lack of water:

• Inspect your home’s main water valve to ensure it’s turned on
• Check with neighbors to see if they are getting water to their home
• Check your email for a notice from the city regarding water shut-off
• Look for signs of a large leak in your yard and throughout your home

A sudden shutdown of your water may be to blame on surrounding water supply pipes, but it may have to do with a leak, backup, or other problem with your residential plumbing. A professional plumber will need to be called out to troubleshoot and find a solution to restore your home’s water.

2. Changes in Water Quality

Any noticeable changes in your home’s water quality are telltale signs that something’s wrong with your plumbing and you should contact a plumber. Some of the most common changes in water quality include:

• Low or no pressure
• Discoloration
• Tastes bad
• Strang odor
• Fluctuating temperatures

These changes in your home’s water quality are annoying, making it impossible to shower or wash your clothes, and they can also be detrimental to your and your family’s health. It’s important to stop using your water and call a plumber for help if there are sudden changes in your home’s water quality.

3. Multiple Clogged Drains

While one clog will cause a drain to move slowly, which should absolutely be dealt with as soon as possible, multiple clogged drains can be a bit more severe. Not only will it put increased pressure on your system, potentially causing a plumbing emergency, but it can also cause sewage to begin to back up. Both are expensive to recover from and can wreak havoc on your home and health.

Multiple clogs are usually related and are caused by:

• Root or pest infiltration
• A broken sewer line
• A lack of preventive care

It’s important to reach out to a plumber to understand the reason behind your clogged drains. Unclogging and routine drain cleaning will help restore your system’s performance and prevent future clogs.

4. Backflow Issues

When you notice a smell of sewage coming from your drain, slow water flow, or discoloration in your home’s water supply, you may have a backflow issue.

The term backflow is used when water flows in the wrong direction, usually from your drains and back into your sink, tub, or other water fixture. Backflow problems need to be taken seriously. They pose a health hazard and cause extensive property damage inside your home.

Backflow will occur if there is backpressure, forcing water to flow in the opposite direction of the way it’s supposed to, or back-siphonage, which uses negative pressure to reverse the flow of water. Due to the extra sucking pressure, the latter can pull contaminants into the drinking water if a sewer line breaks underground.

5. Leaks

While water leaking from your ceiling or the sound of dripping are obvious signs of plumbing leaks in the home, others are not so obvious and can go undetected for quite some time.

Common signs of a plumbing leak include:

• Unexplained spikes in water bills
• Sound of continuously running water
• Musty smells
• Cold spots on the floor
• Signs of mold or mildew growth
• Discoloration on walls, floors, and ceilings
• Peeling paint and wallpaper
• Warped flooring

6. Old Equipment

Whether it’s your plumbing lines or plumbing fixtures, nothing will last forever. Older plumbing should be replaced before larger problems arise. If replacements are ignored, you could be subjecting your home to water damage and more problems with your plumbing system.

Normal life expectancy of plumbing equipment includes:

• Copper pipes – 40 to 60 years
• PVC pipes – 50 to 80 years
• Polybutylene pipes – 10 to 20 years
• Faucets – 10 to 20 years
• Toilets – 10 to 20 years
• Sump pumps – 6 to 10 years
• Water heaters – 10 to 15 years

If you’re unsure when the plumbing equipment was installed in your home, contact a plumber for help. A full inspection will provide you with a comprehensive view of the health of your system and can indicate if any replacements are due.

Additionally, choosing to have your replacement done by a professional plumber will help you avoid the common problems associated with DIY installations – like poor connections, water damage, drain damage, and more.

Mr. Rooter Plumbing backs all our replacements and first-time installations with a full workmanship and part guarantee, ensuring the job is done right the first time.

Need a Plumber? Don’t Settle for Anything Less Than Mr. Rooter

At Mr Rooter of Yavapai And Coconino Counties, we have all the tools, parts, and supplies needed for the job. We can handle repiping, installations, repairs, cleaning, preventive maintenance, inspections, and so much more – just call us today to get started! Our local plumbers are also fully licensed, experienced, and screened, offering you the peace of mind to trust them in your home.

Request your free plumbing estimate today – give us a call or contact us online to get started!