Common Plumbing Red Flags That Might Be Dangerous to Ignore

By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning

As we head into winter, many homeowners often prioritize maintaining their furnaces and other heating equipment, often overlooking other important utilities. While maintaining your heating is a smart move, your home’s plumbing system might need some attention too.

You and your family will want to consider a yearly plumbing checkup. After all, plumbing problems are often only noticed once something breaks, but it’s also probably true that your system could have been trying to warn you for weeks. To avoid serious repairs, here are five often overlooked signs that your plumbing system needs immediate attention.

1. A Drop in Water Pressure

If the water pressure in your entire home falls suddenly, that’s usually because of an issue with the main water line. It might be a failure somewhere within the main line or even a pipe within it, explained BJ Richardson, a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning plumbing manager.

However, if the pressure drop is isolated somewhere, like the bathroom or kitchen, it might be a fixture problem. It may be a simple fix, like swapping out a broken faucet aerator or addressing a water heater issue. Or it could possibly be something a little more complex, like a supply line leading to that room.

“I always remind homeowners to keep an eye on their water bill too. If these pressure drops happen at the same time when you suddenly see a higher bill, there may be a deeper problem,” Richardson said. “It’s also a good idea to check your water meter for changes even when you aren’t using water. That’s another way we determine you have a leak somewhere.”

In certain situations a sudden drop in water pressure starts at the municipal supply – if so, that is easily resolved with help from a booster pump.

2. A “Sewer” Smell in the Home

“While clogs in the kitchen or bathroom sink can sometimes cause unpleasant odors due to trapped remnants, a persistent odor of rotten eggs suggests a more serious issue. Drains have a trap and vent inside them and one of these components can clog. If the smell persists, you may have to consider a blocked sewer or even a sewer gas leak. Solving these problems should be entrusted to the professionals, Richardson said.

Keep in mind that while propane and natural gas have a distinctive smell, they are frequently mistaken as a sewer smell. When in doubt, reach out to a professional.”

3. Rusted or Discolored Piping

Discoloration and visible wear on exposed pipes can be other signs that can be easy to overlook. If you’re in the basement or near exposed piping, it’s useful to check all exposed pipes. Noticeable wear and discoloration usually suggests a coming leak.

The most common discoloration appears in an area of the plumbing where two pipes join. Overlooking discoloration is particularly dangerous when it comes to your main water lines because they are pressurized, Richardson explained. When the pipe breaks, it can release a substantial amount of water into your home very quickly.

For some sections of the piping, discoloration is in fact caused by different chemicals local authorities have for water treatment.

4. Poor Drainage

We understand it may be tempting for homeowners to solve clog-related problems with liquid drain cleaner, but those chemicals are usually only a temporary fix that might damage your plumbing system. While we’ve all heard of clogs caused by hair, the reality is hair is not the main culprit. Items such as chemical cleaners, toothpaste, hand soaps and even the oil or sweat in our skin create a layer of scum on the drain walls that catches hair and other debris, something most liquid drain cleaners won’t remove. The use of a drain machine or snake will be the most effective method to take care of this type of entrenched clog. Often, if there is considerable debris inside the pipes below the sink, cleaning it usually takes care of the problem. But if that fails, it could suggest a more significant issue.

“The thing you should keep an eye on is if multiple drains are constantly clogging, and the problem doesn’t clear up itself even after you clean the drain under those sinks,” explained Brian McMasters, a Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning division plumbing manager. “The sewer line might also be in need of cleaning, but in some situations, the issue comes from tree roots that slowly damage and crack a sewer line. Handling this kind of situation is obviously more involved and requires trenching down to the exact location of the leak to repair it.”

5. Standing Water in the Yard

Regularly check around your house, as well as your yard. It’s advisable to try and take a look every week. Frequently, a broken underground water or irrigation line leak, or even a sewer main line leak, shows itself gradually, after a lot of water has already leaked underground. Search for soft, sunken spots in the dirt as these could be a sign there’s a hidden issue.

“You also want to watch for things including sudden green patches in typically dry or yellow areas of the lawn,” mentioned McMasters. “Sometimes, that’s a sign there is a problem a trained plumber can solve.”

Discover more about solving common issues with plumbing systems and receive expert help at Service Experts Heating & Air Conditioning.