Common Plumbing Red Flags That Might Be Dangerous to Ignore

By Brian Sodoma, for Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing

As we transition into winter, many homeowners often prioritize checking their furnaces and other heating equipment, sometimes neglecting other important systems. While maintaining your heating is always a good investment, your home’s plumbing system might need help now and then too.

You might want to consider an annual plumbing inspection. After all, plumbing problems are often only found when something breaks, but it’s likely that your system may have been giving you warning signs for a while. To avoid serious repairs, here are a few often overlooked signs that your home’s plumbing needs our attention.

1. A Drop in Water Pressure

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

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

“I always encourage families to look at their water bill too. If you notice these drops in pressure come at a time when you also have to deal with a higher bill, there might be a deeper problem,” Richardson said. “It’s also a good idea to check your water meter to see if it’s running even when no appliances are turned on. That’s also pointing to a leak somewhere.”

In certain situations a sudden change in pressure is in fact because of a problem with the municipal supply – if that’s the problem, that is easily corrected with a booster pump.

2. A “Sewer” Smell in the Home

“While clogs in the kitchen or bathroom sink can sometimes lead to unpleasant odors because of debris, 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 fail. If the smell never goes away, you may have to consider a clogged sewer line or even a sewer gas leak. Identifying and addressing these problems is usually best handled by the professionals, Richardson said.

Be aware that while propane and natural gas possess a distinctive smell, those leaks are often mistaken as a sewer smell. When in doubt, consult with a professional.”

3. Rusted or Discolored Piping

Discoloration and visible wear on exposed pipes are other signs that can be easy to overlook. If you’re in a room with exposed plumbing, it’s smart to examine the pipes in plain view. Noticeable wear and discoloration usually suggests a coming leak.

Discoloration commonly occurs in sections where two pipe pieces are joined together. Failing to notice discoloration can be problematic when it comes to your main water lines because they are pressurized, Richardson explained. If the plumbing breaks, it can lead to serious flooding in your home very quickly.

With certain pipes, discoloration comes from the different chemicals municipalities use for water treatment.

4. Slow Draining Fixtures

It’s tempting for homeowners to fix clog-related problems with liquid drain cleaner, but those chemicals are usually only a temporary solution that might damage your plumbing system. While we’ve all heard of hair clogs, the truth is hair is not the clog’s culprit. Household products including chemical cleaners, toothpaste, hand soaps and even the natural oils in our skin create an adhesive scum on the drain walls that traps hair and other small particles, which most liquid drain cleaners won’t eliminate. Employing a mechanical snake or drain machine will be the most effective way to clear out this type of entrenched clog. Often, if the clog is just 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 really want to monitor is if multiple drains are clogged, and the problem doesn’t resolve itself after cleaning the drain under those sinks,” said Brian McMasters, a Service Experts Heating, Air Conditioning & Plumbing division plumbing manager. “The sewer line may also need cleaning, but in some plumbing systems, the issue comes from tree roots that reach and crack a sewer line. Repairing a main sewer line 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 examine around your house, as well as your yard. It’s a good idea to take care of this every week. Many times, a broken underground water or irrigation line leak, or even a sewer main line leak, presents itself gradually, once a significant amount of water has already leaked underground. Look for soft, sunken spots in the grass as these could be a sign there’s a hidden issue.

“You also want to watch for things such as unusually green patches in typically dry or yellow areas of the lawn,” said McMasters. “In our experience, that’s a sign there’s a problem a trained plumber can solve.”

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