Don't Wait for a Plumbing Disaster to Call a Plumber

Your home's plumbing pipes don't need to burst or overflow for you to need the services of a plumber; even a small leak can lead to severe water damage of the building materials behind the walls and also encourage mould growth. Other seemingly minor plumbing problems may signal that you have damaged pipes that need replacing or other repairs. Note a few signs that your home needs a plumber even though you may not think of any of these as actual plumbing disasters.

Gurgling behind the walls

If you hear gurgling, hissing or any type of bubbling sound from behind your walls or in the ceiling, this often means that air is trapped in plumbing pipes. Air may be getting in from cracked pipes or loose connectors, and these need to be replaced or repaired as soon as possible. This air may also be putting pressure on connectors and the pipes themselves, leading to more leaks and cracks; it also slows down the flow of water through the pipes, which may lead to clogs. Check for cracked pipes that are letting in air and have the pipes bled if you hear this gurgling or bubbling anywhere behind the walls or ceiling of your home.

Banging behind the walls

If you hear pipes banging behind the walls when you turn on a faucet, this often means the pipes are coming loose from the hangers that keep them in place. These hangers are usually just small wires that are bolted to studs and beams when plumbing pipes are installed. Over the years, those bolts can come loose or the boards warp and the pipes bang around. This can cause damage to the pipes and their connectors and eventually one may burst, so it's good to have them inspected and the hangers or bolts replaced as needed.

Slow drains

If your bathtub and sink drains take some time to empty, don't assume that your plumbing is fine. This usually means the slope of your plumbing pipes is not correct. Pipes need to be sloped slightly so that water can drain, but if this slope is too steep, the water will drain too fast and solid material may build up. This actually then slows down the flow of water over time as that solid material continues to build and then clog the drain. If left unchecked, your pipes may become completely clogged and this could lead to leaks or a burst pipe. Have slow drains checked and the slope of your pipes adjusted as needed.

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