As a homeowner you can face any variety of plumbing issues, and often these issues can be traced back to a select few plumbing problem causes. Here is a look at three of the most common causes behind your plumbing problems—and how you can prevent them from wreaking havoc in your home.
Shower buildup
Many underestimate just how easily hair, soap scum, and personal care products can build up in the pipes directly underneath your shower drain. This shower buildup is typically the primary cause behind slow shower drainage—one of plumbing’s most common problems—so it’s worth knowing how to deal with it. To prevent shower buildup from snowballing into a messy and expensive professional cleaning job, it’s important to clean your shower drain on a regular basis. Start by manually removing as much clogged matter as you can. Then, if you’re still having problems, follow the steps outlined in this post on keeping your shower drains free of clogged hair.
Tree roots
Tree roots are particularly tricky because it’s impossible to see when they’re beginning to wreak havoc—unless you get an in-line camera inspection, that is. Tree roots naturally seek water and nutrients to absorb underground, which means that sometimes they will penetrate through even the tiniest of holes and cracks in your plumbing system and expand within your pipes. Tree roots can slow drainage, cause blockages, or even split pipes completely. This is why it’s important to get regular in-line camera inspections of your plumbing system and to have a professional plumber clear your system of tree roots as soon as any problems do begin to arise.
Small leaks
A small leak in your plumbing system may not seem to be a huge issue, but these small leaks have a tendency to snowball into something much more problematic. And often these small leaks occur in unseen areas of the home. Leaks are not only wasteful, but they also cause a myriad of problems extending beyond the realm of plumbing. A slow, silent leak can cause wood warping and swelling after extensive water saturation; rusting near the leak (which requires complete replacement of the affected metal); extensive mold growth; and more. To prevent these small leaks from causing problems in your home, it’s important to have your plumbing inspected regularly and to pay close attention to your water bill.