Plumbing issues are really common in homes across the country. Ostensibly, your plumbing system should be one of the sturdiest parts of your home. Unfortunately, in many homes it tends not to be. Pipes are old, or made of the wrong material. Certain chemicals and elements in the soil or the water itself can cause the system to corrode. The best way to deal with these kinds of issues is to have a plumber inspect your system for you at least once every year or so. This will make it easier to find and resolve issues in the system before they have a chance to get any worse.
Even with maintenance, though, there’s still a chance for problems to crop up between appointments. That’s why you need to stay vigilant for any signs that your plumbing system is in trouble. The following are some of the more common plumbing issues that your system might run into, and their warning signs.
Leaks
By far the most common plumbing issue you’re likely to run into. Leaks come in many shapes and sizes and can be caused in a number of ways. For example, copper pipes often corrode due to the presence of chlorine or formaldehyde in the area around them. This kind of corrosion opens small leaks called pinhole leaks, which can cause quite a bit of damage over time if they aren’t caught. Larger pipe ruptures can occur where the pipe has been sufficiently weakened by corrosion.
The most common signs that you have one or more leaks in your plumbing system include having your water pressure drop, your monthly water bills spike, or visible signs of water damage somewhere in your home. All of these should send up red flags, and you should have a professional check out your system as soon as possible if you notice them.
Limescale
Limescale is a mineral deposit that forms in systems exposed to hard water, which is water with high levels of calcium and magnesium in it. The deposits restrict the flow of water through the plumbing system over time and will harden if they aren’t removed quickly enough. This makes it almost impossible to remove them without damaging the pipes, which often means that you have to replace the affected pipes entirely. If you notice a white, chalky sort of film in your sinks or shower, that’s very likely limescale. And if you have it in those areas, you almost certainly have it in your pipes. You’ll need to talk to a professional about the best way to remove it.
These are just a couple of the problems that can afflict your plumbing system. There are many more, and the best way to protect your system from most of them is to call for repairs as soon as you suspect something is wrong. Do that, and your plumbing system should stay in good shape for a long time yet.
Saddleback Plumbing offers a full range of Irvine, CA plumbing services. If your plumbing system is in need of repairs, contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our professional technicians.