When there’s a plumbing issue at home, it makes you realize how much you rely on it. The most common plumbing issues in Kelowna have been clogged drains, leaky faucets, running toilets, low water pressure, and leaking pipes. Today we’re going to explore ways to navigate those issues. And whether it’s something you can try to resolve yourself or contact a plumbing expert.
Silent Signs of a Bigger Plumbing Issue
We often have worried callers asking for expert advice over the phone. Since every situation is unique, our professional technicians go head-first to examine the condition of your plumbing.
Hearing dripping water through the walls is an obvious sign of a leaking pipe. But how do you know when you can’t hear or see the leak firsthand?
- Odor: You can usually smell the aftermath of a leaking pipe. Oftentimes it smells like mildew, mold, or the sewer.
- High than usual water bill: If your bill is not what it usually is, you may want a plumber to investigate your plumbing. Oftentimes, it’s a running toilet or leaking faucet.
- Low water pressure: If you notice that water isn’t flowing as usual in other locations of the house, there’s a possibility of a leak in the pipes.
- No water/hot water flowing: This is often experienced in winter when frozen pipes are a major problem. Contact your local plumbing right away!
- Bubbling paint in the ceiling/wall: As the moisture builds up in the structure of your house, your paint will begin noticeably bubble, crack, and/or discolour.
Avoiding these silent signs can cost you thousands of dollars to repair the internal and exterior damages. Contact your local plumber immediately to mitigate further damages and inconveniences.
5 Most Common Plumbing Issues in Kelowna
In Kelowna, we get an array of weather patterns that keeps us on our toes. With the summer months becoming dangerously hot in recent years, and winters swaying from mild to extreme, there’s no telling what your plumbing system is experiencing. This is why we highly suggest annual maintenance on your appliances, pipes, and systems.
So let’s get into the 5 common problems that your neighbours experience most. And from there, you can begin to research who you wish to choose as your go-to Kelowna plumbing services.
Problem #1: Clogged Drains
This is the most common plumbing issue that we come across. Many folks will try an array of DIY options such as a plunger, a snake, a hanger, Draino, and the baking soda/vinegar trick but it doesn’t always solve the problem. Sometimes it’s just a quick fix solution to a bigger problem.
Prevent stubborn blocked drains with these simple solutions:
- Hair and debris catcher: Use a strainer in your sinks, showers, and baths to eliminate debris getting caught in the drains.
- Always use a glass jar to pour your oil or grease. Do NOT pour oil or grease down the drain!
- Not everything can go in your garburator: Avoid putting fibrous materials in there as they can get caught in the blades (banana peels, celery, meat scraps, etc).
- Try using a plunger on your clogged drain. First, disinfect it with boiling hot water before using it on your sink.
- Once a week/month, use baking soda, vinegar, and hot water to flush out the debris.
Here’s a great resource to unclog your drain with what you probably already have in your kitchen: How To Unclog Any Drain (This Old House)
Have you tried all 6 methods above and your drain is still clogged? You may want to contact your local plumber to investigate the problem. You may have a bigger issue that’s causing your problem.
Problem #2: Running Toilets
After you flush the toilet, does the water continue to trickle? If the water doesn’t stop running, it’s called a “running toilet”. Having a running toilet can spike your water bill significantly. You should be able to hear the toilet continuously trickling. Your biggest culprit with this problem is most likely the flapper chain or defective internal washer that needs to be repaired.
On Toilet Reviewer, we read that: If you have a running toilet, it can waste 4.5 gallons of water per minute. If this sounds like a lot, that is because it is! It is almost 300 gallons per hour or 6,480 gallons per day). Not only is this terrible for the environment, but it can increase your water bill by almost $60 per day!
Yikes! Don’t ignore the running toilet. Resolve your plumbing issue right away to nip it in the bud.
Problem #3: Low Water Pressure
There are several reasons why your water pressure may be low. Some potential issues may be corroded pipes, loose seals, clogged pipes, clogged water filters, malfunctioning pressure regulators, an issue with the main water line, or other potential factors.
Since it takes some investigation to diagnose the root of the problem, it would be wise to call your local plumber for this problem. It’ll save you energy, time, and possibly additional damage when dealing with the pipes.
Problem #4: Leaky Faucets
It sounds like no big deal to have a leaky faucet but looking at the bigger picture, it adds up on your water bill. It may be as simple as changing out your worn-out washer or valve. We read on Taste Of Home that “even a very small drip, once every ten to fifteen seconds can waste almost 15 gallons a month, or nearly half a gallon in a day”.
Drink Tap can show you how much water is wasted from your leaky faucet. It may be convincing enough to call your local plumber to get the job done once and for all!
Problem #5: Leaking/Burst Pipes
Finally, we bring you to problem number 5. One that brings on many stressful signs and headaches – Leaking or burst pipes. This plumbing issue can do a lot of damage and cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars. As mentioned above in ‘Problem #1: Clogged Drains’, you’ll want to be vigilant for any dripping sounds, odors, and bubbling walls or ceilings.
When you notice obvious signs of a leaking or burst pipe, shut off your water supply immediately. If you don’t know where the water shut-off is, it’s good to know where it is just in case such an unfortunate situation arises, you can act quickly.
While you book your appointment with your local plumber, take preventative measures:
- Gather towels that can be discarded, buckets, and other household items to soak up the water.
- Since your water has been shut off, you won’t be able to access your water.
- Always have a fridge or emergency supply of drinking water.
- Stay on top of those buckets that may be filling up quickly.
When You Have A Plumbing Emergency:
Take some deep breaths. Everything is going to be okay. Make sure your phone sound is on to know when your plumber has arrived. The most important thing is to call your emergency plumber and act swiftly to mitigate further damages.
Make sure you do your research ahead of time to know who to call when you have an emergency. Add them to your phone contact list to know exactly who to call when you’re in distress.
Wrap It Up
Plumbing problems can induce a massive headache for homeowners and renters. Whether it’s clogged drains, leaking pipes, or another issue, it takes a toll on your time, energy, and expenses. Having the appropriate knowledge and preventative measures will help you move accordingly when you have an issue. Customer First Plumbing is available to the Kelowna residents to assist you when you need us. Put us on your contact list to call us right away when you have plumbing concerns.
We hope you enjoyed this article.
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