Whether you live in a relatively small community like the Village of Roslyn Harbor or a large city like New York, some household plumbing repairs should not be put off. If you’ve been living in a house for a while, chances are you already own a lot of basic plumbing tools. You may be able to cope with minor issues, such as those involving faucets, shower heads, and toilets.
For example, it does not take a professional to plunge a toilet, install an aerator, or fit a new universal shower head. Even if you have no idea about such repairs, you can look it up online and watch instructional videos. With the right tools and basic plumbing knowledge, you should be able to get the job done in less than an hour.
Bigger repair jobs, however, require professionals. If you don’t know what you’re doing, trying to a DIY approach may instead cause even more damage. Damaged plumbing can cost hundreds if not thousands to make right.
There are also some repairs that can wait, for example, occasional gurgling sound or partial clogging in a single sink. Postponing certain household plumbing repairs for a day or two is fine, although it is always recommended that you are looking for a reputable plumber while waiting.
5 Household Plumbing Repairs that need Immediate Attention
Some issues must be dealt with immediately; otherwise, there can be some serious consequences that lead to severe problems at a later date. In the event you notice the following symptoms, call a professional plumber right away to figure out the culprit causing the problem.
1. Water spots on Your ceiling or wall
If water spots only appear during or after rain, you probably have a leaky roof, window, or siding. Constant wet spots on the wall may suggest an urgent issue of a leaky pipe concealed behind the wall. Left unaddressed, water spots can only grow bigger and reach more areas on the wall, compromising its construction rigidity. At the very least, the wall needs to be repainted or completely replaced if the damage is beyond repair. Household plumbing repairs of this sort can also cause mold and mildew issues.
The best way to stop the issue is to repair the pipe. Because water always moves around, it can be difficult to figure out the exact location of the leak. Repair must involve drilling a hole in the wall to gain access to the pipe. It is a potentially dangerous task, as you are dealing with an important part of the house’s structure.
It can also be potentially dangerous to you, as you may be working from a height. Additionally, breaking holes in the wrong spot only compounds your repair cost. Calling a professional plumber to do the repair is the smartest move you can make.
2. A Damp basement
One of the most common culprits is improper grading. Water always finds a way to flow to the lowest spot in the house thanks to gravity. If your house is built on low-lying ground or a floodplain, a damp basement is not unusual. The frequent cure is installing a sump pump and an underground dewatering system. The pump itself is installed inside a pit dug inside the basement for water the groundwater or rainwater pours into.
The pit is attached to an electric pump to bring water out of your house. The pump automatically turns on as water inside the pit reaches a certain level. In a worst-case scenario, you may need to install drain tile around basement footings. Once again, a damp basement can compromise your building’s construction. This is a repair you should not put off, and should hire a professional water remediation company.
3. Running toilet
A running toilet wastes an incredible amount of water and can be annoyingly loud. Try replacing the flapper and fill the valve inside the tank. If those still don’t work, you probably have bigger issues than you think, so call a professional. Bear in mind that the cost of the water a running toilet wastes annually actually exceed the cost of replacing your entire toilet.
4. Clogged roof gutters
During heavy rainstorms, clogged gutters are the last thing you need. Water in a clogged gutter has nowhere to go, and it will spill over the top to the wall, driveway, or sidewalk. Water will even leak through the foundation wall, or into your basement.
Gutters are often overlooked, as they are located high above your line of sight. With that said, clean your gutters regularly to get rid of debris and leaves. If need be, install a gutter guard. Gutter guards are cheap, easy to install, and effective. Installing roof gutter guards are among the easiest of household plumbing repairs to accomplish.
5. Low pressure on water lines and plumbing fixtures
While it seems like a minor issue, low pressure on your water lines inside the house, can be a sign of a leaky supply line or a broken main valve. If that is the case, installing a pressure regulator next to the water meter will only solve part of the problem. Looking for the leaky point, or replacing defective water valves is once again a job best left to professionals. Household plumbing repairs that involve low pressure on water lines can be difficult to diagnose, learn the 6 main causes of low water pressure.
Your Plumbing and Drain Team for NYC and Nassau County
Although you can probably fix some minor repairs and handle the installation of simple components, remember that the DIY approach has limitations. All the aforementioned issues are only a few of the many examples you cannot take for granted. When it comes to checking for problems in your sewer system or plumbing installation in general, the best thing you can do is to have it done by professionals and look no further than Balkan Plumbing.
Based in Queens, NYC, the company has been doing plumbing installations, repairs, and maintenance for more than 7 decades. It is the longest-running and biggest water main company in the city. Balkan is now also available in Nassau County to provide its services with the highest standard of quality using only professional-grade equipment to get the job done right the first time. If you reside in Nassau County or NYC, contact your Expert Balkan Plumbing and Drain Team.
A little bit about the Village of Roslyn Harbor
Roslyn Harbor is a relatively small village located in Nassau County. It has barely over 1,000 residents and is considered part of the Greater Roslyn area. There are less than 400 households in the Village of Roslyn Harbor, and the majority of which are complete family units. With all that said, Roslyn Harbor is an attractive, friendly, family-orientated, and peaceful place to reside.
