dripping faucet

Photo By Pineapple studio at Shutterstock

In a perfect world, everything in your Hurst, TX home, would function properly. Your heating and air conditioning system would function correctly, your electrical system would work without any issues, and the water would come out of the faucets properly and go down the drain with ease. Unfortunately, we don’t live in a perfect world, and things can go wrong in the house. Many people try to make their home repairs DIY projects, which isn’t always the best decision. Many home repairs are complicated, and you could end up causing more harm than good.

If your toilet is clogged, you can use a plunger to get the water and waste to go down. However, there are other issues that should only be handled by a licensed professional.

#1 Clogged or Slow Drains

If the water is going down the drain slowly, or if the water won’t go down at all, you should have a licensed plumber come to your home. Many homeowners will try to remove the clog themselves using a liquid drain cleaner. Unfortunately, these products don’t always work, and the chemicals in the drain cleaner can cause serious damage to the inside of the pipes.

When you hire a licensed professional, they will bring the necessary equipment to remove any size clog quickly and effectively.

#2 Rusty Hot Water

Anytime the water in your Hurst, TX home, comes out rusty, it is considered an emergency situation. Rusty water isn’t safe for drinking, showering, or any household chores. If both the hot and cold water are coming out rusty, it is likely due to rusty, corroded pipes. To resolve the issue, a licensed professional would need to find the pipes that are corroded and replace them.

If it is just the hot water that is coming out rusty, the problem likely lies within the water heater. Over time, rust and sediment can build up in the water heater, which will cause the hot water to come out rusty. In cases like this, a licensed professional will inspect the water heater to determine if it can be repaired or if it needs to be replaced.

#3 No Hot Water

If you turn on the hot water and it comes out cold, or if it doesn’t get as hot as it should, it is time to call a licensed plumber. The cause of the problem is likely a faulty water heater and should only be repaired by a professional. If you try to make the repairs on your own and make just one mistake, you could cause a complete water heater breakdown. Also, if the water heater is under warranty, DIY repairs will void the warranty. You should hire a professional to inspect the water heater and make the necessary repairs.

#4 Noisy Drains

When the water goes down the drain, it should do so quietly. If you hear a gurgling sound when the water goes down, you should call a plumber. When there is a clog in the pipe, the water will need to change its course to get around the clog, which causes the gurgling sound. If you allow the problem to persist, you could end up with a completely clogged drain. A licensed plumber can come to your home, remove the entire clog, and your drains will be quiet again.

#5 Dripping Faucet

If you have a dripping faucet, it is easy to ignore. After a few hours, you will get used to the dripping sound and won’t even hear it. Just because the dripping is easy to ignore, it doesn’t mean that you should. Over the course of a year, a dripping faucet can waste 3,000 gallons of water. Not only is this bad for the environment, but it is also going to cause your water bill to increase.

As soon as you notice that the faucet is dripping, you should call a licensed professional. Once the problem is fixed, you won’t need to worry about wasting water.

#6 Running Toilet

If your toilet is functioning correctly, it will fill with water when your flush. When the tank is full, the toilet will stop running. If your toilet is constantly running, you should call a licensed plumber. The problem could be with the stopper in the toilet or with the tank’s seal. Because a running toilet wastes over a gallon of water an hour, you should call a licensed professional immediately.

#7 Water Around the Water Heater

If you are like most homeowners, you keep your water heater tucked into the corner of the basement or in a closet. Since the water heater is out of the way, it is a good idea to inspect it every month. If you notice any water around the water heater, you should call a licensed plumber immediately. The problem could be something simple, like a loose or broken hose. It could also be something more serious like a leak in the water heater tank. It is essential that you call a licensed plumber as soon as you notice water around the water heater.

#8 Low Water Pressure

If you turn on your water and suddenly the water pressure is much lower than it once was, you should call a plumber. There could be a small hole in the waterline, causing the water pressure to be decreased. This is an issue that should be taken care of as quickly as possible.

If you are experiencing any issues with your plumbing system, contact Tioga Contractors. Each of our plumbers is licensed, insured, and highly skilled and trained. Whatever your plumbing issue, we can handle it. At Tioga Contractors, we understand that plumbing emergencies can arise at any time of the day or night. This is why we offer 24/7 emergency service. We are a family-owned and operated business, who has been servicing residential and commercial customers in the area since 1953. We have all of the equipment necessary to make sure that your plumbing system is healthy and functioning properly. To schedule an appointment, give us a call today.

Photo By Andrey_Popov at Shutterstock

Most homeowners know how important it is to take care of their homes, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. The truth of the matter is, the best you can do as a homeowner is be aware of some common issues so you can call a plumber if something does go wrong. However, even that can be a lot of work for somebody who isn’t familiar with plumbing. If you’re looking for a list of some common plumbing problems so you know when to call a plumbing service to make repairs, we’ve got all the information you need.

1. Leaks

Of all the plumbing problems you need to keep an eye out for, leaks are among the worst. Not only can leaks be hard to spot, they can also cost you a lot of money depending on how severe they are. If you suspect you’ve got a leak somewhere in your plumbing system, you should call a professional right away.

Common signs of leaks include an increase in your water bill, a mold or mildew smell in your home and a water meter that keeps running. If you don’t get a leak fixed in a timely manner, it will continue to get worse over time and eventually cause serious damage or a massive increase in your monthly water bill.

2. Dripping Faucets

Dripping faucets are a problem that most homeowners have to deal with at some point in time. While this might not sound like a big deal, dripping faucets can cost you a lot of money if you don’t call a plumbing service right away. The good news is, a plumber can usually fix a dripping faucet quickly and easily.

While some plumbing problems are hard to spot, that’s not something you have to worry about with a dripping faucet. If you notice water coming from your faucet when it’s not on or water dripping from the hot and cold handles when you turn them, you’ve got a problem. The only way to fix a dripping faucet is to have a plumbing service pro replace the faulty parts of your faucet. Again, this is something that generally doesn’t take a lot of work or cost a lot of money, so you should always have someone take a look at your faucet if you notice a drip.

3. Clogged Drains

Sometimes plumbing problems are major and can cause tons of damage, and other times they’re more of an annoyance. The truth of the matter is, clogged drains aren’t likely to cost you a whole lot of money. However, nobody wants to stand in a pool of water while they shower or spend a few minutes plunging the toilet every day. This is why it’s important to have a professional plumbing service help you unclog your drains and keep them that way.

The fact of the matter is, clogged drains are often caused by something a homeowner does. While gunk will eventually build up in your drains no matter what you do, putting the wrong things down your drain accelerates the process. To make matters worse, most homeowners use drain cleaners like Drano which are chemical based and can damage pipes. If you’re going to use a drain cleaner, you should always opt for an enzyme-based brand.

4. No Hot Water

A lack of hot water is one of the most common plumbing service calls we get at Tioga Contractors. Chances are you rely on hot water for several things each day, from washing dishes and doing laundry to taking a shower every morning. If you suddenly lose access to your supply of hot water, your quality of life is severely impacted.

The truth is, water heaters don’t last forever. Your water heater features various components that tend to fail after a while, so it’s important to have your water heater inspected when you’re having any sort of plumbing service done. Additionally, you should know that most water heaters are rated to last between 8 and 12 years, which isn’t a very long time. If you haven’t had your water heater replaced in the last 15 or 20 years, you might consider having it replaced right now so you don’t have to deal with an unexpected lack of hot water when it inevitably fails.

5. Burst Pipes

Of all the plumbing problems you don’t want in your Euless, TX, home, burst water pipes are at the top of the list. Not only does a burst water pipe require more extensive repairs than a simple leak, it can also cost you thousands of dollars in serious structural damage. The best way to prevent burst water pipes is to have a plumbing service help you prepare your home for winter.

Burst pipes are generally a result of a pipe that freezes then thaws out again. The expansion of the water puts pressure on the pipe and eventually bursts it, at which point hundreds of gallons of water go spewing out into your home. Preventing burst pipes involves properly insulating problem parts of your home and using things like heat cable or tape to make sure your pipes don’t get too cold. You should always have this preventive maintenance done by a plumbing service professional so you know it’s done right.

Get Some Help

Keeping up with all the maintenance and repairs your home needs can be a lot of work. If you want to make things easier on yourself, the best thing you can do is schedule regular maintenance with professionals to prevent problems.

Tioga Contractors in Euless, TX, is happy to help you keep your plumbing system in great shape. Whether you need new fixtures or appliances installed or you need a plumbing service to take care of some repairs around the house, we can help. Contact Tioga Contractors today to set up an appointment and get your plumbing system back in great shape.