Having a home is a wonderful thing, but it can sometimes be a lot of work. In Toronto, where there are a lot of older homes and large condo buildings with complex plumbing systems, a number of plumbing issues can arise. It’s important to take care of your home, and keeping up on plumbing repairs and maintenance is always a good idea. There are a number of common issues that you can watch out for and here are our top 10:
Kitchen Faucet Repairs
Drippy faucets can not only be incredibly annoying late at night but also be surprisingly expensive. When you’re in charge of paying your water bill, you definitely notice the jump in cost when you’ve got a leaky pipe or two. Calling in a plumber to help you out can save you a ton of money!
Leaky Joints
This is a common problem when pipes are not fitted properly or wear down over time. Sometimes it can be easily fixed on your own, but often the leak is tucked in behind walls or hard to access places.
General Leaks
A general leak in your plumbing can be expensive and incredibly damaging to your home. To save yourself from a headache later, make sure you keep up with general plumbing repairs and maintenance. A few common places for general leaks are bathtubs, showers drain, sinks, and toilets. These pipes go through floors and walls and if not taken care of, can rot through the floors and walls.
Stuck Cleanout Plugs
This is another common plumbing issue in Toronto. A stuck cleanout plug can cause pipes to back up, slow draining and cause damage if not fixed right away. It can be a relatively simple fix yourself, but unless you know what you’re doing, it’s better to call a plumber in and give you a hand.
Running Toilets
A running toilet is incredibly annoying. It can jack up your water bill outrageously and drive you nuts at night when you’re trying to sleep. Not only can it be annoying but it can also cause other issues like poor flushing. Sometimes it’s an easy fix achieved by adjusting the chain inside, but other times, it can be caused by an issue that’s not so easily fixed.
Clogged Bathtubs
Unclogging a bathtub drain is one of the most simple plumbing repairs out there. Hair and other gunk collect in bathtub drain that causes it to keep from draining properly. If left too long, the clog can be too big to dig out yourself and will require a skilled plumber with proper tools to fix it.
Clogged Toilets
It’s everyone’s worst nightmare: you’re over at someone’s house and you’ve just used the toilet and it’s now clogged. When a plunger no longer does the job though, it’s a good idea to turn off the water and call in someone else!
Leaking Water Heaters
There are certain things that you just don’t want to do yourself and risk making it worse–this is one of those things. A leaking water heater usually isn’t an easy fix, but take a look and see if you can identify the problem. At least then you’ll be able to give your plumbing professional a heads-up on what’s actually happening.
Water Softener
Water softener issues are another common plumbing issue in Toronto. Commonly, there can be salt problems that can be fixed by simply checking the brine tank or cleaning the resin bed or other essential parts.
Replacing Shutoff Valves
Shutoff valves can be problematic and often start to malfunction, especially in older homes. A stuck shut off valve is the cause of many an overflowing toilet or faucet and can result in household panic. Besides, having a water shutoff valve that closes easily will help you save yourself a lot of heartache and panic!
