When you’re wading through knee-deep water or shivering your way through an ice-cold shower, it’s safe to say it’s time to call a plumber.
But before it gets to the level when calling a plumber is the obvious solution, what are the signs to look out for? Generally speaking, the world of plumbing is only to be navigated by professional plumbers as by DIYing a solution you could actually cause more harm than good.
The good news is that if you need a plumber Melbourne has many. You just need to know when to call them to avoid any unnecessary call out fees.
7 Signs that it’s Time to Call a Plumber
1. Discoloured Water
If your water has changed colour, it’s best to veer on the side of caution and address the potential issue immediately. The first step here isn’t to call your plumber, but rather to call your water provider to find out if the issue is coming from their side.
If your water provider is blameless, call a plumber to come and investigate. Changes in water colour can be indicative of a compromised plumbing structure and that water is not recommended to drink.
2. Low Water Pressure
When the pressure of your water has noticeably dropped, give your plumber a call. While the issue of low water pressure doesn’t seem like a cause for concern, when left unchecked it can become dangerous.
Low water pressure is most often caused by a clog in your pipes which prevents water from flowing as it normally does. A clog can easily lead to a blockage which can just as easily lead to a burst pipe.
3. Slow Draining
Sometimes a drain just doesn’t do what it’s supposed to: drain. A lot of the time this can be rectified by some elbow grease and a plunger, but if the problem persists it’s best to call a plumber as it could be indicative of a bigger issue.
Clogs are usually the cause of slow draining and common clogging materials include human hair, soap residue, grease build-up & food waste.
4. Dripping Faucets
A dripping faucet might sound like a minor problem and audio annoyance, but when it’s not repaired it can lead to increased water bills & excessive water wastage. If you tighten your faucets yourself and it’s still leaking or dripping, it’s officially time to give your neighbourhood plumber a call.
Dripping faucets are caused by worn out washers, corroded valve sets, cracked pipes or the build-up of mineral deposits on any of these parts.
5. Backflow
Backflow is one of the more visible signs that it’s time to call your plumber. Backflow is essentially when water that’s supposed to be going down is instead coming up. Dealing with this unpleasant reversal of water flow is reserved for plumbers only.
The common causes of backflow include the build-up of waste, sudden water pressure drops or tree root infestation.
6. Unpleasant Odours
A home should smell like freshly baked goods or fragranced air fresheners, not like something that literally belongs in a toilet. Unpleasant odours are actually a sign of clogging and, for obvious reasons, it’s better to solve this scent issue sooner rather than later.
In addition to clogging, unpleasant odours can be caused by improperly ventilated drains, bacterial build-up, dry P-traps and damaged caused to sewerage systems by natural occurrences.
7. Noises
Pipes are known to make strange noises every now and again when the weather is cold. But any changes in the noise your pipes make, usually aren’t a good thing. A gurgling, banging or whistling noise and the sound of water flowing when no water is being used, is a sign that you should give your plumber a call.
These noises can be caused by anything from trapped air and irregular water pressure to difficulty draining and loose fastenings. No, your house isn’t haunted, it’s just time to call the plumber.
When it’s Acceptable to NOT Call a Plumber
Some instances don’t require a professional plumber’s help, although these plumbing jobs are typically few and far in between.
If you consider yourself to be a handy person and know your way around a plumbing system you can safely handle these plumbing jobs on your own:
- A jammed garbage disposal
- A lightly clogged drain or toilet
- A toilet that won’t stop running
- Upgrading showerheads
- Identifying leaks
Final Thoughts
These are the 7 signs that it’s time to call a plumber and the instances that you can still try a DIY project. The general rule of thumb should be to call a plumber whenever you aren’t comfortable with tackling the issue yourself.
Have you ever called a plumber for a reason deemed ‘unnecessary’? Or have you ever ignored warning signs and ended up in a bit of a sticky situation? If so, share your experience in the comments section below so that others can learn from you.