As a homeowner, it’s best to have a few handyman skills up your sleeve when something goes wrong. While it’s important to call the pros for big problems, there are some cases where a DIY fix will do the trick.
Here’s how to troubleshoot the most common shower plumbing problems and when to call a plumbing company.
Problem #1: Slow Bathtub Drain
A slow draining bathtub is about as terrible as one that doesn’t drain at all. A buildup of hair, soap or hard water minerals, as well as foreign objects, is often the cause of slow drains.
To fix this, start by boiling a pot of water and use a drain snake to take out as much buildup as possible while you wait. Pour the boiling water down the drain, and then follow that with a mixture of ¼ cup of baking soda and 1 cup of vinegar. To make sure you’ve dislodged everything from the drain walls, pour in one more pot of boiling water.
If this doesn’t work and you’re unable to see what is causing the clog with a flashlight, it’s time to call a technician.
Problem #2: Poor Water Pressure
Poor water pressure can ruin a good shower and leave you feeling less clean. One solution is to take off your shower head and soak it in vinegar to remove the limescale buildup.
If you still experience low pressure after this, it could be caused by a buildup in your pipes. This is when you’ll want to call a professional.
Problem #3: Dirty Looking Water
When your water pressure is fine but your water is coming out any color other than clear, you definitely have a problem. Most often, colored water indicates old pipes, rust or corrosion. If your water is an odd color, contact us at Gotelli Plumbing Co. immediately to determine the reason and discuss the next steps you should take.
Problem #4: Noisy Pipes
Noisy pipes when running your bath or shower can come from loose valves, loose support straps, high water pressure and more. In any case, you’ll want to fix it as soon as you can to prevent more problems.
If you hear noise from your pipes and your water doesn’t seem to get hot the way it used to, you might need to adjust your mixing valve or perform maintenance on your water heater. However, doing so without a professional’s help can be dangerous. If you don’t know what you’re doing, please call us at Gotelli Plumbing.
Problem #5: Leaky Faucets or Shower Heads
A shower head or tub faucet that is always dripping is not only annoying but can also cause permanent damage if left untreated. Make sure your shower head is on tight and your diverter valve is completely down when you aren’t using the shower.
Another reason for the dripping could be that your water pressure is too high. It could also be that water in your pipes is not draining properly. Call a professional to help better assess this problem.
Shower and Bathtub Plumbing Services
You can prevent many tub and shower plumbing problems with yearly preventative maintenance. If you’re in need of maintenance, repair or a professional opinion, call us at Gotelli Plumbing today.
