Plumbing Maintenance and Repairs

Aerators are a necessary finishing touch for any faucet. They allow for smooth water flow, keep water from splashing outside the sink and are easy to install.

Crawl spaces are notorious for unnoticed plumbing leaks. Wise homeowners should check crawl spaces for leaks at least once a year by running the water from all plumbing fixtures for 20 minutes, then visually inspecting the plumbing lines.

A leak from a shower stall or bathtub usually goes for months, even years, before being noticed, resulting in excessive water damage to the house structure below. In such cases, a licensed plumber should be called in to repair the leak and a qualified contractor to repair or replace the damage.

If the flapper inside a toilet tank is defective, water will continue to flow after flushing. New flappers are readily available at hardware or home-improvement stores and can be easily replaced.

If the flapper inside a toilet tank is worn out, water will continue to flow after flushing. New flappers are readily available at hardware or home-improvement stores and can be easily replaced.

When the rubber seal on a shower stall door is worn out, shower water can end up on the bathroom floor. New seals are readily available at hardware or home improvement stores and can be easily replaced. A new rubber seal can be obtained from a well stocked home improvement store and replaced by the owner. Most come with simple to follow instructions.

Water can seep outside a shower stall if the shower pan at the base of the stall needs repair or replacing. Some homeowners insurance policies cover this kind of work, which should be done by a licensed plumber.

A poorly draining bathroom sink can be the result of hair spray, shaving cream and other line-clogging substances. An over-the-counter drain cleaner may correct the problem. If not, a plumber may be needed to clean out the line.

Shampoo, soap and shaving cream can clog up a tub drain. If an over-the-counter drain cleaner doesn't correct the problem, a plumber may be needed to clean out the line.

One sign of a major water-line break is water filling the water meter. The main water line often can be turned off at or near the meter, making it easier to determine who is responsible for the problem, the homeowner or the water company.

All shower stalls are set on top of a shower pan, which can be vulnerable to leaks. To check a shower stall for such leaks, run the shower at a medium rate for an hour, then check around the base for water seepage. Many homeowners insurance policies cover damage from shower-pan leaks.

The jets on many home hot tubs or spas can become blocked if the unit is not regularly used. To prevent this, the tubs should be filled and run once a week or at least once a month. Blockages need to be cleared by a qualified expert.

When the seal at the base of a toilet fails, water will begin seeping onto the floor. It should be replaced immediately to avoid serious water damage.

The seal at the base of the sink faucet shown here has failed and water is seeping from under same. Left in it?s current state, the leak will worsen and water damage will ensue. The owner can replace this seal or install a new fixture. A knowledgeable home improvement store clerk often times can provide valuable information and replacement items to keep cost under control.

Because most people are right-handed, hot water faucet controls are traditionally installed to the left and cold water controls to the right. If the controls have been switched, it is wise to contact a plumber to correct the mistake.

Draining so-called "gray water" from a washing machine directly into the backyard is an improper method of disposal in most jurisdictions. The drain line should be connected by a qualified plumber to an approved main drain.

If the water in a toilet continues to flow after flushing, changing the ball cock, the flapper or both parts could remedy the situation. These replacement parts can be purchased at any hardware or home improvement store.

If both faucets of a washing-machine hook-up run cold water, it means that one faucet is not linked to a hot water line, as it should be. A qualified plumber should be called in to fix the problem.

Automatic ice makers should be hooked up to a cold water line, not a hot water line, during installation. While the hot water eventually will freeze, most ice makers are not designed to accept hot water.

When the pan beneath a shower stall is defective, and water seeps into the space, it can attract termites. If this occurs, it would be necessary to contact a qualified pest control company to spot-treat the area, and possibly the entire structure, for termites.

Water flowing from a temperature and pressure line with a defective valve is pushing this air conditioning condenser off its supporting slab. Once the valve is repaired or replaced, the condenser unit must be readjusted on the slab.

Temperature and pressure lines should move parallel to the ground or toward the ground at all times to avoid any impediment of water flow. If a line is found to be moving upward, a qualified plumber should be called in to correct the situation.

Sink sprayers work by diverting water from the faucet to the sprayer. If the unit fails to work, most likely the diverter unit has gone bad. The part can be easily replaced.