The three main types of plumbing repairs are fixing leaks, repairing mechanical parts, and removing blockages. Plumbing systems have a supply side and a drain side, and any malfunction can pose a risk to health or property. Repairs can be expensive and time-consuming, and homeowners are responsible for the entire system. Common problems include leaking faucets, malfunctioning toilets, and clogged drains, which can be treated with physical clearing or chemical blends.
There are three main types of plumbing repairs to address malfunctions that can occur with plumbing systems in most Western households: repairing a leak, repairing the mechanical parts of a plumbing fixture such as a faucet or valve, and removing a blockage in the drainage system. Leaks can occur anywhere in the system for a variety of reasons. Mechanical malfunctions mainly occur when the valves malfunction and the water flow is not regulated properly, and water leaks often occur. Clogs generally occur in the drainage side of the system and become apparent when water is not draining properly from a sink or toilet. Any type of plumbing malfunction can pose a risk to health or property and should be taken care of immediately.
Most plumbing systems consist of a supply side, which carries water from a central supply, and a drain side, which drains the used water, along with any waste. The delivery carries the pressurized water through a system of non-toxic pipes capable of withstanding the water pressure. When pipes are joined, the joints are secured by one of several methods, such as welding, compression joints, or solvent welding. The drainage side consists of larger pipes which carry used water and waste products to the sewer system.
Leaks in the feed portion of the system usually occur either when a pipe has frozen and consequently burst, when a joint has failed, or when a plastic pipe has prematurely deteriorated. When a leak occurs in the supply side of the system, water escapes from the system under pressure and can cause damage to the surrounding area, including causing a flood. When a leak occurs in the power portion of a system, it must be stopped and repaired immediately.
After the water supply to the affected area has been shut off, the water must be drained from the affected portion of the system to facilitate plumbing repair, which usually involves replacing the damaged section. This type of plumbing repair can be an expensive and time-consuming operation because most of the supply pipes are hidden behind walls and under floors, making it difficult to access. Care should also be taken to protect flammable items if heat welding is part of your plumbing repair.
It is no less important to repair leaks in the drainage side of the system, even if the water does not escape under pressure. Water escaping from the discharge side of a plumbing system can simply pool and stagnate, but the presence of waste products in the water can make such puddles toxic. Repairs to leaks in drain pipes are just as problematic as repairs to supply pipes, made worse by the fact that drain pipes often run under part of the house and grace the landscape before being discharged into a sewer system. Typically, a homeowner is responsible for the entire system, from where the home’s supply pipe meets the public supply line (often identified by a water meter) to the point where the drain pipe returns wastewater to the sewer system.
The next plumbing repair is of a malfunctioning fixture. A home plumbing system serves a variety of fixtures, such as toilets, sinks, showers, bathtubs, landscape sprinkler systems, etc. Failures in any of these devices can potentially cause problems throughout the system, especially when the problem results in a loss of water pressure due to a leak. The most common problems in plumbing systems are dripping faucets and malfunctioning toilets. Dripping faucets are usually caused by a worn washer or faucet cartridge, both of which are relatively simple repairs and are often undertaken by the homeowner.
Toilets work in several ways, most inside the water tank. The two most common problems are a worn flapper valve or a malfunctioning float valve. Luckily for the homeowner, plumbing repair is quick and easy.
The third plumbing repair is the removal of a blockage in the drainage system. Clogs cause sinks, bathtubs, and toilets to drain slowly, and if the clog is severe enough, it can cause the water to overflow. There are several ways to treat a clogged drain pipe, the most direct of which is to physically clear the drain by forcing a cable through it. Small disruptions can be cleared with a small hand cable called a closet auger, while large clogs can be cleared with an electric plumbing snake. These devices have different attachments for clearing obstacles by pushing them all the way to the sewer or shredding them and letting the running water wash the chunks away. Many different caustic chemical blends are also commercially available to pour down clogged or sluggish drains. These blends work over time by loosening clogs, especially those caused by combinations of hair, kitchen waste, and grease.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
