Are you asking: How to prevent common plumbing problems? Say goodbye to plumbing woes with our helpful guide on preventing common issues. Learn practical tips and proactive measures to avoid leaks, clogs, and other plumbing troubles.
Robert Cliff Ltd provide local plumbing services for Uppingham, Oakham, Stamford and Rutland. Keep your home's plumbing system in top shape and enjoy a stress-free, smoothly running household with our expert advice.
Preventing Common Plumbing Problems:
Clogged Drains And Toilets
Drains get clogged when water backs up after you take a shower or empty a sink. The indications of a blocked toilet are more visible. Instead of flushing, the water builds up in the toilet bowl and may even overflow. After the clog has been cleared, your toilet or drains should function normally once more. Either a plumber can come out or you can handle it yourself with some basic tools.
You can prevent clogs by flushing soluble waste down the toilet. Kids should not flush toys or other large objects down the toilet, so keep a watch on them. Remove anything that falls into the toilet before attempting to flush it.
To stop hair from building up within the drain pipe in showers, use a hair catcher over the drain. Try to avoid getting hair in sinks to prevent blockage. If you can't remove the clog yourself, let a professional handle it for you. When the same drain becomes clogged, there is another occasion to call a plumber. Regular use of caustic drain cleaners can harm pipes over time. A plumber can resolve the issue without harming the drain line.
Leaky Taps And Pipes
Homes tend to experience plumbing issues with leaking taps and pipes. Fixing leaks in your house can save up to 10% on your water bill. Since the water falls out of the taps when it's turned off, leaking taps are easy to detect. Even when you're not in the room, you can generally hear the dripping. If you don't find the issue right away, leaking pipes may do a lot of damage.

Tap leaks are frequently caused by damage to the washer that creates the seal around the tap. Things like ripping, displacement, and stiffening are considered forms of damage. This damage prevents the washer from sealing, which results in the tap dripping a few drops of water. With time, the valve seat itself might corrode or degrade. Your pipes' joints are where leaks are most prone to occur. Leaks may develop as a result of wear and tear or other types of damage.
Natural wear from frequent use is hard to avoid. Leaking taps are certain to occur over time. By turning taps on and off gradually you can reduce that wear or tear. Although it's tough to stop leaky pipes, you can find the issue early with a routine examination. Look for dampness or tiny drops.
It can be possible to find leaks by looking for corrosion or white lime deposits. If you are unfamiliar with plumbing, get a plumber to replace the washer. Call a professional to fix leaky pipes if the project is too big or if you don't want to deal with the clean-up.
Boiler Issues
Water heater problems are simple to identify. When you go to take that lovely warm shower, the water is ice cold. Indications of a problem are dripping water, discolouration, and sounds from the water heater. Some problems with water heaters can be solved easily.
But many of them are complicated and potentially dangerous, requiring expert help. Problems with water heaters, such as a lack of hot water, can occasionally be the result of leaks. Mineral deposits can also cause problems with water heaters.
The heater's efficiency may be lowered by the deposits. Your home's supply of hot water would be reduced as a result. Your water heater is likely to make strange noises as sediment warms up and bursts.
Low Water Pressure

Plumbing problems are brought on by low water pressure, which can also happen in modern homes. Low water pressure can develop gradually over time, depending on the cause. It must become better before regular water drinking can resume.
This is due to the difficulty of taking showers and washing dishes when there is low water pressure. Low water pressure can have a lot of different reasons. If your neighbours also complain about poor water pressure, there may have been a main water break.
As a result, their tap pressure is reduced. If a pipe in your house leaks, the pressure will fall in the same way. To check for leaks, shut off the taps, check your water metre, and wait a few hours without using any water. You most likely have a leak if the reading on your water metre changes. The buildup of minerals and debris in the pipes is another hypothesis that could be true.
The build-up causes low pressure, which reduces the flow of water. Call a plumber if the water pressure decreases or if you are unable to locate the problem's cause. This can be a sign of a plumbing leak. If the issue isn't with your aerators, you can have a buildup or corrosion issue in your pipes. Additionally, a plumber is required to replace or fix the damaged components.
Running Toilet
One of the most annoying toilet plumbing concerns is a running toilet. The toilet is still working, but it continues to use water inefficiently and loudly. Water may leak through the flapper valve if it no longer fits properly.
Additional causes include a leak, a loose fill tube, and an uneven float. To check for leaks in the tank, use food colouring. After around 20 minutes, check the bowl to see if the colour has leaked into the water. While you can't usually avoid toilet problems, you can check the parts to make sure they're in working order. If you repair the tank's toilet parts but the running continues, you might require a plumber.

Tips To Prevent Common Plumbing Problems:
Regular Maintenance
An extensive examination of the plumbing system is part of routine plumbing maintenance. The plumber can find small plumbing problems during this assessment before they develop into larger ones. Finding issues early saves you time and money.
This is because it stops the issue from becoming worse and causing substantial damage. Major plumbing troubles may be avoided with regular plumbing maintenance.
With regular maintenance, plumbing concerns like leaks, blockages, and bursts may be avoided. Plumbing experts recognise early issues and address them before they become more serious.
Inspect For Leaks
Leaks can be hard to find, but if ignored, they can do a lot of harm. Regularly check your pipes, taps, and fixtures for leaks. Keep an eye out for indications of water damage, including stains on the walls and ceilings, musty smells, and warped or damaged flooring.
Use Strainers In Sinks And Showers
Drain strainers are essential for removing water from sinks in kitchens and bathrooms. A drain strainer is a perforated metal sieve that prevents the passage of solid material. If you want to avoid a blocked or clogged washbasin and germs, this filter works wonders.
Plumbers frequently get calls concerning things entering drains, usually as a result of a young child's curiosity. These problems can be avoided using a filter. The bathroom sink drain can become blocked if hair and floss are flushed down it. Jewellery and earrings falling into the bathroom sink can also cause a blockage. Sink filters stop these problems from happening.
Soap frequently falls off people's hands and drains. Hair clumps accumulate in the shower when individuals wash. These kinds of situations can be overcome by the strainers. Remove the hair as a temporary solution if you discover that hair stuck in the drain causes water to pool. Use a drain strainer as a durable blockage avoidance technique.
Be Careful What You Flush
Items flushed down the toilet that shouldn't be might clog pipes and damage your plumbing. Use the toilet just for human waste and toilet paper disposal. You shouldn't flush other things like cotton swabs, baby wipes, or feminine hygiene products.
Use Water Softener
Compared to hard water, soft water is easier on plumbing systems and other home equipment. Your water's ions are changed by water softeners. The hard minerals in water are replaced by sodium and/or potassium ions when it enters a water softener.
The water that has been softened is subsequently utilised throughout your home. Since sodium and potassium are far less abrasive than other minerals, they do not cause corrosion or soap scum like hard water does.
Avoid DIY Disasters
Although it's tempting, it's crucial to realise your limitations when trying to fix plumbing problems on your own. Here are some suggestions for preventing DIY catastrophes. Don't try to solve a problem yourself if you're not sure of your ability to fix a plumbing issue. Instead, get a qualified plumber to complete the job correctly.
Your plumbing system may be damaged if the incorrect tools are used. Before you start, make sure you have the appropriate tools. Being rough might destroy delicate plumbing systems. Work with pipes gently to prevent inflicting any harm that isn't essential.
Do you require plumbing or heating services in Leicestershire? We offer services to both domestic and commercial customers Uppingham, Oakham, Stamford, Peterborough and Rutland. Our charges are highly competitive and realistic. If you are experiencing problems with your central heating - Please contact us.