4 Reasons Your Pipes Could be Noisy

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The source of noisy pipe problems is usually found during a household plumbing inspection. Most of the problems can be traced by the homeowner, but a licensed and insured plumbing specialist is able to make necessary repairs that the homeowner may not have experience with. To illustrate how varied noisy pipes can be, here are 4 common reasons for noisy pipes. 

1. Valves Not Fully Open

One of the first things to check in a home plumbing inspection is the condition of the valves in the plumbing system. Valves that are partially clogged or not fully open can cause vibrations and squealing sounds. Defined simply, the noise is a result of water flow being squeezed off, similar to the sound made by reducing airflow out of a balloon.

2. Too Much Pressure

A common problem known as “water hammering”: is the result of over-pressurized water lines. When the flow is turned off, a sudden backup in the lines causes them to shake. Other related noises will develop over time, including a banging or knocking sound. Water hammering may be more noticeable when using appliances such as washers because those machines have immediate full cutoffs that instantly stop the flow.

3. Drains Partially Clogged

Drains that are starting to clog will produce a variety of symptoms that include gurgling noises, odors, and the drain not operating as well as it once did. One common sign of a drain getting clogged is a toilet that doesn’t flush with the same force. It may be working satisfactorily, but not as well as you recall, and that may be a sign of plumbing problems on the horizon.

4. Loose Pipes in the Walls

Pipes that are improperly secured inside your walls may move around when toilets are flushed or faucets turned on or off. As they move, they can knock against the inside of the walls or against the framing or other covered items causing knocks or rattling noises. This problem may be caused by water hammering, but it is also common in older houses and is closely connected to the age of the home.

Contractor or DIY?

Some plumbing noises can be fixed by the homeowner, such as checking that the valves are fully operational, but other solutions involve experienced plumbing contractors. Keep in mind that securing plumbing inside your walls or repairing a clogged sewer line may involve things like opening the wall or trenchless sewer replacement. If you aren’t sure you can fix the problem, enlisting the assistance of a licensed and insured professional is your best course of action.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

DIY Checklist for Your Annual Household Plumbing Inspection

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An annual household plumbing inspection is an important part of homeownership. During the inspection, you can make repairs yourself or note items that require a professional home contractor. These repairs prevent leaks, burst pipes, and avoid having to pay for more extensive home repairs related to water damage.

– Drains

Begin your inspection in the bathroom. Inspect your bathtub, shower, and sink drains for damage or clogs. If the water seems to flow out slower than it should, that may be an indication of a clog forming in the P-trap or elsewhere in your plumbing line. Some clogs can be corrected by the homeowner but others require specialized equipment and more in-depth knowledge of plumbing systems.

– Faucets and Hose Bibs

Look for leaks around all faucets, and make the necessary repairs. In some cases, hose bibs wear out and must be replaced to stop the leak. Faucet and hose bib leaks indicate worn valves that need rooter service. If you can’t find a leak but your bathroom smells bad, check if your wood or flooring is soaked.

– Valves

There are a variety of valves in your home plumbing system. Every faucet will have at least one, and usually two if that fixture provides hot water. Leaking valves are the cause of leaks around faucets, at pipe junctions, and near your water heater. In most cases, valve replacement should be left to professionals.

– Filters and Aerators

Remove the aerator filters at your sink faucets and clean or replace them. Clogged aerators may cause the water to run more slowly from the faucet or result in unusual water streams as it emerges from the aerator. Filter and aerator cleaning can be done by the homeowner or included as part of a full-service household plumbing inspection performed by plumbers.

– Water Heater

Your water heater is an important part of a household plumbing inspection checklist. A water heater should be flushed out at least once a year to remove sediments that accumulate in the tank. You can connect a garden hose to the water heater drain outlet and flush the system yourself, but leaving the job to professionals will avoid many potential problems including water spillage.

– Water Heater Temperature

If the water from your water heater doesn’t seem to be as hot as it used to be, it may be time to replace the thermostat or heating anode. This part is submerged in the tank and provides heat in the heater system. Over time, sediment buildup on the metal rod will prevent it from working properly or lead to other water heater problems. This type of repair is typically performed by a licensed contractor.

A household plumbing inspection is not especially difficult, but it does require extensive knowledge of how the household plumbing is piped and where individual parts of the system are located. If the task seems daunting or confusing, you always have the option of hiring a plumbing specialist to perform the inspection and related repairs for you.

Household Plumbing Inspection — Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides 24/7 household plumbing services for homes and multifamily buildings. We pride ourselves on our professional and quality work. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for residential plumbing services any time, any day of the week.

4 Plumbing Tips that New Pet Owners Need to Know

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Newcomers to pet ownership need to pet-proof their homes to provide a safe, worry-less space for their new family members to roam. This could include conducting a household plumbing inspection to eliminate health and safety hazards. Below are four plumbing tips that homeowners are recommended to follow:

  1. Flushable litter isn’t flushable

Even kitty litter that is advertised as flushable isn’t flushable. It will wash down, but in the pipes it can solidify into an obstruction. A rooter service provider might need to break through with a toilet auger, a quick fix but a fix nonetheless that takes time and costs money. Additionally, don’t wash pet waste down the toilet. Even if the waste is free of litter, don’t drop it in the toilet.

As for pet waste, your local disposal policies might vary from others regarding dog poop. The EPA states that dog poop can safely be flushed down, as it isn’t much different from human waste. If your local policies permit flushing dog waste, and you use a public sewer instead of a septic tank, you can do so. However, cat waste should never be flushed, as it might contain a parasite that infects humans and animals alike.

  1. Keep your toilet lid closed when not in use

Not only is a closed toilet lid common courtesy and a health measure to prevent bacteria from splashing out during a flush, it prevents your pet from getting inside. Dogs might stick their muzzles in and lap up the water. Cats might stick in their paws, which could be coated in litter, and lead to a clog. Additionally, if treating your toilet with cleaners, the lid should be shut to prevent poisoning your pets.

  1. Use hair catchers in your tub

If you wash or groom your dogs at home, invest in a hair catcher or drain strainer. Regardless if your dog doesn’t shed much or is non-shedding, hair will wash off. Like human hair, fur can knot together in pipes and catch other debris that washes down. If you use the tub often, the knot can quickly grow, cause a backup, and require residential plumbing services. Hair catches require a little maintenance, but nothing worse than what you’ll need if your plumbing clogs up. Keeping your drains open in general is a bad habit that will damage your sink, shower, and toilet pipes.

  1. Hide exposed drains and pipes

Pets like to play, and exposed plumbing can be enticing. Teething puppies might find your pipes a fun challenge to chew, and wandering kittens might get stuck in open drains. Cover floor drains with rugs to deter curious pets. Your residential plumber can also install drain covers and wrap exposed pipes. 

Schedule a household plumbing inspection with Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides quick household plumbing inspections. We’ll run through your plumbing system and make suggestions for optimizing your water flow and reducing your likelihood of emergency fixes, including those relating to your pets. Contact us through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 for 24/7 residential plumbing services.

Small Leak, Big Problem – When You Should Call a Plumber

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Small leaks can quickly become big problems if they aren’t addressed. They can build up to require substantial repairs, including replacement of pipes and the repair of your ceiling, floor, and drywall. A household plumbing inspection will tell you about all the small leaks and other problem areas in your plumbing that could lead to larger problems in the future.

Here are three signs that you have a leak and should call a residential plumber for a household inspection ASAP:

Brown spots appear on the ceiling

If brown spots are starting to form on the ceiling, you likely have a water leak directly above. The leak could be new, but it could be an old opening that has grown large enough to impact your ceiling. Take the brown spots as a sign that your pipes are signaling for immediate help. The longer the leak is unattended, the more likely your pipes will break down from corrosion around the leak area.

Your water bill is increasing despite unchanged usage

If your water bill is gradually increasing and you can’t justify why, that’s a sign of a water leak. If a faucet even dribbles a few drops of water, your bills can increase. No matter how infrequent the dribbling, it will drain at your savings.

To be sure this is a water leak, check your home for loose or running faucets. If you have a sprinkler or water system for your garden, check those water lines for breaks. If everything appears to be in shape, contact a residential plumber to check for unspotted leaks and problems.

In cases where you can’t locate the leak yourself, the leak might be in the sewer line that runs underneath your home and yard. This would most likely require trenchless sewer replacement, a minimally invasive procedure that disrupts as little as possible of your landscape.

Peeling paint or mold growth in the bathroom

Bathrooms are frequent sources of excess moisture, but not all moisture problems are caused by the humidity of hot showers. Sometimes blistering or peeling paint is caused by water leaks behind the wall. Mold growth can also be caused by water leaking down the walls.

Moisture problems should be immediately treated, especially if they’re in the bathroom, because they can progress to cause the floor or ceiling to collapse. Not all mold is toxic to your health, but if stachybotrys chartarum (also called “black mold”) grows on your walls, it can severely affect your respiratory and immune systems. 

Clear any mold immediately, then have a residential plumber determine if there’s a leak or if your bathroom merely has poor ventilation. You want the leak fixed before the damage can spread to your drywall and cause a need for major repairs.

Ehret Co. Plumbing & Heating provides local household plumbing inspections

You can stretch out time between repairs by applying plumbers tape to the problem areas of small leaks. Keep track of the leaks you find so your plumber can get to work faster.

Small leaks can be indicative of larger problems. Reach out to Ehret. Co Plumbing & Heating through our online contact form or call us at 510-528-4292 to schedule a household plumbing inspection.