7 Common Apartment Plumbing Problems

Plumbing problems in apartment buildings are the most common issues, rather than those in individual houses. This is because apartment buildings have been used heavily over the years.

It does not matter if you live in a high-rise or an old courtyard building. You will still experience some faulty plumbing in your apartment, and it does not matter whether the apartment is new or not. You may even need to call Pipes Mechanical Plumbing Company to ask them to help you fix some plumbing issues.

However, there are instances where you can resolve a plumbing issue on your own. It is by knowing the problem before it gets to the worst.

Common Apartment Plumbing Problems That You May Encounter

Here are some of the plumbing problems in your apartment that you may encounter. These problems are the ones that you can resolve on your own the moment you notice them to avoid them from getting worse.

1. Clogged Toilet

It is the most common plumbing problem you may experience in your apartment. There are several reasons why this happens. This includes papers or other materials that are actually in your drain pipes. For you to be able to fix this issue, here is a tip.

• Make use of a plunger. Ideally, you use the one with a bell flange that can seal the bottom of your toilet bowl.
• Push air from the flange of your plunger and into the clogged pipe.
• Continue doing this until you have loosened the clog.
• Flush it several times for you to ensure that the pipe is clear.

2. Clogged Drains

A clogged drain in your sink or bathroom is caused by some materials stuck in your pipe. Another cause is grease and other build-ups like soap residue, bathing products, hair, etc. To prevent this from happening, it is recommended to call professional drain cleaning plumbers to help with the maintenance of your pipes, or you can clean your clogged drain in two ways.

• How to unblock a sink plunger for you to be able to break out the clog.
• You can also use a liquid drain cleaner. Make sure that you follow the instructions carefully to avoid damage.

3. Frozen Pipes

This is the most damaging plumbing problem and one of the most common plumbing problems in colder climates. What happens is that once the temperature freezes, the water in your pipe will expand and cause it to burst open. This will inevitably spill water all over the place. In a worst-case scenario, this can lead to flooding or water damage in your apartment. Here is some guidance for you on how you can thaw out your frozen pipes.

• Turn on some of your faucets. This will help you know if you are making any progress.
• Make use of a hairdryer. Set the dryer at a low temperature. This will then slowly thaw your pipe.
• Use some rags that are soaked in hot water and wrap them around the pipe. Change the rags every 30 minutes.
• You can also make a DIY prevention and insulation technique.

You can also prevent your pipes from freezing by using these prevention methods.

• Open your cabinet doors. This is for the warm air to be able to get into your pipes.
• Let a low amount of water run for you to increase the flow of the water.
• You can also apply heating tape to your pipes to generate enough heat.

4. Dripping Faucets

This is one of the plumbing problems in your apartment that are under the radar. Not unless that someone gets so annoyed because of the sound of the dripping water from your faucet. However, before that happens, you might have to waste gallons of water and money as well because this will affect your water bill. Here is how you can fix this problem.

• Identify where the leak is coming from. After that, turn off your water supply.
• Replace your aerator by unscrewing it and then replacing it with a new one.
• Then, go ahead and fix the base leaks. You can do this by taking out the spout assembly and then going ahead and replacing the O-ring.

5. Leaky Pipes Under the Sink

This is almost the same as the dripping faucet. The only difference is that the leak is in its pipe. This can also cause you to waste gallons of water, which will eventually reflect on your water bill. Here is what you can do if you have a leaking faucet.

• Turn on the water in your sink.
• Check under your sink where the pipe is located, and then find where the leak is.
• Once you have found the leak, turn off the water.
• You can use a sealant to cover the leak.
• Let the sealant dry for about 30 minutes to one hour.

6. Low Water Pressure

This is also one of the most common plumbing problems in every apartment building. Clogged aerators cause low water pressure. For you to fix this kind of problem, here is what you should do.

• Go ahead and check your hot and cold water to see if they are affected.
• If both your hot and cold water is affected, remove, clean, and then replace your aerators. Replacing your aerators will improve your water pressure.
• However, if the only thing that is not working is either your hot or your cold water, then you should call a professional to help you.

7. Dirty Water

The water in your apartment can become contaminated and dirty because of several reasons. This situation is experienced in older apartment buildings and other urban communities. One reason you have dirty water in your apartment is that when pipe corrosion in your sewage line, it might begin to break down.

Having dirty water is unhealthy, and at the same time, it is also dangerous. You should pay close attention to the color of your water as well as the scent and opacity. If this is the case, then it is better to call a professional.

Best Way To Prevent Plumbing Problems

Yes, you can indeed fix all these common problems. However, there are instances when these problems have already gone to the worst. Because of this, you would need an expert to help you. One example of the best Plumber in Long Beach is GM Plumbing services. They provide excellent service in solving this kind of plumbing problem.

If you don’t know how to unclog a toilet without a plunger, check this guide.