Dealing with plumbing problems can be overwhelming and stressful, but many Houston homeowners are familiar with them. Whether you’re facing a leaking pipe or a mysteriously clogged drain, even a smell issue can grow into a larger, more serious problem in a matter of days. When your home faces plumbing problems, a dependable plumbing team like Santhoff Plumbing can keep minor repairs from turning into major headaches.
By understanding and recognizing the 8 most common plumbing repairs for Houston households, you can know exactly what to do when trouble comes knocking on your door.
1. Leaky Faucets and Dripping Pipes: A Common Houston Plumbing Repair
The classic, notorious drip, drip, drip sound that makes you wonder if you’re really hearing things, or if you’re just imagining it. Even if the drip is minuscule, it can lead to hundreds of dollars in water waste per year – because of this, swift and thorough plumbing repair is vital for your Houston home’s system.
Most often, leaky faucets and dripping are caused by old pipes and corrosion on the joints or fittings. Along with a dripping faucet, you could also spot things like water stains, rust markings, or simply a startling jump on your water bill.
2. Clogged Drains: When to Call a Plumber for a Stubborn Blockage
The second most common Houston plumbing repair is for clogged drains or drains that are simply draining a little slower than normal. This could be caused by many things, but the most common culprits are:
- Hair
- Soap scum buildup
- Grease
- Food particles
The best way to prevent your drains from slowing down and causing foul smells is to learn what items can and cannot be put down the garbage disposal or sink drain. By doing this, you can keep your plumbing system running smoothly and your drains operating at full capacity.
While a basic snake tool might lend a hand for small clogs, calling an expert plumber like our team at Santhoff Plumbing is crucial for complete, long-lasting solutions.
3. Running Toilets: A Costly Water Leak That Needs Professional Plumbing Expertise
A running toilet can do a lot more damage than just keep you up all night from the irritating humming noise. Most often, toilets run due to a misfire from the flapper valve or fill valve within the toilet’s inner workings. In Houston, this is extremely common due to the city’s hard water.
Although it might not seem like a huge problem, it can lead to expensive water waste in just a matter of days. In some cases, running toilets can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, which can exponentially increase your water bill.
While a DIY fix might seem tempting, when water waste is on this scale, a professional plumbing repair is always the best option.
4. Low Water Pressure: A Sign of a Deeper Houston Plumbing Problem
Nothing can ruin a busy weekday morning like a shower with weak water pressure. One second you’re ready to face the day, when suddenly there’s soap in your hair and the water won’t exceed a trickle. For Houston homeowners, this scenario is all too common for a variety of reasons, including:
- Mineral buildup from Houston’s hard water
- A hidden leak somewhere in your system or beyond
- Increased demands exceeding the city water supply’s limits
Not only can poor water pressure be irritating, but it can also indicate a larger-scale problem that requires professional attention. At Santhoff Plumbing, our plumbers are trained in not only solving immediate problems but also accurately diagnosing root causes to prevent future issues.
5. Water Heater Issues: Why Sediment Buildup is a Serious Plumbing Challenge
Is your hot water lukewarm at best? Or perhaps you’re hearing a mysterious sound coming from your water heater? Hard water and sediment buildup in the Houston area cause many plumbing repairs, and your water heater is no exception. This most often occurs at the bottom of your water heater tank. Some things to look for include rust colored water, lukewarm water, and popping noises. The most common plumbing repair in Houston for water heat buildup is a tank flush, which can help completely clean out the system.
6. Foundation Leaks: A Serious Plumbing Emergency for Houstonians
This is undeniably one of the most serious plumbing problems for Houston homeowners and always needs a professional’s expertise. A foundation leak is a leak within the water or sewer line below your home’s concrete slab. Because of Houston’s moist, flexible clay soil, this problem is not rare and is most common during rainy seasons when the clay swells and shrinks as it dries. The movement within the soil can cause your foundation to shift and damage the plumbing lines.
Things to look out for include spikes in your water bills, hearing running water at all times, water damage, cracks in your walls or ceiling, or moldy smells. At Santhoff Plumbing, our team uses technology such as infrared sensors or acoustic leak detection to accurately find the problem and solve it without causing more damage to your plumbing system.
7. Sewer Line Backups: An Unpleasant Problem Requiring a Houston Plumber
When it comes to plumbing problems for Houston homeowners, nothing is nearly as unpleasant as sewer line backups. This problem can not only cause foul smells but also contribute to unsightly messes and even serious health hazards if you’re exposed to it for long enough.
This typically means that something like a tree root or damaged foundation has blocked a sewer line is preventing the wastewater from safely exiting your home’s system. Because of Houston’s beautiful oak trees and miles of piney groves, this is especially common – even more so in some of Houston’s older neighborhoods with lots of mature trees. If you’re seeing multiple fixtures beginning to back up at the same time and noticing a putrid odor, immediately call your Houston plumber for an emergency repair. Our plumbers can use a sewer camera to locate the exact cause of the backup and precisely clear it without contributing to more mess or problems down the line.
8. Discolored Water: A Sign of Corroded Pipes Needing Plumbing Repair
If your tap water is anything but clear, a call to your trusted Houston plumber is a non-negotiable for a safe repair. While slightly tinted water may not cause too much concern for some Houston homeowners, it almost always points toward a larger-scale issue within your home’s plumbing system. This is almost always caused by corroded pipes within the system, leading to rust entering the water supply and possibly tainting it. A certified, professional plumber like our team at Santhoff Plumbing can help diagnose your pipes and recommend repairs or full-scale replacements to prevent further contamination.
Houston, We Have a Plumbing Problem, and We’re Calling Santhoff Plumbing to Fix it
Whether you’re dealing with a major catastrophe in your Houston home or a small leaky faucet, Santhoff Plumbing is your one-stop shop for all plumbing repairs. Our team of plumbers is highly trained in every type of issue you may be dealing with and strives to provide you with the most affordable, high-quality, and efficient fix on the market. No matter what kind of problem you’re facing, contact Santhoff Plumbing in Houston today for a free plumbing repair consultation!