Plumbing disasters are no fun to deal with, in fact, the thought of them terrifies most homeowners. For many homeowners though, it is best to prepare for the worst-case scenario and know what steps need to be taken. That way, anything less than the worst is totally manageable.

Leaks

Leaks in general always have the potential to create a plumbing disaster. They are both difficult to detect and access in order to fix.

The Dreaded Slab Leak

Slab leaks occur when a pipe under your home incurs some sort of damage and leaks water. The leak is under the concrete foundation slab, thus, a slab leak. If slab leaks are left untreated, then there is potential for huge damage to the property.

The most common symptom of slab leaks is homeowners hearing the noise of running water constantly. This is especially an issue if there is no other water running in the house at the time. Sometimes slab leaks are so bad that a plumbing professional has to repipe the entire house.

Leaking Pipes

A common indicator of plumbing leaks is when a discolored stain appears on the wall or ceiling. Occasionally, it also leads to warping in materials such as hardwood floors. There are a wide variety of potential symptoms.

  • Dramatically higher water bills
  • Low water pressure that only gets lower over time
  • Water meters continuously running
  • Mold appears around the house

Sewage & Septic System Problems

Sewage and septic lines carry some pretty disgusting stuff. So when there is a problem, those disgusting things have the potential to come back and haunt homeowners as plumbing disasters. Unfortunately, the most common symptom for sewer and septic problems is the wastewater backing up into homes. The water comes back through any ways it would typically exit the home.

  • Sink in both the kitchen and bathroom
  • Toilets
  • Bathtub drains
  • Shower drains

Usually, this is caused by blockages in the line. Those blockages are not human waste. Often times it is a disgusting conglomeration of hair, food waste, and non-biodegradable items flushed down the toilet.

Loss Of Potable And/Or Freshwater

If the water flow in your house is slowing down for any reason, it is a sign that something is wrong. However, there is the small matter of determining what that something is. Additionally, the more important concern for most homeowners: determining the cost to repair it.

Loss of potable water might require a fix as simple as tightening a few connections between pipes. However, the problem might be as big as something such as a broken water main. To determine if the plumbing problem is localized, or more general, contact your neighbors. If your neighbors are also experiencing issues, it might not be something that has to come out of your pocket.