Plumbing Mistakes You Will Never Make Again

Keeping your home's plumbing in good repair is needed in order to avoid leaks, burst pipes, and other problems that can be very expensive and very difficult to fix. Not all plumbing problems you see around the home are as minor as you assume, whereas many of them are also not as major as you might think. Note a few answers to questions that homeowners often have about their home's plumbing and how to address certain problems you may face.

1. Why is there a black ring around the base of the toilet?

A black ring around the base of the toilet isn't usually a sign that you're not cleaning your bathroom properly, but is a sign that the wax ring under the toilet is in need of replacement. This wax ring seals the toilet to the floor and when it begins to corrode due to age or a water leak, it may then come loose. In turn, the area around the toilet may collect moisture and then mold and mildew. You'll see this as a black discoloration of the grout around the toilet. To address this, the toilet needs to be taken up and that wax ring removed and replaced altogether.

2. Why do pipes bang whenever water is turned on?

This can be a number of problems, including improperly secured pipes behind the walls. When the water flows through the pipes, they bang against the wall and cause vibration. You may also have too much water pressure in the pipes and this added pressure is causing the pipes to knock back and forth more than they should. It's good to have a plumber like Bunbury Plumbing and Gas check the reason for this banging rather than assuming it's just the pipes alone, as too much water pressure can cause leaks around the connectors. A water hammer arrestor can reduce this excess water pressure and protect your pipes.

3. Why does the water heater rumble?

When the water heater kicks on during the day, you may hear a hissing sound. This is the sound of the heating element circulating heat around the water and is perfectly normal. However, if you hear a rumbling sound when you turn on a hot water tap or fill your washing machine with hot water, this often means that there is sediment that has built up in the bottom of the hot water heater. This rumbling sound is water that is trapped in this sediment. Your hot water heater suffers extra wear and tear when it has this sediment, so it's good to have it checked and cleaned as necessary when you hear this rumbling sound.