Below is a list of common plumbing problems compiled by some our expert plumbers here at James River Air. We hope to help our valued clients prevent plumbing problems before they become emergencies. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!
Causes:
Sewer lines can get clogged by tree roots, improper items being flushed, sludge buildup, among other causes.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
First, you want to try to determine where the problem is. Are you having trouble in just one part of your house, or are you having issues throughout your home? The clog could be in the piping in your home, in the sewer line between your house and the public utility, or in the public utility’s lines. If you can pinpoint the clog and can find a cleanout, then you can attempt to unclog your lines with a hand auger.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
In addition to hand augers, we also have several power augers that can help clear out tough clogs. We also have sewer cameras we can use to help find the location of a clog.
Causes:
Low water pressure can be caused by a buildup of deposits or sediment, corrosion, leaks in supply pipes, or issues at the source of your water supply (well or public utility).
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
If you’re just experiencing an issue with a particular fixture, then you probably have a sediment buildup. You may be able to resolve the issue by simply removing and cleaning the aerator on the fixture.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
James River Air’s plumbers can tackle more difficult issues, like pipes that need replacing, defective pressure regulators, clogged valves, or a broken well pump.
Causes:
Drains can get clogged with sludge buildup, hair, etc.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
Avoid using harsh chemicals to clear your drain. There are a few things you can try to help clear the line. First, you can try pouring boiling water with salt down the drain. You can also try pouring baking soda and vinegar down the drain and allowing it to foam up. If you have a hand auger, you can try using that to clear the clog. A plunger is another option that sometimes can free up clogged drains.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
If you’ve tried the above and your drain is still clogged, call James River Air. Our plumbers can take apart your drain line if needed and get your drain working properly again.
Causes:
When a faucet continues to drip even when fully off, there’s probably a gasket, washer, or valve stem assembly that needs to be replaced.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
If you’re comfortable doing the repair, some faucets can be repaired fairly easily. You’ll want to make sure you cut off the water supply before attempting any repairs.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
We can either repair your old faucet, or replace it with a new faucet that uses ceramic disk valves. These are pretty much maintenance free and guaranteed not to wear old like faucets with rubber components.
Causes:
Your garbage disposal may have an object jamming it up, or the disposal may have failed,
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
The first thing you want to do before attempting any sort of disposal repair is to disconnect the power at the breaker. Even when you have the power off, you never want to put your hand in the disposal. You’ll also want to wear gloves and eye protection anytime you’re working with a garbage disposal. After the power is off, use a flashlight and see if you can see an object clogging up the disposal. Using tongs or pliers, remove any excess food. Use the offset wrench that came with your disposal to see if you can get the flywheel to turn freely. Reapply power to the unit and hit the reset button if needed.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
Garbage disposal systems can be a little intimidating since they involve plumbing, electrical, and can be dangerous. James River Air’s plumbers can diagnose what’s wrong and safely repair or replace your disposal.
Causes:
Water leaks can be caused by a number of issues, like worn and corroded pipes, leaking valves, loose fittings, etc.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
When it comes to leaking water lines, because of the complexity and possibility of damage to your home from water, it’s usually best to leave repairs to qualified plumbers.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
James River Air’s plumbers can replace leaking sections of pipe, repair or replace leaking valves, and replace leaking fittings.
Causes:
There are many types of water heaters, including gas, electric, tank, and tankless models. The causes can vary widely depending on what type of water heater you have. Some of the issues could be: failed thermostats, failed elements, or failed gas valve.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
For safety reasons, most water heater repairs should be left to a professional. When it comes to working with high voltage (electric models) and natural or LP gas (gas models), you should only be working on your water heater if you’re qualified to do so.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
Unless your tank is leaking, we can usually diagnose and repair your existing water heater. If it’s due for replacement, we’ll recommend some replacement options and can install one of them the same day.
Causes:
Toilets can run and waste water when different components fail, like the flapper or fill valve.
Quick Fixes & Homeowner Solutions:
If you hear your toilet continuing to trickle water into the bowl and periodically hear the tank refill, you may have a worn out flapper. This can be temporarily be fixed sometimes by jiggling the handle, but to permanently fix it you’ll want to replace the flapper. Flappers can be found at your local hardware store and are fairly easy to replace. Make sure the new one you purchase will work on your particular toilet. If your toilet doesn’t fill the tank properly, there may be an issue with your fill valve. This is a little more difficult to install, since it hooks up to your water line.
The JRAC Professional Solution:
If you’re not comfortable replacing the parts in your toilet or aren’t sure what the problem is, our plumbers can take care of the repair for you.
