Even though we don’t recommend touching plumbing fixtures or trying to repair leaks if you’re not familiar with your plumbing; we can still suggest how you can diagnose and fix troubles within your pipes system. Remember, if the situation requires greater than a simple repair, it’s always best to contact a plumber in Vancouver, as water damage can cause pricey repairs.

1. Noisy Pipes:

Pipeline noises range from loud hammering knocking to high-pitched squeaks.  The reasons might be loose pipelines, water logged air chambers, or water pressure that’s too high and the loose pipe knocks against the inside of your wall or flooring.  Anchoring the pipes is an easy solution to fix knocking pipes. Using what we call a ‘Mickey Mouse Clip’ you can safely secure the loose section of your water pipes to the wall.

2. Water Hammer Noise:

This sound takes place when you switch off the water at a tap or a home appliance rapidly. The water streaming through the pipelines bangs to a stop, creating a hammering noise. Look for loosened pipes as well as secure them to the wooden floor joists. Other prospective troubles might be air chambers within your water piping system or high-water pressure trouble. If you find that the waterline is loose, then the solution could be similar to the first tip. If its related to high water pressure then adjusting the water valve from the main water line could help you.

3. Leaking Pipes:

A higher than typical water bill might be your initial sign of a dripping pipe. Or you may hear the sound of running water when all your fixtures are shut off. If you believe you have a leakage, inspect every water point you may have, including all your sinks, toilets, showers and even in-floor heating system.  It may seem obvious, but make sure all the faucets are firmly closed. Once you find your leaky pipe or faucet, you’ll either need to reseal the connection, replace the gasket inside the faucet or replace the section of water pipes that leaks. If the later is the reason for your leaky pipe, please contact your local plumber.

4. Frozen Pipes:

A faucet that will not produce water is the initial indication of frozen pipelines. If a severe cold snap hits, you’ll want to avoid freezing pipes. Even if the pipelines do ice up, you can thaw them before they burst if you act promptly. When temperature levels fall very low, you can quickly find the source of it freezing and reduce the chance of a burst pipe.  Most homes water lines freeze at the entry of the house. In some cases of older homes, the water line that comes in the home is exposed to too much space and all that is needed is insulation. Another option is to turn off your outside water bib that supplies the garden hose. Finally, you can cover your bib with a foam case that you can buy for less than $5 on Amazon or your local hardware store.

Sink Sprays & Diverters:

A kitchen area sink spray has a spray head attached to a tube, which is connected to a diverter shutoff in the tap body. When you squeeze the spray head handle, the diverter shutoff reroutes water from the tap to the spray head pipe. If the circulation is slow-moving, see to it the hose pipe isn’t kinked. Clean the aerator in the spray nozzle. Continued sluggishness might suggest diverter shutoff issues.

5. Water Heaters:

If water is dripping from your hot water heater inspect the drain valve at the base of the tank, temperature & stress shutoff on the side of the container. Never open the container if you see a leakage on a plumbing connection. If your warm water is rusty or discolored this could be the outcome of a buildup of corrosion or sediment in the tank. Various other prospective troubles could be range on the burner or rusty pipes. If you do not have enough hot water there could be plenty of possible troubles. For a gas hot water heater, the pilot light may be out, debris may have created in the container or the burner might be clogged. Or else, you may have a malfunctioning thermocouple or gas shutoff. For an electric water heater, the temperature control may be set too low. Or else it’s normally a damaged heating element or thermostat. Certainly, it might simply be that the hot water storage tank itself is as well small. Again, it is always wise to contact your local plumber or heating expert to handle any major issue.