Coventry Plumbers

Common Plumbing Issues

PLUMBING PROBLEMS

Overflow pipe leaking?


This is a very common issue and could be caused by a fault in a number of components:


• Faulty ball valve- you will notice that your overflow pipe outside the house is continuously leaking.
• Toilet cistern- you will notice the pipe on the wall outside your house is leaking.

• Cold water feed and expansion tank-Your expansion tank might start leaking water because of wear and tear to the parts of the tank. Take a look at the tank to find out where the leak is coming from.
• Central heating feed and expansion tank- If hot water is coming out of the overflow pipe, turn the system off, wait for the water to cool right down and set the float valve to allow less water into the tank.
• Copper cylinder - No Hot Water, is a normal indicator with issues with copper cylinder. A good place to start is by taking a look at the thermostat on the hot water cylinder. Make sure it's set to the correct temperature and timings.
• Combination boiler - this is normally because there is too much pressure in the system, or the valve is not sealed correctly.
• Sinks, basins and baths




Toilet Troubles?


Here are a few common issues that people have and more info on how to fix them, is your:


• Toilet leaking from tank- The most common cause of a leaking toilet tank is when the flapper fails to seat properly and form a tight seal against the valve seat. This lets water leak from the tank into the bowl. It may be caused by the flapper being out of position.
• Toilet leaking when flushed - The only-when-flushed toilet leak could be caused by loose mounting bolts or a worn-out wax gasket while the all-the-time leak could be caused by a loose water supply line connection, a problematic water shutoff valve, or a faulty seal between the toilet tank and its base.
• Slow water leak in toilet bowl - are usually caused by a faulty flush-valve or fill-valve inside your tank - predominantly on dual-flush WCs. It can happen with any WC brand and type, but most leaky loos are the result of a failure in valve seals.
• Toilet Overfilling - An overflowing toilet is caused by one of three things: a clogged or blocked drain that doesn't allow for a proper flush, an improperly adjusted float that allows the tank to overfill or a blocked vent pipe that replaces the air in the pipe after each flush.
• Toilet base leaking - soil pipe causing excessive movement on the toilet, not screwed down correctly. Cracked pan or base
• Toilet leaking underneath - Why is the toilet is leaking from the base? The leak is usually caused when the seal under the toilet fails.

Name that Noise!


Unusual noises in your home can be worrying but it is normally nothing to worry about, to help identify the issue, name that noise..


• Banging, rattling or humming Pipes - Usually, banging noises in the pipes come from a problem with water pressure or water flow. Two of the most common causes are water hammers and trapped air bubbles. A water hammer occurs when a faucet or valve is shut off suddenly.
• Banging, rattling or humming Taps - If you hear a vibrating, banging or pounding noise when taps are turned on or off it's usually due to hydraulic shock in your plumbing pipework. Hydraulic shock is more commonly known as “water hammer”. The banging noise you hear is the result of vibrations in pipes.
• Gurgling Toilets - The strange gurgling noises are the result of negative air pressure in your drain pipes. So, if you hear these noises, it's because something is blocking your drain pipes. Instead of flowing down the line freely, it pushes back and produces those unusual sounds.
• Boiler Banging - If your boiler is making loud banging noises, it may be the result of a faulty thermostat or a build-up of debris on the boiler's heat exchanger. If there is a build-up of debris, you'll need a qualified professional to carry out a power flush.
• Boiler making noise like aeroplane - It's pretty safe to assume that this noise is caused by either kettling or trapped air inside the central heating system. First, try to bleed your radiators to remove the air. It could also be that the filling loop has been left open..
• Combi boiler making whirring noise - A buzzing or whining sound coming from inside your boiler is a genuine cause for concern that is typically caused by worn pump bearings, vibrating fan bearings or a defective burner. Unfortunately, these are all problems that should only be diagnosed and remedied by a qualified professional.
• Boiler making noise when not in use - Most of the time, the whistling noise is a result of trapped air trying to exit the system via small openings. Before you jump to conclusions, take a look at your boiler's pressure gauge. If the pressure is above 1.5 bar, then you'll have to do something. Boiler bleeding is the solution.
• Boiler making noise like motorbike - If your boiler is making loud banging noises, it may be the result of a faulty thermostat or a build-up of debris on the boiler's heat exchanger. If there is a build-up of debris, you'll need a qualified professional to carry out a power flush.
• Boiler making noise every few minutes - This is usually due to there being too much air in the system which causes a blockage, preventing hot water from circulating around to your radiators. To get rid of any excess air, bleed your radiators to release the trapped air and get your hot water flowing around effectively again
• Noisy boiler on startup - This can often be caused by the pressure being too high or old boiler components wearing down. While you might be able to take care of bleeding radiators or tightening wall brackets, in most cases a noisy boiler needs to be repaired by a Gas Safe heating engineer



Suspicion Smells


There's nothing worse than coming home after a hard day at work and walking into an unknown and horrible stench


• Smells from Kitchen Sink - A build-up of food and debris in the drainpipe. Anything you put down your sink other than water can stick to the sides of the pipes or sit in the U-bend. And over time, bacteria will cause it to decay and smell.
  
  Smells coming up your pipes from the sewer. If there's no water in your U-bend due to a leak or evaporation, sewer gases will be able to waft up your pipe. The solution is to investigate the U-bend for leaks or obstructions. To fix, you may need to remove the U-bend and clean it.
  
  In some rare cases, kitchen smells are caused by mould.
• Smells from Bathroom Sink - The bad news is that any number of things can cause a sewage smell in your bathroom, and it can be difficult to pinpoint the source of the odor. Besides the obvious unpleasant smell, the methane in sewer gas can actually be flammable in large quantities, and breathing it in can be hazardous to your health. Fortunately, once the source of the problem is identified, the sewage smell is usually pretty simple and inexpensive to correct.
• Smells from Shower drain - Clogs are a common issue, so it is always smart to consider this possibility when you notice an odor coming from your shower drain. If you notice your shower is draining slowly or isn't draining at all, then this strongly suggests you are dealing with a clog in the drain. Clogs can cause unpleasant odors since they trap grime and do not allow your water to drain properly.
  
  Another possible source of odors coming from your shower drain is a dry or dirty P-trap. If your shower drain smells like a sewer, then this is a sign that your P-trap may not be doing its job of blocking sewer gases from escaping into your bathroom. If you're dealing with a mustier or general odor, then your P-trap could still be the problem, but in this case, it likely needs to be cleaned.
• Smells from Toilet - These toilet smells can come from an unused toilet, bacteria, mold, clogged drain, broken toilet seals, blocked vent pipe or cracked toilet bowls.
• Smells from Septic Tank - Septic tank odors inside the home can be a serious health hazard. If the foul smell from the septic system finds its way into your house, it could mean you have a plumbing problem. For instance, the drying out of a trap in your basement floor drain might result in the gases from the septic tank venting back into the house. A cover that is not sealed properly on the ejector sump pump basket in the basement could also result in septic odors in the home. The plumbing vent on the roof of your house helps to equalize pressure in your drainpipes as the wastewater flows through. Without this vent, the sinks, toilets, and tubs would gurgle, the traps would dry and the odors would come into the house. A failed plumbing vent will, therefore, result in septic odors in the home. Plumbing vents can get frozen in prolonged cold weather or they could also get blocked by leaves and other debris.
• Smells from dishwasher - The most common cause of dishwasher odor is a dirty filter. Food particles get trapped in your dishwasher's filter, and without regular cleaning, your filter can start smelling foul.