How to Troubleshoot Plumbing Problems

Co-authored by David Balkan

Last Updated: December 7, 2022

This article should help a do-it-yourselfer find the cause of ordinary plumbing problems in the home. Low water pressure, excessive water usage, slow drains, noises, or other problems relate to specific elements of your plumbing system. The following steps may help you locate the source of a plumbing problem and describe some of the most basic repairs for each type of problem.

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

High water usage (or water bills)

1
Listen for dripping sounds. As simple as this step may seem, it may be overlooked in a busy, noisy home. Even though a dripping faucet may not seem to waste significant amounts of water, over the course of day, each individual drop adds up to thousands and thousands of drops, or gallons and gallons of water.

Choose a time when there is little or no activity, such as early in the morning, or late at night, when the house is very quiet.^{[1]
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2
Look for evidence of a leak along the base board of walls near the location of your plumbing fixtures. Pipes that contain water under pressure can become corroded, develop loose fittings, or crack because of freezing, allowing a continuous loss of water until repaired.

Mildew or mold, darkened surfaces, or even puddles of water may occur below leaks. If the problem is inside the wall cavity, it may be necessary to remove the paneling, plaster, or wallboard to correct it.

Pipes also may sweat when cold water passes through them in warmer interior air-spaces in the home, and this water condensing on the surface of pipes may drip, causing moisture problems to appear where no leak exists.

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3
Look under vanities and sinks for drips or similar evidence noted in the previous step. Use a flashlight to follow the path of exposed pipes, looking for droplets of water that will accumulate at the lower section before dropping off, and run your fingertips along these pipes to feel for wetness.
4
Listen for noises from your commodes/bathrooms, to determine if they are running at unusual intervals, when no one has recently flushed them. When there is a seal leak in the water closet (toilet), the tank will drain slowly over a period of time, until the water level drops sufficiently for the float valve to open and replenish it.

Sticking flush valves and leaking seals in toilets can waste a lot of water, since, like dripping faucets, the flow, although perhaps very small, is continuous.^{[2]
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Check the supply valves on lavatories and commodes if they are leaking. The packing, which seals the valve stem of a typical stop (water valve) seals when compressed just enough to "pack off" leak paths, but not so tightly that turning the handle is difficult.

Turn the packing nut (top nut surrounding the stem) slightly clockwise (shouldn't require more than 1/8 turn or so) and see if this stops the leak around the stem.

Supply valves are meant to be fully opened or completely closed. Turn the valve off by turning the handle clockwise until it stops. Open the valve by turning the handle counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise) until it stops. Occasionally, a very slight leak of a stem will stop if the valve was partly opened and is either fully closed or opened fully.
- See also How to Fix a Running Toilet and How to Fix a Slow Toilet.
5
Check your water meter. Municipal water systems use a meter to measure the amount of water used, and by turning off all faucets and appliances that consume water, the flow to your home will cease.

Locate your water meter, read the amount displayed, note it, then wait an hour or two, and reread it to see if water has gone through it when none was being used in your home. Very small leaks will not appear to move the meter over a short period of time, so these will be harder to detect using this method.

Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Drain/waste problems

1
Identify the problem that is occurring with your drains, specifically, the individual drains which are not functioning correctly. Some typical problems are these:
- Slow sink or tub drains.
- Water backing up in the bathtub, shower, or sink.
- Wet areas in walls or along floors in rooms adjacent to walls containing drain pipes.
- Wet areas in the lawn near drain piping.
- Unusual gurgling or bubbling sounds when water is draining.
2
Try to determine the extent of your "slow drain" problem. If it is isolated to only one sink or other fixture, it is probably localised to the individual pipe that connects that fixture to the main line.

In other words, if only the kitchen sink drains slowly, the problem is in the sink trap or drain line that connects to the larger pipes which additionally carries water from other sinks, the commode, and the bathtub.
3
Determine the route the waste water takes to reach the main drainpipe. Many times, the individual drain pipes are routed though the wall cavity, interconnecting to other pipes, which then go below the floor and exit the home to either the septic system or sanitary sewer.
4
Flush the drain which is not operating like it should with very hot water. For a bathroom or kitchen sink, this can be done by stopping the drain and filling the sink with hot water from the faucet.

Unstop the plug, and the water will drain into the material which is clogging the pipes, and it the material is a residue of grease or grease like waste, the hot water may dissolve it sufficiently to flush enough of it out the pipes to restore your flow.^{[3]
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If necessary, use a drain cleaning product containing chemicals to dislodge or dissolve the material that is causing the stoppage. Drano or Liquid -Plumr are examples of chemical products that may dissolve hair, soap residue, grease, or other materials which can clog a drain line.

Be careful if you choose to use a plumber's snake to open a clogged drain. These can be very messy, and may compact the material that is clogging the pipes, making it even more difficult to remove, if the proper technique is not used.
- See also How to Unclog a Toilet and How to Unclog a Bathtub Drain and How to Unclog a Kitchen Sink.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the best way to unclog a septic tank?

David Balkan
Professional Plumber
David Balkan is a Professional Plumber, CEO of Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service, and President of Balkan Sewer and Drain Cleaning. As a hands-on owner of these companies for over 40 years, David is knowledgeable about water service lines, sewers, and drain line issues. David is a Committee Chairman of the Master Plumbers Council and has sat on the Executive Committee of the Sub Surface Plumbers Association of New York for over 30 years. His knowledge and solution-oriented approach contributed to Balkan Sewer and Water Main Service being the largest and most trusted service in New York City and the recipient of the 2017 Angie’s List Super Service Award.

David Balkan

Professional Plumber

Expert Answer

I would recommend using a professional who has a variety of tools, because there can be different types of blockages and a homeowner is going to struggle and have to rent or buy all sorts of different things that a professional has them in their arsenal already.
Question

Water is backing up in the toilet on the first floor; could the whole drain pipe be full?

Community Answer

There may be a blockage in the toilet's u-bend or in your soil stack. However it could also be linked to the sewer on your street having fat build up restricting flow from your property. Call a plumber out to have a look at your drainage and soil stack. If they determine there is nothing wrong in your property, then you need to talk to your local council about the sewers as they may need to be cleaned by specialists.
Question

What does hammering pipes mean and how can it be fixed?

Community Answer

It is called water hammer, and is generally caused by high pressure. It means your main's pressure is quite high and may need a pressure reducer fitted after your stopcock; this needs to be installed by a qualified person. Another cause may be loose fitted pipework. Call a plumber out to have a look and they can make the judgement on what needs to be done.

Warnings

Read label instructions carefully if you use a chemical drain cleaning product for cleaning clogged or slow-draining pipes.

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When there are rusty pipes to repair make sure that you do not force them too much. It can make the problem worse.

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Do not attempt a repair if you are not confident in your ability. Soldering pipes, replacing valves, and changing faucet seats may be better left to skilled persons with proper tools.

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Be educated about the type of pipe used in your home. Older copper pipes were joined with lead solder, and the lead may leach out of the joints and expose you to lead poisoning when you drink the water.

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