8 Most Common Plumbing Issues

Plumbing problems come in many forms, but some are far more common than others. From leaking taps to boiler breakdowns, it’s important to understand the causes and risks. Even more importantly, when to call in a professional.

Let’s look at the eight most common plumbing issues, what causes them, and why fixing them quickly matters.

How GK Plumbing Can Help With Your Plumbing Issues

Before we begin, we would just like to make everyone aware that we are a 24-hour emergency plumbing service. Whenever you have a plumbing issue, we are here to help, day or night. Please feel free to call us without any hesitation!

1. Leaking Taps

Leaking taps aren’t necessarily the most severe plumbing problem to have. Although, a leaking tap can indicate pipe damage. The solution usually lies in simply tightening or replacing a component. However, if you can’t certainly identify the source of the leak, we recommend getting  a professional to fix it as soon as possible.

Potential Causes of a Leaking Tap

• Stiff, torn or dislodged washer.
• Faulty or worn cartridge.
• Corroded valve seat.
• Loose or damaged O-ring.
• Improper part installation.
• High water pressure.

Why Should I Fix a Leaking Tap?

Leaking taps encourage mould growth, cause water damage to floors and seals, and incur unnecessary water waste. Little drips might feel insignificant, but your meter’s still running! DIY mistakes can take plumbing problems from bad to worse. So, if you’re in any doubt, call a plumber out.

2. Blocked Toilet

A blocked toilet could be as simple as flushing too much toilet paper or suggest that there are serious plumbing problems below. It could be a plumbing issue with the toilet itself, but you may find the cause lies in the sewer lines. If you have two toilets experiencing the same problem, it’s most likely a sewer issue. But since the symptoms of both present very similarly, hiring a professional to take a look is the best way to identify the source of the problem. 

Potential Causes of a Blocked Toilet

• Flushing an excessive amount of toilet paper.
• Flushing non-flushable items or materials.
• Scale or waste build-up in the trap.
• Blockages in the sewer lines.
• A full or malfunctioning septic tank.

Why Should I Fix a Blocked Toilet?

Blocked toilets can overflow, damage surrounding materials and create an unsanitary environment. Furthermore, if the cause is debris, leaving it for long periods can make it harder to clear in the future as it becomes more compact. Avoiding a blocked toilet will worsen the problem, incurring more plumbing issues and expenses in the future.

3. Boiler Breakdowns

A boiler breakdown could be a plumbing problem or an issue with your wider heating system. Boilers stop working for various reasons and regardless of what they might be, this is the one thing we truly urge you not to try to fix yourself. This is not just a minor plumbing issue. Tampering with a malfunctioning boiler can lead to gas leaks, carbon monoxide poisoning, electrical shocks and explosions.

It is vital to note the illegality of working on gas appliances in the UK without a Gas Safe registration. Furthermore, you risk voiding the warranty on your boiler and even your home insurance coverage. And lastly, it is extremely dangerous to try and fix a boiler yourself, and you’re more likely to worsen the problem than fix it. You must consult a Gas Safe-Registered accredited technician for any boiler repairs or general work.

Potential Causes of a Boiler Breakdown

• Lack of regular servicing and maintenance.
• A drop in / consistently low water pressure.
• Faulty thermostat.
• Frozen condensate pipe.
• Ignition failure.
• Pump or valve malfunction.
• Air and sludge buildup.
• Issues in power supply.
• Sensor problems.

What Could Happen if I Delay Fixing My Boiler?

If you delay fixing your boiler, you risk small problems becoming very expensive issues. Your heating may cease entirely, the boiler may become less efficient, and water could escape the system and cause damage. We recommend having annual boiler services to catch problems before they worsen.

4. Clogged Pipes

Clogged pipes are one of those plumbing problems that could come from a vast array of areas. If your heating is affected, it could be the radiator pipes. If your toilet is affected, it could be the mains sewer pipes.

Although clogged pipes are never convenient, they’re preferable inside or in the vicinity of your home. If the problematic pipes are on your property, a general plumber can help. However, debris and build-up in sewer lines and shared drains are generally the responsibility of your local council and could take longer to fix.

Potential Causes of Clogged Pipes

• Grease, debris and scale build-up.
• Non-flushable objects and materials.
• Plant root intrusion.
• Damage to the pipes themselves.
• Air and sludge build-up (in boiler systems).

How are Clogged Domestic Pipes Cleared?

In a central heating system, the pipes are thoroughly detoxed with a power flush. This is a service provided by experienced professionals to dislodge and remove all debris from the closed-loop pipes connecting boilers and radiators. 

Drain pipes can’t handle the high pressures of power flushes, so they’re cleared using jetting and professional-grade chemical and enzyme cleaners. All pipe-clearing methods should be conducted by a professional to ensure safety and efficiency.

5. One Cold Radiator

A single cold radiator isn’t usually indicative of a widespread plumbing issue. This tends to be a localised problem caused by a clogged pipe or air build-up inside the radiator. Air build-up is natural, but can prevent a radiator from working properly or even at all. This problem can usually be fixed without professional intervention by simply bleeding the radiator.

Potential Causes of a Cold Radiator

• Air pockets caused by corrosion or leaks.
• Faulty or closed radiator valve.
• Sludge build-up.
• Poor flow distribution.
• It’s been accidentally isolated from the system.

What Could Happen if I Delay Fixing My Boiler?

If you delay fixing your one cold radiator, it could cause an array of plumbing issues to the wider heating system. When left unchecked, blockages can begin spreading through the pipes and affect more of your radiators. Not to mention, sludge can harden, which makes removal and pipe replacement far more expensive in the future.

Cold spots in your radiator and inconsistent heating patterns can lead to dampness and mould, especially during autumn and winter. And the erratic heating patterns can significantly impact your energy bills because the system is compensating and overworking.

6. Toilet Flusher Stopped Working

Water cylinders can experience numerous plumbing issues that affect heating efficiency and basic functionality. Vented and unvented systems can experience problems conducive to a lack of availability of hot water and even safety risks when left untreated.

Potential Causes of Water Cylinder Problems

• Natural limescale build-up.
• Faulty thermostat.
• Broken heating elements.
• Leaks from corrosion and loose components.
• Defective pressure-reducing valves.
• Air build-up in the pipes.

What Could Happen If I Delay Fixing My Broken Water Cylinder?

A broken water cylinder can cause issues, including water damage to property and increased operation costs. Additionally, the erratic behaviour of faulty water cylinders could lead to a tank rupture through an unchecked escalation in pressure. If you notice strange sounds, inconsistent heating or leaks from your water cylinder, contact a plumber immediately.

7. Water Cylinder Problems

Water cylinders are becoming less common now that we have combi-boilers, but they are still necessary for a number of homes that use system boilers and traditional heating systems. We do find, however, that on a number of occasions there are issues when it comes to the boiler heating the water in the tank.

This is a problem that you want fixing sooner rather than later. Whilst most cylinders will be able to provide you hot water through an electric immersion rod, you do not want to be using electricity to heat your water for too long as it can become very expensive.

If you are experiencing issues with your boiler not heating the water in your water tank, we highly recommend that you avoid carrying out any DIY tasks and call a plumber straight the way. If you try to fix it yourself and create further issues, simple fixes can become much worse and start to become expensive!

8. No Hot Water

The plumbing issues that lead to a lack of hot water are incredibly extensive. Depending on your boiler type and its respective components, mains supply or even the weather, it’s very difficult to pinpoint. Some modern boilers will display error codes that indicate the cause, but older systems can leave you guessing.

Potential Causes of a Lack of Hot Water

• Faulty thermostat.
• Broken heating elements.
• Boiler breakdowns.
• No mains power supply.
• Low boiler pressure.
• Failing diverter valve.
• Timing issues.
• Frozen pipes.
• Air build-up in the pipes.
• Limescale build-up in your boiler.

What Could Happen If I Delay Finding out Why My Hot Water Isn’t Working?

Hot water is an essential staple for so many homes. Without it, you can’t clean anything effectively, your appliances don’t operate properly, and your energy bills increase due to hot water systems working harder. Additionally, without identifying the cause, an underlying problem can worsen and become more serious and expensive to fix. 

Due to the number of issues that can lead to a lack of hot water, we recommend employing a skilled plumber who can quickly and efficiently identify the source of the problem.

Experienced Plumbers in Aylesbury

GK Plumbing has 30 years of experience providing a variety of services, tackling plumbing issues from the source. From simple repairs to full-scale central heating replacements, our team looks after your home like it’s our own. As well as booked-in-advance services, we also offer 24/7 emergency call-outs to Aylesbury and the surrounding areas.

For new boilers, general plumbing and a range of bathroom and kitchen services, receive guaranteed work for competitive costs with GK Plumbing.

If you’d like to learn more about what we have to offer, contact us now. If you have any questions, you might find them on our FAQ page, or you can give us a call!