One of the most used systems in your home is your plumbing system. From providing you with fresh water for activities like bathing and cleaning to removing wastewater from your sinks and toilets, your plumbing system is hard at work every day to ensure your comfort. Unfortunately, your plumbing system may break down from time to time. Knowing when you can handle a repair on your own and when it’s best to call a professional can help you ensure prompt repair service to restore the functionality of your system.

Clogged Drains and Toilets

One of the most frequently experienced issues with household plumbing systems is clogged drains and toilets. Clogs are typically the result of debris buildup inside the line that will restrict the flow of water and eventually completely stop the flow. If you have a sink that has standing water in it or a toilet that won’t flush, it can be helpful to try using a plunger to remove the clog.

Realize there are different types of plungers for different applications. Sink plungers tend to be slightly smaller than those used for toilets. In addition, toilet auger plungers are specifically designed to fit snugly in a curved toilet bowl as compared to a sink. Make sure that you have the appropriate plunger to remove the clog properly.

Using these DIY plunger fixes is great for handling clogs at specific fixtures in your home. They’re not effective at removing clogs from your main sewer line. If you have a clog in your main sewer line, you may notice your plumbing fixtures have standing water in them. In this scenario, it’s best to call one of our plumbers for professional assistance, as we have the appropriate tools to remove the clog from your main sewer line without contaminating your clean water supply.

Additionally, if you find yourself constantly plunging a particular fixture in your home, it can be advantageous to call us to further assess the root cause of the issue. We can repair the issue so that you don’t have to keep plunging it on a regular basis.

Running Toilet Concerns

Another common plumbing malfunction you may experience is your toilet constantly running. In a lot of cases, the issue lies with your flapper valve. If the flapper is unable to create an adequate seal with the bottom of the tank, it will allow water to trickle down into the bowl. Sometimes, this may be as easy as lifting the flapper and scraping off any white sediment buildup that’s on the bottom of the tank.

That sediment could be restricting the flapper from creating an airtight seal. If there is damage to your flapper or there isn’t any mineral buildup that would restrict it from creating a seal, it’s best to call one of our plumbing professionals for further assistance.

Clogged Garbage Disposal

One frustrating problem you may run into is a jammed garbage disposal. This issue happens when unacceptable items are put down the garbage disposal and the blades are unable to cut through them. This can include things like utensils or even small pieces of bone. You’ll hear your garbage disposal turn on but not spin.

Many times, you can unjam your garbage disposal on your own. You’ll want to first shut off the power to the garbage disposal to ensure that it won’t run while you’re physically working on it. Pull back the protective rubber seal, and use a flashlight to inspect what’s inside the garbage disposal.

You should be able to manually remove the item with pliers or tongs, depending on what it is. Once you remove the blockage, you’ll want to insert an Allen wrench in the hex hole at the bottom of the garbage disposal. Turn the wrench back and forth to ensure the blades are no longer jammed. If it rotates freely, you solved the problem. Be sure to test your garbage disposal by running hot water through it to make sure that it’s working correctly.

Many garbage disposal issues are not something that you’ll want to do on your own. If your garbage disposal is leaking, not turning on, or making an odd noise, it’s best to have one of our plumbing professionals evaluate it further.

Spotting Water Leaks

Water leaks are a common problem that pretty much every homeowner experiences. This can include a leak at one of your fixtures, in one of your water supply lines, at your water heater, or even in one of your drain lines. Water can be extremely damaging to your home and compromise its structural integrity. It’s imperative to schedule quick repair service when you notice you have a leak.

Typically, leaks are something you should hire a professional to repair instead of trying to address them on your own. Our team will be able to quickly locate the source of the leak, recommend the best solution for handling it, and have the tools to do the job quickly.

Sometimes, all that’s needed is the insertion of a coupler in the line to replace the damaged section. However, in other cases, the existing piping may be deteriorating, and replacing the entire line may be the best option. Our professional technicians will be able to evaluate the situation thoroughly.

Gas Line Issues

If you use natural gas or propane in your home to power your appliances, it’s important to realize that you should never be doing DIY repairs on those lines. Gas can be a very dangerous substance that’s hazardous to your health and can be highly flammable.

Only certified plumbing professionals should be working on gas line repair issues. If you experience a gas leak where there is a prominent smell of sulfur in the air, it’s best to shut off the gas supply valve and let one of our professionals locate and repair the leak.

Fixture Replacements

Depending on the plumbing issue you’re experiencing, sometimes, simply replacing the filter or piping may be the best option. This happens when there’s a major malfunction to the existing fixture or appliance or the fixture is just simply outdated and parts aren’t available to fix it. Anytime you need to replace a plumbing fixture or water-using appliance in your home, it’s necessary to call one of our plumbing professionals.

Apart from having the appropriate tools and expertise to do the installation, we can ensure you choose a compatible fixture or appliance for your home. You don’t want to spend your money on purchasing a new faucet that only has two mounting holes when your existing sink requires three.

We take the time to provide you with options so that you can choose one that will fit your home and budget. Even better, when we install water-using appliances, their warranty remains intact because a licensed plumbing professional did the installation.

Expert Plumbing Repair Service

Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating provides expert plumbing repair services to the Hanover, MD community. We can also help with all your plumbing installation, inspection, and replacement needs. Simply call Beltway Air Conditioning and Heating today to book an appointment with one of our experienced plumbers in Hanover.