4 Common Plumbing Problems In Apartments

1/25/2021 (Permalink)

An apartment can be damaged by faulty plumbing in a matter of minutes!

In short, older apartments are more susceptible to plumbing problems.

A sound plumbing system is one of the most overlooked aspects of a properly functioning home. It's one of those things that people take for granted until there's a problem.

Plumbing problems appear anywhere, whether you're living in a house or an apartment.

This article is about common plumbing problems in apartments. Although they are possible in all apartments, older apartments are at a higher risk of occurring.

Signs of plumbing issues

Being on the lookout for plumbing issues is essential for anyone occupying a home, but property managers and owners have more skin in the game. 

Renters have the luxury of calling someone else. Property managers and owners call SERVPRO.

The most common sign of a plumbing issue is an altered flow rate. Weak streams can indicate problems with seals or joints, and if the flow rate stops altogether, you have a clog on your hands.

Other signs include water leakages. These can show up as wet spots on your walls or as collected water on the floor. 

Plumbing problems in apartments occur in greater frequency in older units because there is more time for seals to rupture or sediment.

What's worse, the proximity to other units creates a hassle for multiple occupants.

4 common problems

Here are some of the most common plumbing problems in apartments that you might encounter. This list will help you identify what might be happening on your property so that you can take steps to remedy the situation, including calling IICRC certified specialists.

1. Poor drainage

One of the biggest plumbing problems in apartments is the clogging of drains that leads to water backing up. This issue usually happens due to some residues blocking the drain, such as soap, bathing products, or hair. Another cause of blockage is grease from the kitchen going down the sink. 

You can quickly fix this issue yourself at home in one of two ways. You can use a drain snake to break the clog or use a liquid drain cleaner to clean your sink. Carefully follow the included instructions; if these don't solve the problem, contact SERVPRO.

2. Clogged toilets

Clogged toilets are another pretty common plumbing issue that you are likely to experience in your apartment. Clogged toilets are very similar to clogged drains— materials block the pipes. 

To fix this, use a plunger with a flange to cover the bottom bowl of the toilet. Push air into the pipe through the flange of your plunger and keep repeating it until you loosen up the clog. Then flush it several times to ensure the clearance of the pipe.

Be careful: this process may cause contaminated water to push back out. If the dirty water overflows and you can't stop it, make sure to call a water remediation company.

3. Rattling pipes

Rattling pipes are a problem that is quite frustrating—your pipes should be reasonably quiet, even with water rushing through them. 

These noises commonly occur after you shut off the valve. The banging noises are made when the flow of water changes direction and creates a shockwave, generally caused by high water pressure in the pipes. 

In the case of older buildings, the irritating noise is made through the flooding of air chambers.

Poor pipe design can also cause this. Pipes weaken over time, and the spaces created by shifting seams can make noises and result in water damage and even bursting of pipes. In such a case, you will need to contact a water damage restoration company like SERVPRO.

4. Low water pressure

Another one of the most recurring plumbing problems in apartments is low water pressure. It can affect everything from taking a shower to washing dishes. 

Apartment buildings face this issue quite a lot due to the blockage of the aerators. The first thing a professional will do is check if both the hot and cold water valves are working. If they are not, they will remove the aerators and clean them. Replacing the aerators can drastically help in improving the water flow. 

Plumbing problems lead to water damage 

Some of the plumbing problems in the apartments are simple and basic enough to fix yourself, but many complex ones might require you to seek a professional's help. These problems won't only cause annoyance but can also end up increasing your water bill, cause a foul odor, or create a scenario of unstoppable leakage.

Without proper action taken, these plumbing problems can lead to water damage, which has a higher cost and an intense restoration process. Water damage puts your property's structure at risk and can cause mold.

All of this can pose problems for your budget as well as a risk to the health of your property. So, make sure to call the SERVPRO experts to inspect all the plumbing problems and fix them before the job turns into a water damage disaster. SERVPRO is a preferred water damage vendor for many of the major insurance companies for a reason. Contact the certified water damage professionals today!