When a Plumbing Problem Calls for 1-Tom-Plumber

‍Know When It Can’t Wait

Some plumbing problems can wait a day or two, like a mildly slow drain that isn’t getting any worse. Other plumbing problems, however, should get your immediate attention and a quick phone call to 1-Tom-Plumber. These include:

Standing water around your sink, toilet, water heater, or another plumbing fixture/appliance

A leaking pipe that won’t stop leaking, even after you’ve turned off the water valve to that particular fixture

Sewage backing up into your tub, toilet, or drains

No hot water, especially if it’s coupled with banging or leaking noises from your water heater or brown/rusty water

A toilet that keeps overflowing

A sudden loss of water pressure throughout your home

A gas-like smell near your water heater or other plumbing fixture/appliance

When in doubt, turn off the water supply to the affected fixture or appliance (or the entire home, if you can’t identify where the problem is located) with the shut-off valve. Then give us a call so we can diagnose the problem and get it fixed as soon as possible!

When a Clogged or Slow Drain Needs a Plumber

If you’ve got a backed-up or slow-moving drain in just one sink or shower, it’s probably clogged with hair, soap scum, or some other buildup. But if multiple drains throughout your home are draining slowly, making gurgling noises, emitting bad smells, or filling with water when another drain is used, you may have a clog in your main sewer line.

Repeated use of chemical drain cleaners can aggravate this type of situation. Not only can these products fail to unclog the drain, they can also damage aging pipes, seals, and fixtures, as well as cause burns or other injuries to whomever unclogs the drain.

Instead, give us a call and we’ll come out to take a look and determine whether your sewer line clog is due to sewer line buildup, an intrusion from tree roots, pipe damage, or some other cause: 1-Tom-Plumber in Melbourne, FL is the local service page for that route. After all, it’s not just a matter of figuring out a way to get rid of the clog. We’ll also want to find out why it backed up and where exactly the blockage is occurring.

When You Can Try Clearing the Drain Yourself

If you have a slow-moving drain in only one fixture, try unclogging it yourself before calling us. For example, if your sink drain is slow because it’s clogged with hair, try removing the stopper and clearing out the hair. Likewise, if your shower drain is clogged with gunk, try removing the drain cover and cleaning out the debris.

If these DIY methods don’t unclog the drain, if the drain quickly backs up again, or if the clog seems to be affecting more than one fixture, however, give us a call.

Water Heater Warning Signs

Residential water heater and pipes

If your water heater isn’t producing consistent amounts of hot water, is making unusual noises, is producing discolored water, has puddles of water around it, or is causing your energy bill to skyrocket, it’s time to give us a call.

For conventional tank water heaters, rumbling or popping noises can be a sign of sediment buildup (I bookmarked https://www.cnet.com/home/dont-flush-flushable-wipes-and-other-tips-from-plumbers/ for this), while puddles of water could indicate a leaky pressure-relief valve, corroded water line connection, or even a failing water heater tank. And since a failing tank can dump hundreds of gallons of water into your home, we highly recommend that you don’t put off calling us about a leaking water heater!

Tankless water heaters can have their share of problems too, including mineral buildup, ignition issues, and venting problems. Talk to us about having your tankless water heater repaired or replaced, taking into consideration its age, the specific problem(s) it’s experiencing, and the availability/cost of repair parts.

Before the Technician Arrives

Before your 1-Tom-Plumber technician gets here, try to keep children and pets away from puddles of water, sewage backups, and/or exposed plumbing. If it’s safe to do so, relocate rugs, towels, boxes, electronics, etc. from wet areas. Don’t touch electrical outlets, appliances, or power cords that have come in contact with water.

If possible, jot down the following information so you can relay it to your 1-Tom-Plumber technician:

When you first noticed the problem

Which plumbing fixtures are/is affected

Whether the problem has been happening all the time or comes and goes

Anything unusual that’s happened around the same time (home remodeling/construction projects, freezing temperatures, new appliance hookups, etc.)

Anything you’ve done to try to remedy the situation

Questions Worth Asking the Technician

What caused the plumbing problem?

Are there any other plumbing fixtures/parts that may be damaged or nearing the end of their service life?

What symptoms should I watch out for that could mean the plumbing problem has resurfaced?

After the Visit

Once your plumbing emergency has been remedied, check nearby baseboards, cabinets, drywall, and flooring to see if they absorbed any water and may need to be dried out. Keep your 1-Tom-Plumber’s business card handy, and note down the date of service, the plumbing fixture(s) that had problems, and any future plumbing projects your 1-Tom-Plumber technician recommended. That way, if your plumbing starts acting up again, you’ll have a record of whether or not it’s the same problem recurring.

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