Easy Fixes for Petty Kitchen Plumbing | Tips from Your New Orleans, LA Plumber
Kitchen plumbing issues can range from just a little bit annoying to incredibly disruptive. In almost every New Orleans, LA, home, the kitchen is the heart, so when you start to see issues develop, it’s essential to try and fix them early. When plumbing starts to fail, simple tasks like doing the washing up can be much more complicated. And if things get dire, for example, if you get a significant leak, some things are nigh on impossible. It’s our goal as a local, family-operated plumbing company to serve you peace of mind and help you get any niggling kitchen issues fixed first-time.
As plumbers with more than two decades of experience, we can help you solve the following common plumbing issues in your home:
- Leaky Pipes and Faucets
Leaky pipes and faucets are one of the most common reasons that a plumber will get called out. In places like kitchens where there is a large number of electrical appliances, it’s not safe to leave small leaks to develop into something more serious.
When faucets first start to leak, the sound can be quite irritating. What at first is just a niggling issue, actually does a lot more harm than good. Especially over time when wasted water can have a detrimental impact on your energy bills, warp wooden structures, increase the likelihood of mold and mildew developing, and dampen carpets leaving an undesirable smell.
In many cases, a faulty o ring or degraded washer can cause a leaky faucet. If you consider yourself to be quite handy around the home, it’s a simple repair that you can yourself. Minor maintenance won’t fix the issue in all cases, and you may still need to call a professional to take a more in-depth look or replace the faucet entirely.
- Clogged Drains
Slow draining sinks or sinks that don’t drain at all are also a common problem. Even if your home has a dishwasher, when it’s full of dirty dishes, and you need to use the sink, a slow drain can put you off and slow things down. Slow draining sinks are caused by blockages somewhere in the pipe structure. Frequent blockages are food waste and mineral deposits, both of which you can sometimes solve by using a plunger, liquid drain cleaner, or cleaning the p-trap. If the problem is persistent, however, or affects more than just your kitchen sink, a plumber can do a maintenance assessment to work out exactly where the blockage is.
Some clogged drains may require specialist equipment that you won’t have easy access to. Larger, more persistent clogs may even be present in the lateral drain that connects your home to the municipal sewer. A trained plumber will have the tools and knowhow to inspect this for you if the typical household unclogging methods aren’t working for you.
- Low Water Pressure
When water pressure is low, washing dishes or filling the kitchen sink with water is much more time-consuming. Sometimes low water pressure is caused by mineral buildup, an issue with the main water line, and even the municipal water supply. If you’ve just moved into a New Orleans, LA, home, it’s difficult for you to know what’s ‘normal’ for the area, but a local plumbing company can help you if you’re unsure.
Sometimes the long-term buildup of mineral deposits on the aerator in the kitchen faucet is the cause. You can unscrew the aerator from the faucet and let it soak overnight in some vinegar to help remove the obstruction affecting your water pressure. If this doesn’t work, it might be that your water supply can’t handle the number of fixtures using water in your home. You may see your kitchen water pressure drop while someone is running water in the bathroom, for example, or if you’ve got the dishwasher running at the same time. If you need more water supply lines, you’ll need the services of a plumber.
- Dishwasher Problems
Dishwashers, when they’re working to their full potential, are often extremely efficient and very convenient. That said, when there’s an issue, it can be quite problematic. Cracks and tears in the gasket around the door can cause leaks, and you may simply need a replacement part. In other cases, the inlet valve could be the problem. If you see holes or issues, it’s best to avoid using the unit and call a professional to inspect your appliance. Other issues, like water still pooled inside the machine when the cycle has finished, can be fixed by cleaning a clogged filter, but a malfunctioning pump will need to be replaced by a plumber.
- Refrigeration Problems
Common plumbing problems associated with refrigerators include supply line issues for icemakers and water dispensers in the door or leaks in the waterline. In winter, your New Orleans, LA, may suffer from frozen water lines that will affect supply. Some leaks in the supply line are as simple as a loose connection and a nut that needs tightening. This can quickly be done without a plumber if you’ve worked out where it is and have a tool to help you tighten it. More significant problems like faulty actuators may need replacement.
- Garbage Disposal Problems
In some cases, objects may be blocking the impellers. If there’s a hum, but the unit doesn’t work, it’s likely the disposal requires unjamming. Fixing garbage disposals is a task that requires a lot of care, and it’s best to use long, thin tools to unblock them rather than do it by hand. If you have such implements to hand, unclogging a garbage disposal unit can be quite simple; however, if not, a plumber knows best!
- Lack of Warm Water
Checking the shut-off valve before calling a plumber to your New Orleans, LA, home can save you a call out fee. If you have added appliances that use more hot water to your home, a lack of warm water can indicate the need for a bigger water heater. Water heaters, like much other plumbing in the house, can be affected by mineral deposit buildup and often benefit from maintenance cleaning. However, more complicated repairs will need the use of a professional, call bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of New Orleans for all of your plumbing needs.
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