Central Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Plumbing

Although it may always become necessary to hire a professional Central Pennsylvania plumber in many cases, the following tips are provided as a first line of defense against common plumbing problems such as noisy pipes, clogged drains or leaks.

Noise in the Pipes

A mixture of noises may be produced in the pipes, ranging from a loud hammering sound to high-pitched squeaks. These noises may be caused by loose pipes, water logged air chambers, or high water pressure. When the pipes aren't fastened correctly, this may be the cause. Pipes are more often than not anchored with pipe straps every six to eight feet for horizontal runs, 8-10 feet for vertical. If your pipes bang when the water is turned on, it may be necessary to add straps and/or cushion the pipes with rubber. A good rule to follow is to never use galvanized straps on copper pipes or tubing. If a pipe has a faulty air chamber, this usually occurs in lengths of pipes installed behind fixtures and appliances. These pipes hold air that cushions the shock when flowing water is turned off. If they get filled with water, they will lose their effectiveness. To restore air back into the chambers, turn off the main shutoff water valve and open all the faucets to drain the system. Close the faucets and then turn on the water. This should allow the air chambers to fill with air. Do not disregard a banging water hammer. It can do a lot of damage to the hot and cold pipe system in the residence.

Clogged Drains

The first thing to check with a drain that is clogged is that the tub's stopper is fully opened and is free of hair and debris. If the stopper isn't the problem, then the drainpipe is probably clogged. First, try a plunger or chemical drain cleaner. The plunger is useful to clear clogs in most fixtures and should be readily available. If these fail to complete the job, you'll have to clear the trap with a snake or cable augur. This is a long, flexible steel cable wound around a spool that is fitted with a hand crank. A closet augur is purposely made for snaking out toilets. It is similar to a cable augur, but the cable is encased in an inflexible shaft. It is intended to fit through the tight curves of a toilet trap. The majority of tubs have a P trap in the drain. In some homes, the tub may have a drum trap in the floor near the tub instead (it will have a removable metal cover and a rubber gasket). Using a snake in a tub P trap is very much like snaking out a sink trap. If you have a drum trap, first try snaking it clear through the tub overflow. If that does not work, bailout all the standing water from the tub. Then, using an adjustable-end wrench, unscrew the trap cover slowly. Have rags available for any water that wells up. Remove the cover, bail out and clean the trap. If, water does not well up, snake toward he tub; if water does well up, snake toward he main drain. If you can't reach the clog from the trap, it's likely deeper in he main drain. It is at this time that you should enlist the services of an expert plumber.

Leaking Pipes

If your water bill is higher than normal, this might be your first warning of a leaking pipe. You might also hear the sound of running water even when all your fixtures are turned off. When you speculate that there is a leak, check the fixtures first to make sure all the faucets are tightly closed. Then go to the water meter, if you've one. If the dial is moving, you're losing water somewhere in the system.

Locating the Leak in Your Central Pennsylvania Home

The sound of running water will help you. If you hear it, follow it to its origination. There are listening devices designed to magnify sounds when held up to a pipe. If water is causing stains in the ceiling or dripping down, the leak is probably directly above. Occasionally, water may move along a joist and then stain or drip at a point some distance from the leak. If water stains a wall, it indicates there is a leak in a portion of the pipe.

Any wall stain is most times underneath the actual site of the leak and you'll most likely need to remove part of the wall to find it. In the absence of the sound of running water and without drips or stains as evidence, leaks are harder to find. Using a flashlight, check all the pipes in the basement or in the crawl space.

Correcting the Leak

If the leak is large, turn off the water immediately, either at the fixture shutoff valve or the main shutoff valve. You'll most likely need to replace the leaky portion of the pipe. If your experience working with pipes is limited, you'll most likely want to call in an expert plumber to get the job done. If the leak is small, the final solution is to replace the pipe, however there are provisional solutions until you've time for the replacement job. These methods work for small leaks only. Clamps will most times stop most leaks for many months if they're used with a solid rubber blanket. It's a smart idea to buy a sheet of rubber padding, as well as some clamps sized to fit your pipes at a hardware store and keep them available just for this purpose.

A sleeve clamp that fits perfectly the pipe diameter works best. Wrap a rubber blanket over the leak and then screw the clamp down over the blanket. An adjustable hose clamp used with a rubber blanket stops a pinhole leak. If nothing else is available, use a C-clamp, a small block of wood and a rubber blanket.

When in a pinch, try applying epoxy putty around a joint where a clamp will not work. The pipe must be dry for the putty to adhere. Turn off the water provide to the leak and leave the water off until the putty hardens completely on the pipe. If you don't have a clamp or putty, you can still stop a small leak provisionally by plugging it with a pencil point.