Jefferson & Dodge Counties, Wisconsin Plumbing

Although it may always become necessary to hire a professional Jefferson & Dodge Counties 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. Such causes could be loose pipes, water logged air chambers, or high water pressure. When the pipes aren't fastened appropriately, this may be the cause. Pipes are generally anchored with pipe straps every 6-8 feet for horizontal runs, 8 to 10 feet for vertical. If you hear a banging noise from your pipes when you turn on the water, it may be necessary to add straps and/or cushion the pipes with rubber. A good rule to go by is to never use galvanized straps on copper pipes or tubing. If a pipe has a faulty air chamber, this normally 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 become less effective. 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 extensive damage to the hot and cold pipe system in the house.

Clogged Drains

The first thing to check with a drain that is clogged is that the tub's pop-up stopper is widely opened and is free of hair and debris. If the stopper isn't the problem, then the drainpipe is possibly 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 do not work, 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's fitted with a hand crank. A closet augur is explicitly made for snaking out toilets. It is similar to a cable augur, but the cable is sheathed in a firm shaft. It is made 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've a drum trap, first try snaking it clear through the tub overflow. If that doesn't work, bailout all the standing water from the tub. Then, utilizing 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, even after this, water does not well up, snake toward he tub; if water does well up, snake toward he main drain. If you can not reach the clog from the trap, it is most 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 indication of a leaking pipe. You might also hear the sound of running water even when all your fixtures are turned off. When you think 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 Jefferson & Dodge Counties Home

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

Any wall stain is likely to be under the actual location of the leak and you'll probably have 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 more challenging to locate. Using a flashlight, check all the pipes in the basement or in the crawl space.

Correcting the Leak

If the leak is major, shut off the water right away, either at the fixture shutoff valve or the main shutoff valve. You will most likely need to replace the leaky section of pipe. If your experience working with pipes is limited, you'll probably want to call in a professional plumber to complete the job. If the leak is small, the best solution is to replace the pipe, however there are temporary solutions until you've time for the replacement job. These methods work for small leaks only. Clamps should stop most leaks for several months if they're used with a solid rubber blanket. It's a smart idea to buy a sheet of rubber padding, in addition to some clamps sized to fit your pipes at a hardware store and keep them in your home for this purpose.

A sleeve clamp that perfectly fits 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 has to be dry for the putty to adhere. Turn off the water furnish to the leak and leave the water off until the putty hardens entirely on the pipe. If you don't have a clamp or putty, you can still stop a small leak for the time being by plugging it with a pencil point.