5 Signs It’s Time to Call a Plumber

The pandemic has seen a boom in everything from at-home baking to DIY basement renovations. With time on their hands and nowhere to go, Canadians are making the most of their time indoors and giving their homes the tender love and care they deserve. 

Expertise, however, still has its place, and nowhere is this clearer than in plumbing repairs. At Drain King Plumbers, we have handled nearly every imaginable problem your pipes can throw at you.

In this article, we will share with you our expertise and show you the limits of DIY repairs as we cover 5 signs that it’s time to call a plumber. If you are experiencing any of these issues, don’t hesitate in contacting us. We offer 24-hour emergency services when you call us at (833) 983-5663.

1. You can’t get hot water to run 

Nothing wakes you up in the morning quite like a cold shower, especially when you aren’t expecting it. Living in Canada, having a constant stream of hot water available for our showers, sinks, bathtubs, and laundry machines is a luxury we often take for granted. 

Depending on the time of year and the kind of building you are living in, though, it can take time for water to heat up. It’s time to call a plumber if hot water doesn’t come at all. 

There are several reasons why your hot water might not be working, including: 

• A leak or defect in your water heating tank. 
• A dangerous natural gas leak from your water heater. 
• A faulty thermostat.

Our team can fix these problems, so that you can run hot water without any further interruptions.

2. You can’t run any water at all 

What’s worse than an unexpectedly cold shower in the morning? Standing in the shower, waiting for water to come out, and getting nothing. Talk about a rude awakening.

If you find that you cannot get water to run in your home, try doing the following: 

• Check another tap.
  Sometimes the problem you are experiencing is only in one area of the home—perhaps one sink, or even an entire area, like the kitchen. Making sure that you know the full extent of the problem in your home is critical to understanding what you need to do next. 
• Check with neighbours.
  If you live in a condominium, ask others on your floor or in your building if they are experiencing the same issues as you. The property managers may have shut off the water to address a problem or are running maintenance on the plumbing systems. If you live in a semi-detached or fully detached home, try consulting with your neighbours to make sure that the issues aren’t affecting your street or neighbourhood. 
• Check your water main.
  This device regulates the flow of water into your home from municipal systems. If it has been damaged or accidentally shut off, you will not be able to run water in your home. 

There are many causes for water stoppages, but the most common include: 

• A broken or jammed tap connection.
  Over time, sediment build-up in your tap connection can cause the system to break down, thus requiring maintenance and cleaning. 
• Poor construction quality of water lines.
  Whether they came with the home or were added later, your water lines may be incorrectly sized. If this problem is left unaddressed, it can lead to low or non-existent water pressure. 

Our team can help you resolve these problems quickly and with minimal interruption. 

3. Your toilet is always running

From no water running to water running when you don’t want it to, the issues your plumbing system can endure are seemingly endless. 

Your toilet will sometimes run well after it is finished filling its tank. In most cases, this is an easy problem to fix and something you can do yourself. 

If your toilet continues to run even after you have tried addressing the issue, one or more of these problems may be the cause: 

• The overflow valve is defective. 
• The flush valve is broken. 
• The fill valve is leaking. 
• The flapper chain has snapped. 
• The toilet handle is disconnected. 

Problems like these require special—and sometimes expensive parts—to fix, in addition to hands-on training and expertise. When your toilet continues to run even when the tank is full, you need to give us a call.

4. Your pipes have burst 

Nothing bursts your bubble quite like coming home from a winter vacation in Florida to find broken pipes and a basement so full of water it can become your own indoor swimming pool.

There are 5 main causes of burst pipes in Canadian homes: 

• Water freezing and expanding inside the pipes, leading to ruptures and tears. 
• Excessive high pressure coming from your municipal water supply. 
• Old or poorly-maintained pipes. 
• Clogs or other blockages of ice, food, bathroom products, waste, hair, or other materials that cannot be flushed in large quantities. 
• Tree roots that grow around pipes and eventually break into them. 

If you believe that your pipes are prone to any or all of these problems, then call us before the situation deteriorates any further. Just one phone call could save you thousands of dollars in damages and repairs. 

5. Your basement is flooded

Your basement is exposed to water damage all year round. Whether it’s the summertime or winter, water can enter your home through the basement and cause significant damage.

While there are preventative measures you can take to ensure that your basement is protected, it’s important to speak with an expert once the problem emerges. Flooded basements can create serious health risks for you and your family, as well as expensive structural issues for your home.

If your basement is flooding, these are the most likely reasons: 

• A crack or leak in your home’s foundation, walls, or doors and windows. 
• Poor foundation drainage or weeping tile systems. 
• Sewer lines blocked by items and materials improperly flushed down the toilets. 
• Water surges resulting from melting snow, heavy rainfall, floods, and other environmental conditions that are common in Ontario. 

Our teams are trained to identify and resolve these issues in a timely and professional manner. In the event that your basement floods, don’t tackle the problem alone. Let us help.

For all your plumbing needs or to speak with a plumber in Toronto or the GTA, call Drain King Plumbers today at (833) 983-5663.