Have you ever wondered why plumbing problems happen unexpectedly almost all the time? 

As professional plumbers in Singapore for many years, we have found the answer. It’s because homeowners are either clueless about the signs of an underlying plumbing problem, or they just ignore the signs for one reason or another.

Whether the cause is cluelessness or carelessness, we are going to reveal eight signs of underlying plumbing problems at home that everyone should pay attention to.

Bad odor

Some people usually associate home plumbing with a bad odor. Plumbing pipes smell like rust, toilet bowls always stink, and that bottom part of the sink smells like sewer. We have to break this myth  and think of bad odor, especially a sewer odor, as unusual in home plumbing because it really is. 

When you start smelling rust or sewer gas in your plumbing fixtures, it could be a sign of a brewing plumbing problem. You must inspect the plumbing fitting, and check for any damage.

Change in water pressure

Not all water pressure levels are created equal. If you’ve been living in your house for many years now, you probably know the normal water pressure on your water outlets. If you notice a sudden change in water pressure, probably a decreased pressure on your faucet or bathroom shower, there might be a clog in your pipe network or a scale build-up on your water heater.

Repeated sink clogging

Sink clogging is something that every household encounters and it should be normal. When you or someone in the house accidentally drops a big chunk of food under the drain cover, it can cause slow water draining on the sink, and this is usually easy to solve. You can even perform natural methods of sink unclogging. Keep in mind these common causes of sink clogging so you can prevent this plumbing issue from happening.

However, if you keep getting a clogged sink every week or oftener, then there might be a deeper plumbing problem beyond what the eye can see. In cases like this, it’s better to hire a plumber to do an inspection. 

Unusual droplets in the faucet

Don’t ignore small leaks and droplets around your faucet. All broken faucets start with a small leak and a few droplets seeping from the pipe connectors. When you notice unusual leaks like this, you can do simple plumbing hacks to prevent further damage.

Wall paint damage

It’s important to remember that networks of plumbing pipes are hidden inside the walls of your home. That’s why when you start seeing signs of deterioration on your wall paint, you must suspect a pipe leak. Blackening, bubbling, or peeling off of wall paint may be the result of moisture in that specific part of your wall, which may be caused by a leaky pipe within the wall. Don’t ignore this sign and start monitoring closely because if the leak worsens, it will seep through the different parts of your walls.

Water puddle

Water puddles inside the house may be a result of a pipe leak. An unusual water puddle is usually caused by a leaky pipe located on the ceiling or under the floor.

If you see a puddle like this somewhere in your house, you better inspect the ceiling directly on top of the puddle. If there are drops of water falling from the ceiling or discoloration of the paint therein, there’s probably an underlying leaky pipe inside the wall.

Water bill increase

Another common red flag on home plumbing is a sudden increase in your water bill. If you did not increase your water usage for that period, it could be a lingering pipe leak that caused the spike in your water bill.

Water quality deterioration

Last but not least is the deterioration of the water quality at home. This is the most dangerous sign of plumbing problems because it can directly affect your health. Be cautious of the odor and color of the water that comes from your faucet because a troubled plumbing pipe may result in contamination.

The common cause of water contamination is a leak or damage on the plumbing fittings that prevent sewer gas or water from entering your plumbing pipe. It could also be caused by rust on the inner part of the pipes.

Final note

In observing the signs of plumbing problems at home, it’s much better to err on the side of caution. Even if it’s just a simple leak or a small puddle, don’t delay action. Instead, immediately inspect, do some DIY plumbing repair, or call a professional to address the root of the plumbing problem.