Plumbing Troubleshooting Guide
Work out what a symptom means, which checks are safe to try at home, and when it is time to call.
Plenty of plumbing problems announce themselves well before they turn into a flood or a backup. Some are a two-minute fix you can do yourself, like a clogged faucet aerator or a toilet chain caught under the flapper. Others are a warning that something bigger is coming, and telling them apart early is what keeps a small leak small.
Stop and Call Right Away
- A gas smell: leave the house and call the gas utility or 911 from outside before anything else.
- Sewage backing up into a floor drain, tub or toilet.
- Flooding from a burst or broken pipe.
- No water at all anywhere in the house.
For flooding, shut off the main water valve first and follow the burst pipe steps.
Plumbing Symptom Troubleshooter
Pick what you are noticing, answer the questions, and press the button to see whether it is a safe home check or a job for us.
Choose a symptom and answer the questions above, then press the button.
Quick Checks Before Calling
These checks are safe for most homeowners. If one does not fix the problem, or the last column describes what you see, stop and call.
| Symptom | Safe home check | Stop and call a plumber if |
|---|---|---|
| No hot water | Check the breaker on an electric heater, or whether the pilot is lit on a gas one; relight by the label | You smell gas, water is on the floor, or the pilot will not stay lit |
| Low pressure at one faucet | Unscrew and rinse the aerator; open the valves under the sink fully | Every faucet is weak or the pressure dropped all at once |
| Slow drain | Clean the stopper or hair screen and use a plunger | More than one drain is slow or the floor drain backs up |
| Running toilet | Lift the lid; free a caught chain or reseat the flapper | Water is on the floor or the tank or bowl is cracked |
| Sewer smell | Pour water into floor drains and unused sinks to refill the traps | The smell returns within days or sewage shows up |
| Wet spot | Look for the source above it and check the meter’s leak indicator | The spot is spreading or the meter moves with everything off |
| Noisy pipes | Note when it happens and which fixture sets it off | Banging gets worse or water runs with every fixture off |
What to Note Before You Call
A few details help us bring the right parts and plan the visit: which fixtures are affected, when it started, whether it happens all the time or only when something else runs, and the age of the water heater if it is involved. Photos help too: email them to devin@botzumplumbing.com.
Troubleshooting Questions
What is normal water pressure for a house?
Most homes run well between about 40 and 80 psi. Below that, showers feel weak upstairs; above it, faucets bang shut and appliances wear out sooner. Many houses have a pressure reducing valve near the main that sets it, and those valves wear out. We check pressure with a gauge on a hose spigot or the laundry faucet.
Why is my water brown or rust-colored?
If it comes from every tap at once, cold and hot, the cause is often outside the house: hydrant flushing or a main repair stirs up sediment, and it usually clears after running the cold tap for several minutes. If it comes only from the hot side, the water heater tank is the suspect. If it keeps coming back on the cold side too, old galvanized pipe rusting from the inside is likely.
Why do my pipes bang or rattle?
A loud bang when a faucet, the washer or the dishwasher shuts off is water hammer: moving water stopped suddenly. Loose pipe straps let the pipe jump, and high pressure makes it worse. A rattle while water runs points to a loose pipe or a worn valve. Both are worth fixing, because the shock loosens joints over time.
When you are ready, book a visit or call the number above.
Not sure after the checks? Call and describe what you are seeing.