Handling plumbing issues is almost always inevitable for homeowners. While it won’t always be something big like a burst pipe, dealing with even the most common plumbing issues can be tricky. That’s why it’s best to have a few plumbing tips and tricks in your back pocket along with a reliable plumber available for emergency calls whenever you may need them. 

To help you better understand your home’s plumbing, we’ve outlined some of the most common plumbing issues we see in Oklahoma City along with information on how they happen and when/how to contact a licensed professional plumber.

Here are some common OKC plumbing issues that you may encounter and what you should do after identifying the problem. While most of these aren’t emergencies, it’s important to make sure they’re fixed as soon as possible to keep them from escalating into bigger issues.

Dripping faucets are mainly caused by loose or broken parts within your faucet or are due to water pressure issues. They can lead to water damage as well as mildew growth if not fixed promptly but they are usually more annoying than they are dangerous. 

The most obvious drawback of a dripping faucet is wasted water which leads to higher water bills. Assuming a water faucet drips once per second, you could be looking at about 5.7 gallons of water wasted per day (1 drip/second, 86,400 drips/day, 15,100 drips/gallon) from just one faucet.

Thankfully, this is a relatively quick and low-cost job for our Schuler Plumbing team to sort! We’ll make sure that the loose, worn, or possibly even corroded parts are replaced, and your dripping faucet is sealed from any gaps preventing any future drips.

One of the most common plumbing issues we get called in for is slow or clogged drains. This is usually caused by something getting stuck in your pipes and requiring help to unclog it.

Sometimes it only needs some drain cleaner to solve or the quick use of a drain snake, but other times, you’ll need to call an experienced plumber for a potentially deeper issue. Your kitchen or bathroom sink’s plumbing is full of twists and turns, and these often require some digging to be reached. 

Since these pipes are often hidden behind your walls and are near the load-bearing structures of your home, it’s best to let a professional take care of them.

It’s never fun to find out you’re having water heater issues. Not having access to hot water is inconvenient, but since this could likely be much bigger than a simple plumbing issue, it’s best to keep this one to the professionals. 

Water heaters are made up of many components that require plumbing knowledge as well as experience working with electrical or natural gas. That’s why when something is not right, it’s important to have someone on call who can figure out the why behind the problem.

Here are some common issues with water heaters:

• The pilot light won’t stay lit
• Valves giving out, causing the water heater to flood
• Bacteria infestation, causing your water to smell awful
• Corrosion building up, causing issues with circulation

The most common issue we see with water heaters is that they aren’t providing enough hot water. Our plumbers have years of experience handling this issue and with our same-day service, you’ll not only have your hot water up and running again in no time but you can also trust that the problem is correctly taken care of. 

There are limits to what your water system can handle. In some homes, running the dishwasher and taking a shower at the same time is just too much for your pipes to take on. While this could be a reason you’re experiencing low water pressure, the root cause could be something bigger like clogged pipes or issues with your water valve.

The first thing to check would be your water valve. This is what controls the flow of water to plumbing fixtures in your home, such as faucets, the dishwasher, etc. Make sure it’s fully open. Then check each faucet.

If the problem persists, call your trusted plumber to diagnose the underlying problem.

Leaky pipes are tricky to catch and even more troublesome to solve but they’re probably the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about common plumbing issues. 

Like dripping faucets, leaky pipes contribute to enormous water waste but can also damage your home. Since pipes are often in walls, a leak could rot wood, corrode metal, and cause mold and other bacteria to start growing.

Be sure to call a plumbing professional for this issue. Your fixture or pipe may need to be replaced, or you may need to replace several pipes in order to maintain your plumbing system. Either way, a professional plumber will be able to advise you on the best course of action.

Running toilets are both loud and waste a lot of water. On average, a small toilet that constantly runs will waste around 20+ gallons of water per day. 

The common culprit of this issue is a worn-out flapper — the part that keeps the water in the tank until the toilet is flushed. This flapper is designed to lift out of the toilet valve at the beginning of the cycle and at the end of the cycle, it should properly settle back into the valve. 

Lift the cover from the toilet tank and observe this process during the flush cycle. If the flapper seems to be in good condition and the other components in your tank seem to be working properly, then be sure to call an experienced plumber.

A sump pump prevents your home from flooding by moving water out of your sump basin to drain elsewhere. If it fails, you could experience flooding and other expensive water damage.

A failure is a worst-case scenario but sump pump issues could also be caused by clogs or they could be overwhelmed, or even frozen! 

You’ll need to call a plumbing professional for a sump pump issue. If not diagnosed and fixed correctly, this issue will wreak havoc on your plumbing system and house.

We’ve all experienced a clogged toilet before. We can usually fix it ourselves, but once in a while, a clogged toilet just won’t come unclogged.

When this happens, it could be a sign of a more serious problem: septic tank damage. Septic tanks hold waste and sewage long enough for it to settle and separate before being properly disposed of or drained. A clogged or full septic tank could cause issues in your toilets, sinks, and tubs so it’s important to get this checked ASAP.

If you’re unable to handle what you thought was a simple clog, call a professional plumber in Oklahoma City to fix your toilet.

There are two ways in which your water line can break: First, there can be an issue between the public delivery line that brings water to your home and second, there can be an issue in the public delivery line itself. 

If it’s an issue with the public delivery line itself, then it’s not your problem — your city or county will fix it. However, if there’s an issue between the public delivery line and your home, then it’s your responsibility to fix it.

Just like it sounds, a main water line break is a major plumbing repair job, often requiring your property to be dug up in order to access the plumbing below ground. Water mains leaks are slightly less serious but still need to be resolved by an experienced plumber as soon as possible.

Gases are transported via pipelines which can leak. Unfortunately, gas leaks aren’t as obvious as water leaks, but are much more likely to be serious.

Natural gases are invisible, highly flammable, and toxic, so if you’re experiencing a leak caused by wear & tear or faulty piping, leave this issue to the plumbing professionals. Without expertise in safety regulations and code requirements, you could potentially cause an explosion affecting you, your family, and the entire neighborhood.

Your safety is a top priority when experiencing a gas leak. If you suspect something is wrong with your gas line, call a professional today and we’ll send a certified Schuler plumber over as soon as possible.

With decades of experience in the plumbing industry serving Oklahoma City residents, we have encountered all of these common plumbing issues. We’re rarely surprised anymore, but we go the extra mile to surprise you with exceptional work and exceed your expectations. 

At Schuler Plumbing, we utilize our extensive experience, training, and knowledge, to give you our 100% every time. By delivering exceptional service, you can trust us with your plumbing and return to enjoying your life without worrying about your system’s issues. 

Contact us today to solve your plumbing issues and get expert advice tailored to your situation.