Emergency Plumbing Services in High Wycombe

Dripping faucets are so common that it’s rare to find someone who hasn’t experienced this issue. It’s not just a source of irritation, the waste of water can push up your water bill and cost you money. A single faucet can drip away hundreds of gallons over the course of a year.

The cause of dripping faucets in most cases is an internal washer that has become stiff, torn, worn, or dislodged over time. Fixing the problem is often achievable by the average householder but requires the correct tools.

This problem is normally caused by a blockage that is restricting water flow. Your kitchen sink drain may contain things like congealed fat and food remnants. In a bathroom sink, the blockage is more likely to be caused by knotted hair and soap.

Methods for clearing a clogged sink might involve using a plunger, pouring down baking soda and vinegar or a chemical clog remover, or using a plumber’s snake. If the problem isn’t tackled, then it will likely worsen over time, until eventually the drain is completely blocked.

As with slow draining bathroom sinks, bath and shower drains generally get blocked up by clogs of hair and soap. Clearing the blockage may require the use of a plunger, or a snake. Baking soda and vinegar can sometimes dissolve the clog too. The problem generally gets worse over time, if not dealt with. The problem can be prevented or minimized by buying a drain guard to catch the hair.

When the toilet bowl fills up and doesn’t drain away, you’ve got a clog. The blockage is normally caused by a mixture of paper and human waste. Clogged toilets can normally be fixed with a plunger. If that doesn’t work then a sewer snake or drain auger can be used to loosen up the blockage.

A running toilet can be costly; up to 200 gallons of water may be lost each day. The most common culprit is a faulty flapper valve which controls the water that passes from the tank to the bowl. This is a fairly straightforward fix with a toilet repair kit available at any hardware store.

Less commonly, toilet runs may also be caused by sediment affecting the flushing and filling. If your water bills seem high, check for silent leaks. Put some food colouring in the upper tank and see if it makes its way to the bowl without flushing.

This problem may not be discovered until you are in the shower and the water suddenly goes cold. There are multiple issues that can cause a water heater to fail. The pilot light may go out and you have to relight it. A buildup of sediment in the tank can also cause problems. Another time, it may be the thermostat that is at fault.

Generally speaking, you will want a professional to inspect, maintain, and fix your water heater unless it’s something basic like the pilot light needing to be relit.

If your water trickles out of the tap rather than gushes, this may be a symptom of low water pressure. This is often a problem in older homes.

Low water pressure can be caused by leaking pipes that have become broken, worn, or corroded over time. More often than not, it’s caused by a build-up of sediment and mineral deposits on aerators. You can soak the aerator in vinegar to clean it. If it’s the shower that’s the problem, then you need to either soak the showerhead in vinegar or simply replace it.