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Why is My Plumbing Whistling?

calling for a plumber

Looking Into Pipe Issues

Picture this, you’re lying in bed in the middle of the night after using the restroom and you suddenly hear a faint whistle creeping from the doorway of your bathroom.

No, your house isn’t haunted, but we can guarantee your pipes are. Whistling pipes are a common problem that can lead to serious plumbing concerns.

Here’s a closer look at what these whistling sounds mean, why you need to take care of them, and how a licensed plumber can help.

THE SOURCE DETERMINES THE ROOT CAUSE

Although it can sound like the whistling from your pipes is coming from all around your bathroom’s plumbing system, the truth is that it can stem from a couple of places. Let’s take a look at two of the most common sources of this annoying plumbing problem.

Toilet Whistles

If you notice the sound occurring directly after flushing the toilet, the issue could be a faulty fill valve. Your toilet’s fill valve is the piece of equipment that floats in the toilet’s tank and helps regulate the water that refills after a flush.

When the toilet valve deteriorates, it’s unable to function properly and can cause the dreaded whistling sound after each flush.

Pipe Whistles

If you test your toilet and the whistle doesn’t occur, the source could be directly from the pipes within the walls of your bathroom. Over time, wear and tear occurs and can lead to faucets collecting minerals and sediment.

When water is pushed through the pipes and is forced through areas that weren’t meant to be tight, the whistling sound can occur as water pressure increases and forces its way through the plumbing system.

Why Should You Be Concerned About a Little Whistle?

The biggest problem with a pipe whistle is that most homeowners don’t realize that this can be the symptom of a major problem on the cusp of occurrence.

When a whistle stems from your actual plumbing, it’s a sign that minerals have already significantly built up in your pipes and valves. Unless a licensed plumber is able to make replacements or clear out the sediment, your pipes may not be far from a leak or burst.

How Can a Plumber Make Your Pipes Stop Singing?

While it can be difficult to locate the exact source of whistling plumbing, a licensed plumber can quickly find the root of the problem and offer the right long-term solutions that stop abnormal plumbing noises and prevent the risk of a plumbing leak.

We can safely clear out your plumbing sediment and resolve the issue. If your problem stems from a faulty valve in your toilet or system, we can replace it for you and ensure your water moves smoothly from here on out.

Schedule Your Home’s Plumbing Inspection With Plumbing Dynamics

If your plumbing is whistling or you’ve realized your pipes have sprung a leak, don’t let the problem fester. Reach out to Plumbing Dynamics today. Our licensed plumbers can help you resolve the issues at reasonable rates and with the best customer service in Dallas.

Reach out to us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule an appointment for a plumbing inspection in Carrollton, TX with our experienced plumbers.

Tips For Purchasing and Installing Bathtub Replacement Shower Pans

Bathtub replacement shower pans, the foundation for all tub-to-shower conversions, provide a base for stone, tile, or marble. They are the basis for converting any old bathtub into a functional, appealing bathroom feature.

Property owners choose to replace bathtubs for various reasons. Where ADA compliance is an issue, upgrading to a shower allows owners to add important features like balanced-temperature mixing valves that have levers that can be easily grasped, vertical safety bars, adjustable-height showerheads, and barrier-free entrances. For many, the bathtub is less safe and less practical than a shower and lacks features like benches, shelves, and footrests.

Superior product lines offer several important features. The pans are UL-listed and offer drains made of PVC, cast iron, or ABS to assist with code compliance in any locality. They also offer either barrier-free or single-curb entrances. In addition, they resist mold, odor-causing bacteria, and mildew and provide leak-free protection. Finally, they are pitched one quarter-inch per square foot toward the drain, preventing standing puddles that could cause slippage and therefore liability.

Installing a Replacement Pan

The first step to installing a replacement pan is to remove the old tub and surround using a reciprocating saw or a diamond saw, depending on whether the tub and surround were made of acrylic or tile. Then, saw through the drainpipe and removed the old pan. Mark the drain hole on the subfloor and note any tile overlap on the floor. Remove the pan and use a hammer and chisel to remove any tile that extends under the pan.

Attaching a Strainer to a Drain Hole

The builder should next attach the strainer to the drain hole. The subfloor should be vacuumed so that all debris is removed. The floor may have to be shimmed to ensure a level surface. Once that is complete, the builder should install the new pan and evaluate the level. The pan should be attached to studs with galvanized screws.

Final Steps

After installing the pan, the builder should connect the drainpipe and strainer via a compression gasket and then add the screen. The final step is to install a cement backer board, and then tile or other material can be added to complete the job.

Bathtub replacement pans are ideal for large jobs including hospitals, senior facilities, student dorms, hotels, and condos. The pan can be installed quickly and, if pans are uniform in all stalls, the tile can be precut. For owners, replacing outdated tubs can add both functionality and value to any property.

Contact Plumbing Dynamics at 214-929-3431 for more information about installing a replacement shower pan or bathroom remodeling in Carrollton, TX.

What To Do If You Have a Hot Spot On Your Floor

under ground pit with water

How to Locate a Hot Spot

Today we’re going to talk about a hot water heater slab leak we recently fixed.

Our customer noticed a hot spot in their baby’s bedroom. He happened to have a thermal imaging camera and used the camera to determine that there was a hot spot on the floor in the baby’s room. This is uncommon—there are not supposed to be hot spots on your floor! A hot spot means you have an issue.

Find the Cause

Our customer then had a company come out to locate the source of the problem. This company found that the hot water heater was the culprit.

How We Fixed the Issue

He then called in Plumbing Dynamics and we had to make a hole in his floor to take out the broken line because the leak happened to be in a concrete beam. We rerouted the line and brought it up to the water heater in a new location in the water heater room. Now the customer can have hot water throughout the house and won’t have to tear out his water heater or the water lines and make a mess if there are any further problems.

The leak is fixed, and our customer is happy!

Your Next Step

If you think you have a hot spot on your floor, or if you have any other plumbing concerns or questions, contact us today at 214-929-3431! Plumbing Dynamics is here to help with your leak in Carrollton, TX!

Why Under Slabs Are So Dangerous

slab

About Slab Leaks

Plumbing problems are never fun for homeowners. One of the biggest issues that Dallas homeowners dread is a problem with their foundation. A common problem with this is a slab leak that has gone unnoticed for far too long.

Defining Under Slab Leak Detection

Most Texas homes are built on the foundation of a concrete slab. Foundation leaks are most easily defined as water leaks below the concrete slab foundation of a building. It is important to note that a foundation leak is nothing that should ever be taken lightly. There are several health concerns that follow a leak if it is left unnoticed or uncared for.

The main health concern with regard to this issue is that leaking water inevitably leads to mold. If people in a building breathe in mold for an extended period of time, they are putting themselves on the path of some serious respiratory issues.

Aside from mold impacting the health of people living above a slab leak, there are physical problems that can occur with a leaking foundation. If left alone, a slab leak can begin to rot affecting the supporting structure of a building and creating a problem. Concrete slabs are naturally vulnerable to shifting, buckling, and cracking, but leaving an under-slab foundation leak unrepaired only exacerbates the initial problem at hand.

What are the Causes of Under Slab Leak?

Under-slab leaks can be caused by several unique reasons, but one of the most common problems with foundation repair problems is clay below the foundation.

Also, when heaving and shifting soils underneath your slab occurs, these movements put a large amount of pressure on the slab and eventually cause the concrete to heave, shit, and ultimately, crack under pressure.

Luckily, if you catch a leak in your foundation early, despite the shifts in the ground and potential slab damage already in place, you are putting yourself in a good position to have a foundation repair performed on your property. But remember, knowing how to detect a slab leak is half the battle.

Determining Under Slab Leak Detection

Fortunately for Texas homeowners, there are several signs of a slab leak that can result in early detection and a successful foundation repair.

Spike in Your Bill

A leak in your plumbing is going to go hand-in-hand with a water bill that is higher than normal. It means that water is running 24/7, and not when you decide that it goes ‘on’ and ‘off.’ Compare your water bills from past months and see when the excessive amount began to kick in. If you haven’t had any reasonable causes for higher water usage like house guests, then the probability of a leak in your plumbing is fairly high.

Water Begins to Form in Places it Shouldn’t

An ‘under slab’ leak means accumulations of water underneath the foundation pool up until it finds its way into the sunlight. Look out for water that looks like it is pouring out from the home. If you can’t find a credible source for the leaking water like a hose or a spigot, then you most likely have to deal with the problem of leaking under the slab.

Indoor Dampness or Warped Flooring

A leak in the foundation of a home is not only visible on the outside of a home but can also show signs in the interior of the home as well. Water from a leak in your foundation will accumulate upwards and eventually reach your flooring causing visible damage like warped flooring, or even damp carpet in affected areas.

Mold Alert!

One of the biggest dangers of a slab leak that we have already discussed is mold! Not only can you find mold on the outside of your house, but you can begin to find mildew making its way under your carpet, and your home’s walls, and that can be very dangerous for your family.

As mold begins to grow, you may not see it but the smell will give itself away. If you suddenly notice a musty smell coming from your walls, start to look around for other signs of slab leaks.

Decreases in Water Pressure

With water constantly leaking out of your pipes due to your plumbing issue, a decrease in water power is something to look out for. If you notice a decrease in water pressure, especially when there are no other fixtures in use, then a leaking foundation could definitely be your problem.

Under Slab Leak Detection Process and More

The process of slab leak repair begins with your local licensed plumber completely understanding the layout of your home. A plumber should have all utilities located and marked, the appropriate permits, and the professional equipment that will properly get the job done. Slab leak repair is usually performed in one of two ways; penetration or tunneling.

Slab Penetration

Slab penetration is a method that utilizes a jackhammer to dig a hole that grants direct access to the leak. While this is an effective method, keep in mind that you will have to think about replacement costs and the possibility of lots of noise throughout the process.

Tunneling

The tunneling method requires creating a path from underneath the slab. This is a much less invasive process that comes with no need for interior demolition. This is usually the most cost-effective solution when a plumber is dealing with multiple leaks.

Beyond the Methods

Once the leak is located, a plumber will remove the ruined section of the pipe and replace it with a new piece. After this is completed, a final test will be conducted in order to ensure that the job was successful. If so, a well-trained crew will properly clean the work area by washing down the driveways, patios, and walkways of the home.

Plumber For Under Slab Leak Detection Puts a Stop to Your Slab Leaks

If your property is experiencing symptoms of a slab leak, contact our plumber to perform under-slab leak detection.  is a team of plumbers in Carrollton, Texas that serve the DFW metroplex. We can handle slab leak detection in Carrollton, TX effectively and safely. Get in touch with us today at 214-929-3431 to find out how to schedule under-slab leak detection for your home.

Get $250 Off any slab leak repair when you redeem our online coupon and schedule now!

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When Drano Isn’t Working Take These 4 Essential Steps to Clearing a Clog

pouring water down the drain

Drano & Related Products

Plumbers in Dallas, and across the nation, always find themselves saying that homeowners should never pour chemical plumbing solutions down their drains when a clog arises.

Drano and related products damage plumbing in the long term, and when the clog doesn’t clear or inevitably returns, people tend to continue pouring solution down the drain in the hope that it will eventually be a “successful, cost-effective solution.”

Our plumbers in Dallas want to spare you unnecessary plumbing issues and suggest that you stop using chemicals the first time they fail. Find out why these types of solutions typically fail and what you can do to safely put an end to your standing water problem.

Why Wouldn’t Drano Work?

Although plumbing chemicals like Drano are designed to break up clogs and clear your pipes, they often make a clog worse for homeowners.

Yes, the heat these chemicals produce will break down the remnants of a clog, but likely only push them farther down your system to form a more dense clog in a harder-to-reach section of your plumbing. This leads to repeat clog offenses, repeat pouring, and the eventual ruin of your plumbing system.

What to Do When Chemical Solutions Fail

The manufacturers of chemical solutions know the likelihood of failure and typically tell users to try, try, and try again until their problem is resolved. Typically, the only result of this type of plumbing abuse is new plumbing.

Here are 4 things you can do to unclog your sink after a chemical solution has let you down.

Plunge Your Sink

Many people know that plunging a toilet pushes water through a plumbing system, but they forget that drains can be plunged as well.

If you opt to plunge, keep two important points in mind:

  1. Always use a plunger that is designed specifically for drains. For this type of job, you’ll want to use a cup plunger.
  2. Block off your sink’s overflow drain so that air can’t escape and you can effectively force water down your drain.

Invest in a Plumbing Snake

Plumbing snakes are useful items that anyone can buy at a local hardware store. Snaking your pipes yourself, make sure that the snake is thin enough to easily fit down your drain. The last thing you want is for this lengthy piece of equipment to get stuck in your plumbing.

Snake your drain until you hit the clog and then slowly pull it back up in an effort to remove it. Remember, if you find yourself snaking beyond two feet before hitting your clog, it’s likely you have a deeper clog on your hand that requires the touch of a local plumber.

Try a Natural Unclogging Solution

Once you’ve safely drained any standing water or plumbing solution, try unclogging with a more natural route:

  1. Pour one cup of baking soda down the drain
  2. Follow that with one cup of white vinegar
  3. Wait 15-30 minutes and simultaneously boil a gallon of water
  4. Pour the boiling water down your drain, essentially flushing the broken-down clog through your plumbing

Hire a Local Plumber for Help

If the first 3 solutions didn’t work, this means your clog is either in your P trap or goes deeper into your plumbing system. In these cases, you don’t want to get dirty or risk further damage to your pipes.

Reach out to a local plumber to come to examine your clog. If you’re located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, our licensed plumber can quickly diagnose the problem and get to the root of a solution in no time at all and at less cost than replacing damaged pipes.

Keep Your Plumbing Intact After a Clog, With, With Plumbing Dynamics 

If you have a clog in your Dallas home or office that won’t quit, let the master plumbers at Plumbing Dynamics help. No matter the issue, our Dallas plumbers have the experience and equipment to effectively get your pipes flowing again.

Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to get your home on our schedule!

Should You Unclog Your Drains With Cola?

cola lined up in store

This Simple Hack

A slow-draining or clogged drain is never a fun time for a homeowner. Usually, when someone notices that the water is taking too long to drain, their first thoughts are:

  1. “It’ll resolve itself over time”
  2. “I bet I can fix it myself”

As much as it pains us to say it, a clogged drain usually won’t fix itself and only gets worse over time. In some situations, yes, you can unclog a drain yourself, but the method you choose is really what makes an impact on your DIY clearing.

Some people may not want to dump chemicals and drain cleaners down their pipes and resort to more homemade resolutions. One of the most popular DIY methods is the Coca-Cola drain cleaning. Does it work? Is it safe on your pipes? Let’s find out!

The Coca-Cola Drain Cleaning Method

Clearing a clogged drain with Coca-Cola is done in three simple steps:

  1. Grab a 2-liter bottle of room-temperature cola and pour it down the affected drain
  2. Let the cola sit in the drain for a few hours
  3. Flush out the drain with hot water and check to see if the clog is cleared

How reliable is this solution? Here are some of the pros and cons that come with the aftermath of this DIY process.

Coca-Cola is a Lighter Solution Than Drain Cleaner

One of the main ingredients in cola is phosphoric acid. Not only can this ingredient break through your teeth if you drink too much of it, but it is also effective when it comes to clearing out the grime in your pipes that is causing the clog.

While phosphoric acid is a strong ingredient for breaking down materials, it is still far less caustic on your pipes than using a store-bought chemical drain cleaner.

Not Recommended For Smaller Clogs

Since cola will stick to whatever it comes into contact with, you want to make sure to use this method on larger clogs that go beyond a slow drain. When the cola meets with a large clog, the acidity in the drink will quickly burn away any grime.

However, if you’re dealing with a small clog and attempt to use cola as a quick fix, be aware that the cola can leave behind a sticky residue that could result in future clogs.

For smaller clogs that you still want to resolve on your own, avoid the sticky mess and try out a combination of 1 cup baking soda, and 1 cup vinegar.

Stille Can’t Unclog the Drain? Call in a Professional!

If you’ve tried out both methods and still can’t get your drain unclogged, it’s time to reach out to a local licensed plumber. The cola and baking soda methods are really two of the safest DIY attempts one can make before they start wandering into dangerous territory.

Instead of trying to snake out a clog with a wire hanger, let a local plumber snake out your drain with the right equipment. A professional plumber can always help you find the clog and use the most effective and safe methods to get your drain flowing back to normal.

Keep Your Drains Flowing With Plumbing Dynamics

Don’t let a clogged drain overflow your mind with frustration. Reach out to the plumbing experts at Plumbing Dynamics and get your plumbing back in shape.

We’ve seen it all and approach every plumbing situation with confidence that we’ll resolve the problem successfully. Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule an appointment with one of our master plumbers.

Why a Single Shower Valve is Best For Your Bathroom Remodel

single shower valve

Bathroom Remodeling

A home’s shower is an area that offers peace, luxury, and the chance to clean up and enjoy the hygienic benefits of a well-running showerhead. However, when a shower valve malfunctions, the dream of the perfect shower is shattered when either the water turns to a trickle or the temperature becomes extremely unpredictable.

When it comes time to replace your valve, it’s recommended to go with a single-handled over dual-handled option. Here are some facts about the preferred pressure-balancing valve and why it’s the best choice for your next bathroom remodel.

Signs You Should Replace Your Shower Valve

Your valve won’t last forever, and you should definitely know the signs before a malfunctioning shower valve becomes a Class-A plumbing emergency.

If you notice your shower is leaking after you’ve finished your routine, then this is a sign that it’s time to replace your shower valve. Even the smallest drip could result in unseen damage behind your bathroom walls.

Also, if you find that your shower is slow to react to temperature changes and unexpectedly fluctuates from hot to cold, you need to look into a new valve for your own safety. Extreme hot temperatures from this type of malfunction can reach the same temperature as the height of your water heater’s setting.

Single-Handle Means Shower Temperature is Well-Maintained

With one handle controlling your valve, the shower temperature is maintained and ensures your hot-to-cold water ratio remains balanced. This is done through a piston that reacts to the pressure of your bathroom plumbing connected to the valve.

One of the biggest issues with dual-handled valves is that when someone flushes the toilet or uses the sink while you’re in the shower, you could be facing some serious hot or cold water coming out of your shower head.

With single-handled valves, this issue is balanced and when the pressure does change, the overall pressure of your shower will be lowered for a second or two, but the water temperature remains.

Issues We’ve Found WIth Dual-Handled Valves

We recently installed a double-handled shower valve during a plumbing call, but the most updated ones you see today are single-handled.

According to licensed plumber, Chad Hebert, the dual-handled options are more maintenance unfriendly because there are two separate stems that could wear out and go bad, versus a single-handle with a single cartridge you can replace when you need to.

“When we extracted the old valve, some of the grout was missing and it was found that some of the bathroom’s tile had been cracked from the previous install. Sometimes that issue is hard to avoid, but it’s not uncommon,” Hebert said.

“If you have a single handle, you are fortunate. If you have a dual-handle, keep an eye on it and we’ll be happy to come out and replace it with a new two-handle. Or, if you’re having your bathroom remodeled we can go back in with a single-handle shower valve.”

Need a Replacement Valve? Can Help!

Whether you are in the middle of a bathroom remodel or just notice that your water isn’t flowing from your shower head as it should be, replacement valves are a common plumbing need. The experts at Plumbing Dynamics have the experience required to ensure that your replacement isn’t a job that results in damage to your bathroom’s structure.

Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to schedule your replacement valve and keep your shower head sprinkling efficiently.

Considering a bathroom remodel? Learn how to tell if a bathroom is large enough to fit a two-sink vanity and figure out if you even want to have a bathroom with two sinks.

Comparing the Best Hot Water Heaters of 2023

water heater

Hot Water Heater

Hot water is a luxury that every homeowner desires. Whether you need a new hot water heater to go with a new home or you’re reeling from a plumbing emergency that rendered your old appliance useless, eventually, most owners will have to pull the trigger on a new hot water heater.

However, with the influx of new gas-powered, electric, tank, and tankless water heaters on the current market, making a final decision is tough.

Hot water heaters are an investment that you never want to take a gamble on. As your local plumbing experts, we want to take full advantage of our expertise and help you find the best products when you need them.

Here’s some insight into the latest and greatest hot water heaters for 2023.

Best Value Hot Water Heater

EcoSmart Eco 11 Tankless Water Heater
Photo Credit – The Home Depot

The award for the best value for your money goes to the EcoSmart ECO 11 Electric Tankless Water Heater.

The thought of tankless electric water heaters may bring to mind the worry of cost regarding these products. While whole-house tankless water heaters can cost homeowners up to $2,300, electric tankless options can help people save money on installation and long-term use.

If you need a smaller water heater on a budget, the EcoSmart ECO 11 is the electric, tankless option that is perfect for a smaller household of one or two people.

Some of the winning features of the EcoSmart ECO 11 are:

  • It’s under $300 price tag
  • It offers an on-demand supply of hot water
  • It is 90% smaller than traditional tank heaters
  • Self-modulating tech ensures your water heater only uses enough energy to heat water to your desired temperature

Best Tankless Water Heater

Steibel Tankless Water Heater on Amazon
Photo Credit – Amazon.com

If you’re ready to go “tankless”, we recommend the Steibel Eltron Electric Tankless Water Heater

When you are shopping for a tankless water heater, the Steibel Eltron is one of the best options you can find. Not only is it affordable, at $698, but it’s also an extremely space-efficient option.

Not every home is equipped to house a storage tank water heater comfortably. With the Steibel Eltron model, you can access instant hot water without sacrificing any valuable closet space in your home.

Some of the key reasons we’ve dubbed this selection the best tankless option are:

  • Easy installation
  • Maximum flow rate of 5 gallons per minute
  • Easy temperature control
  • The electric option helps reduce energy costs

Best Storage Tank Water Heater

Rheem 40 Gallon Water Heater from Home Depot
Photo Credit – The Home Depot

Suppose you have a family and aren’t ready to leap into the tankless option for a water heater. In that case, a tank heater guarantees you’ll receive enough hot water to keep your household comfortable.

If a tank water heater is what you want, Rheem’s BTU Natural Gas Tank Water Heater is what you need. The 40-gallon water heater tank can deliver 68 gallons of hot water within its first hour of use per day.

The Rheem water heater comes with a 6-year limited warranty on the tank and parts and a 1-year in-home labor warranty.

This heater has a narrow tank profile that doesn’t take up too much space but offers enough power to heat water for a family of 4.

For easy installation and little to no maintenance outside of an annual plumber’s inspection, we feel like you can’t go wrong with this model.

Hot Water Heater Questions?

If you have questions about hot water heaters, or you know it’s time to install a new water heater on your property, let the experts of Plumbing Dynamics help you get the job done right. We have the experience to repair your hot water heater or install new tankless water heaters in your home.  We can help you keep your hot water hot all year long.

Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to learn more about our services.

How Your Litlle Running Toilet Becomes a Big Problem

toilet in bathroom

Toilet Problems

When a toilet runs, most people don’t think that this annoying minor problem could become an expensive and dangerous situation. The first sign that your toilet is experiencing problems should be when a homeowner calls a licensed plumber to get their unit running smoothly again.

A running toilet is so much more than a minor inconvenience, and here are some of the reasons why it’s always best to get this problem fixed sooner rather than later.

Running Toilets are a Flood Risk

The “minuscule” issue of a running toilet is actually a flood risk to your septic tank. When water continuously runs through your system, your tank will eventually overflow and result in the failure of your home’s drain field.

Compared to the expense of fixing a running toilet, a drain field repair is leagues higher. Nip the problem in the bud and let a plumber save you money in the long run.

Water Bill Expenses Creep Up

Even a slight leak is one that constantly flows. Your toilet could be hemorrhaging gallons of water a day. That’s gallons of water that you’re going to pay for at the end of your water department’s billing period.

Your toilet has the capability to leak at least a gallon of water an hour. Save yourself the expense of paying unnecessarily high amounts on your water bill and get your toilet fixed as soon as you notice a problem.

Expect Blockages Down the Line

When your toilet can’t fill properly, its flush weakens over time. This means that even the usual waste flushed down the toilet can cause plumbing problems over time. If your pipes become blocked up with waste, eventually, your drainage system will flood, resulting in costly and messy repairs.

Running Toilets Leads to Damaging Leaks

Toilet leaks aren’t just restricted to the tank. Your toilet’s base can also experience leaks that lead to damage that extends beyond your plumbing. Water can easily make its way into the floor of your home, and over time, weaken the structure of your home. This is a dangerous situation for your family and can be prevented through fast action and a licensed plumber.

Health Hazards

Both leaks and blockages lead to health hazards. If your toilet begins to flush weakly, it could get blocked up near the bowl with waste overflow in your bathroom. This is a massive health hazard and is what we consider a plumbing emergency.

Another health issue caused by a running toilet can result if a leak occurs. When water creates moist areas in your home, mold and mildew grow that present a respiratory threat to your family.

Stop Running Toilets Early With Plumbing Dynamics

The team at Plumbing Dynamics has personally witnessed the destruction a running toilet can cause. Let us fix your running toilet today to avoid plumbing nightmares tomorrow. We are licensed plumbers with the experience to resolve the toughest plumbing problems.

If your toilet is running or your home is dealing with another plumbing issue, don’t wait! Contact us today at 214-929-3431 to learn more about our services.

Typical Plumbing Issues in Older Homes

older home

Updating Older Homes

Your older home isn’t this dilapidated, of course, but you may think your piping is if your home was built in the 1960s or earlier.

There’s a lot of good to be said about older homes: they have lots of charm. They often are built better than newer homes. They have history – if not history, at least the history of the families that once lived there.

But they also can have plumbing issues simply because their plumbing is older. Any home built in the 1960s or earlier that still has its original plumbing is a house with plumbing that more than likely is on its last hurrah.

Why? Because most piping used for plumbing before the ‘60s was made of galvanized steel. Chances are, if the home you’re thinking of buying is from the ‘60s or earlier, its plumbing is either a time bomb waiting to go off, or it’s had so many problems in recent years, that more recent owners had to re-plumb the house.

Main Plumbing Problems With Older Homes

Four of the main plumbing problems found in older homes are:

1. Those galvanized steel pipes.  Hot water pipes in a house with galvanized steel plumbing usually are the first to go. To test if this is the case in your house, turn on the hot water. If you find that the pressure is low, it’s a) a good indication that the house has galvanized steel pipes, and b) a sign that the pipes have plugged up from corrosion.

Even if the water pressure is good, galvanized pipes somewhere in the house more than likely are plugged up/corroded. Some of the piping in the worst shape probably has been replaced, leaving you with plenty of galvanized piping to bring you problems.

Many homeowners decide to replace old galvanized pipes as needed because replacing the whole system can be very expensive.

To get a better picture of the state of your piping, check under the home’s sinks. Because plumbers often run new piping up and through floors instead of through a wall, you should be able to see if you have new pipes. You also can take in the house’s crawl space (if it has one) to take a look at the state of the house’s plumbing.

2) Small vent pipes. Many of these pipes in older homes were just about two inches in diameter (today’s vents tend to be about three inches in diameter). Smaller vent pipes mean that your drainage is slower, possibly causing problems.

3) You also should remove all polybutylene and lead water supply pipes. Do this no matter how old the piping is. Lead pipes can leach toxins into your drinking water, while polybutylene – used often in homes built in the 1970s and 1990s, can break easily as they get older.

4) Keep an eye on your plumbing for signs of leaks. If your home is 50 years or older and the piping hasn’t been replaced, a small leak is a good sign it’s time to replace it. One or two leaks here and there are signs that more leaks in other places are on their way.

Is it time to take care of the plumbing in your older home? If so, call the plumbing replacement and installation experts at Plumbing Dynamics.  Call us at 214-929-3431 or send us an e-mail using our online contact form.