Are you having issues with the plumbing inside of your kitchen? Maybe the sink isn’t draining as easily as it used to. Perhaps you’re seeing some signs of water leaks underneath the sink.
Whatever the case might be, there are several common plumbing problems that St. Charles homeowners deal with on occasion. The key is to know what these issues are so that you can identify them early on and contact an expert for repair ASAP.
Here are several common kitchen plumbing problems that you might be dealing with as a homeowner in the St. Louis area. Be sure to figure out which one you might be undertaking.
1. Low Water Pressure
Have you ever turned the kitchen sink faucet on full-blast and notice that it has a very wimpy stream coming out. If so, then you might be dealing with a clogged aerator.
Lucky for you, this is an easy fix that you can perform at home. You just simply need to remove the aerator (located at the tip of your faucet), dip a brush in vinegar, and scrape away at the buildup that you see.
Then, once you’re done, rinse it under the water and place it back on the faucet to check for the water pressure. If the problem persists, then reach out to a licensed plumbing expert to figure out what the issue is.
2. Grease Clogging Your Drain
No matter how diligent you are at cleaning your sink, there will always be grease that builds up. By simply placing those greasy foods down the garbage disposal, you’ll have grease that clings to the sides of your drain and piles up as the days go by.
One thing to remember is not to use Drain-O for this purpose. It contains chemicals that might do further harm to your drain. Instead, reach out to the plumber and see what they recommend.
If you believe it to be a grease build-up that’s clogging your drain, then schedule a service with your expert plumber. Only then will you ensure that the problem doesn’t keep happening every few weeks/months.
3. Leaky Faucet
Ah yes… every homeowner is far too familiar with the sight and sound of a leaky kitchen faucet. It’s like water torture to your eyes and ears. Not only that, but it can cause your water bill to skyrocket each month.
Don’t just let it continue to leak. Try to tighten the faucet head and see if that fixes the leak. If not, then it’s time to reach out to a plumbing expert for further instructions.
It might just be time to replace your old faucet with a new one, but don’t spend any extra money until your plumber diagnoses what’s going on.
4. Dishwasher Is Leaking
One of the scariest sights as a homeowner is walking into a room and seeing a puddle of water on the floor. If it’s in the kitchen, then your mind automatically assumes its the sink that’s leaking.
However, the dishwasher can also cause a leak, and when it does, it can be a catastrophe.
Start by checking the float switch to see if it’s broken or not. If it is, then there’s nothing shutting off the flow of water that was inside your running dishwasher. In that scenario, your dishwasher isn’t leaking it just had an overflow of water.
It might also be the dishwasher’s door gasket that’s allowing water to leak out while the dishwasher is running, as well as a loose drain hose.
Whatever the culprit, be sure to give your plumber a description of when you noticed the leak. If it happened towards the end of the cycle, it’s probably the drain hose. If it happened in the middle of the cycle, it could either be the float switch or door gasket.
5. Leaks Under Your Sink
These are the biggest troublemakers of kitchen plumbing because you don’t often notice them right away. Since you don’t open the area under your sink often, it could be days or even weeks before you notice the leak.
By that time, significant damage may have already been done. Even worse, the leak in your sink isn’t very easy to pinpoint. It takes an expert’s eye to notice where the leak is actually coming from.
For example, it might be the drain, dishwasher, faucet, or even a loose garbage disposal that’s causing the leak.
6. Items Stuck in the Disposal
While you might slap your forehead for getting something stuck in the garbage disposal, it’s actually more common than you’d think.
Sometimes, when people set their dirty dishes and glasses in the sink, a small item, such as a fork, spoon, or even a shot glass can slip into the disposal. Then, the next time someone turns it on, the disposal makes a horrifying noise.
If that ever happens, then be sure to schedule a time for your plumber to clean it. You should never try to reach down the drain and pull something out. Even using a clothes hanger can damage the inside of the disposal. It’s better to leave it to the expert!
Leave Your Kitchen Plumbing Problems to the Expert!
Now that you’ve seen some of the most common kitchen plumbing problems in St. Charles, it’s time to contact a plumbing expert.
Be sure to read this article for more information on common dishwasher installation mistakes to avoid.
For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our make an appointment page and we’ll be happy to assist you further.