Four Common Plumbing Challenges Texas Homes Face

Sugar Land plumbing problems have been rearing their decidedly ugly heads this summer, and homeowners from Houston to The Woodlands are left with a difficult decision:

“Do I pay for band-aid repairs, or invest in a more expensive, comprehensive solution?”

Unfortunately, there’s no easy answer to that question, as common plumbing challenges run the gamut from hard water issues to tree root problems (yes, tree roots!). We’re going to take a look at each in turn below so you understand the cause of each issue, thereby better equipping you to make a repair decision.

Hard Water 

Water that is “hard” is particularly high in total dissolved materials—most often magnesium and calcium. While fortunately not a health risk to anyone in your family, it can lead to a bitter taste and mineral buildup on your home’s various fixtures. Additionally—and more critically—it can create fixture corrosion and problems with your water heater.

Here’s an important note on that latter point: hard water carries more sediment with it. If sediment buildup occurs in a water heater, that sediment drops to the bottom of the heater and aggregates. This takes up space, thus reducing the efficiency of your heater and potentially requiring repair or even replacement prior to the standard seven to 10 year lifespan. So, while hard water may not seem like a pressing issue, it’s best not to leave it unattended for long.

Slab Changes

Slab changes occur when ground movement happens as a result of extreme weather conditions. The phenomenon is most often tied to heavy rain in the Sugar Land area.

You see, the ground can be thought of as one whopping-sized sponge. Like all sponges, it will eventually become so saturated that it cannot hold anymore water. This creates ground movement that can disrupt the natural operation and positioning of your home’s pipes, creating a leak.  The kicker is that if your home’s lines suffer a leak during this period—either due to a slab change or not—you’re not going to notice there’s a problem, as the ground will already appear soaked from the slab movements. This means the leak is likely to go unchecked and your water bill will skyrocket.

Since this leak can creep up on you, we can only suggest you immediately turn off your water supply once its presence becomes known. Then, contact a pro!

Drips and Running Toilets

While running toilets and common fixture drips may not lead to the surprise thousand-dollar water bill that a slab change-related leak can, they may still prove pesky.

Heavy rain can cause city water main breaks. Following a city repair, foreign objects may temporarily infiltrate the water lines, flow to your area, and create household leaks. The solution? The tried-and-true one—cut your water supply and contact a professional to investigate your pipes. 

Tree Roots

This is going to come as a surprise to many of you: Sugar land plumbing drainage clogs can actually be caused by the encroachment of tree roots.

Tree root penetration in/onto your septic or sewer lines frequently causes drainage problems. If you’re experiencing a clog and can’t diagnose the issue, it’s well worth contacting a plumber to see if the issue can be traced back to root encroachment. A professional can utilize a specialized camera to ascertain the source of the problem, and in most cases remove the tree root.

It’s possible to simply unclog your drain without the help of a plumber, but bear in mind there’s an inherent risk with delaying greater repairs. The tree root can eventually create a line break, resulting in a massive bill for a homeowner who must then replace their entire pipe.

Often, the above problems we’ve detailed require a professional touch, but fortunately, Howell Plumbing and HVAC Services are up to any task. Call us at 281-232-5292 today