The plumbing in your home is something that you likely take for granted much of the time. In fact, you probably don’t give your pipes too much thought at all until something goes wrong.

Bad plumbing can quickly become a nightmare. After all, a water leak can result in water damage to your home, higher utility bills, and potential mold problems.

This article takes a look at 7 signs that you a serious plumbing issue that needs need to be repaired as soon as possible. Keep reading to discover insights into how to make sure that small problems don’t turn into a major headache.

1. Visible Water

One of the easiest ways to detect a water leak is to look for standing water or puddles in your home. Rooms where you’re most likely to notice visible water include the kitchen, bathrooms, the utility room, and the basement.

This is never a good sign. After all, water can appear from a wide range of sources. And the longer that leaks go unnoticed, the more damage the water can cause.

As a homeowner, you should get in the habit of keeping an eye out for areas such as the cabinet beneath bathroom and kitchen sinks, the base of your toilets, the floor beneath the water heater, and the ground beneath outside spigots. This will help stop leaks before they get out of hand and cause extensive damage to floors and walls.

2. Leaky Faucets

Another obvious sign that you should call a plumber ASAP is when you have leaky faucets. This usually comes in the form of a slow drip. You might hear a drip late at night when the house is still and quiet. Sometimes, it might be obvious enough to notice as you’re standing at the sink or even walking by.

Repairing a leaky faucet can often simple task, but you’ll need some basic tools and some basic knowledge of home improvement.

Keep in mind that the longer that a leaky faucet goes unnoticed and unrepaired, the more water you’re going to end up wasting, costing you money on your water bill and wasting water that could be utilized for other purposes.

Believe it or not, one drip of water per second can waste up to 3,000 gallons of usable water every twelve months. And all of this waste can typically be avoided by replacing worn-out parts such as o-rings and washer.

3. Frozen Pipes

This is a huge problem during the cold winter months when outside temperatures can wreak havoc with your plumbing.

Frozen pipes can easily burst, resulting in small leaks or significant flooding. The key is to make sure that all the pipes throughout your home have adequate insulation.

During the winter months, it’s especially important to check your pipes on a regular basis. It’s also wise to perform preventative maintenance during the fall before it gets crazy cold outside.

Adding insulation wherever needed can help prevent pipes from freezing, thus preventing major breakages and extreme water damage to your home once everything thaws in the warmth of spring.

4. Low Water Pressure

Good water pressure is another luxury that most people take for granted until it’s suddenly gone. Water pressure relies on a strong and steady flow of water through your pipes, forcing the water from your shower head and sink faucets.

Once water pressure is lost, the water from those fixtures will be immediately reduced to a trickle.

The key to resolving an issue with low water pressure is to not ignore it. After all, this isn’t a simple issue of not having enough pressure for an enjoyable shower, it’s actually a sign of a much bigger problem somewhere inside your plumbing.

Once you’ve discovered a lack fo water pressure in one spot, be sure to check the other water outlets in your home to see if the problem is universal.

Keep in mind that low water pressure might not be restricted to your home. There could be a broken water main somewhere in the neighborhood, causing the same problem for dozens of houses.

So the sooner you can hire a professional to isolate and fix the problem, the better.

5. Dirty Water

You might also discover that the water in your home suddenly doesn’t look as clean and clear as it normally does. This is an obvious sign that you have an underlying issue.

Brown or dirty water can be an indication that your water contains iron or there are problems with your hot water heater. Blue or green water can be a sign of corroding copper pipe that could mean that your pipes need to be replaced as soon as possible.

6. Sinks Draining Slowly

When you notice a sink that seems to drain extremely slowly, this is a clear sign of a clog.

There are plenty of products designed to help loosen or clear a clog, but the easiest way to clear the problem is to hire a professional to make sure that the clog isn’t being caused by something more significant that could cause serious damage down the road.

7. Noisy Pipes

The pipes in your home should always be seen and not heard. This might sound obvious, but you’d probably be surprised at the number of people who become accustomed to noisy pipes and therefore ignore them.

But the reality is that noisy or rattling pipes could be a sign of a leak, especially when the pipes are making noise while no one is actually using the water. When this happens, you should call a professional right away.

Signs that Your House has Bad Plumbing

Sometimes keeping up home improvement projects can seem like a full-time job. That’s why it’s so important to hire a professional to handle all of your bad plumbing needs.

Click here to see 7 signs that your water heater is on its last legs.