Plumbing is probably one of humankind’s greatest inventions. Open the tap, and water comes out. Use the toilet, and just flush the waste. It is so convenient that we often take its existence for granted. Until it fails, that is, at which point you call us at We Will Fix It.
After 17 years spent diagnosing and fixing minor and major plumbing problems, we’ve realised that some issues occur more often than others. In this article, we enumerate the most common plumbing issues in apartment complexes and villa communities in Dubai. We also share a few tips on how to avoid plumbing problems.
What Are the Most Common Plumbing Problems in Dubai Homes?
The following are the most common problems homeowners encounter in Dubai.
1. Leaky Tap or Shower
We’ve all been there. We turn off the sink tap or the shower. However, the water won’t stop even after cranking the handle or the knob closed as tightly as it can go. It continues to drip in drops or stream out unrestrainedly.
A water leak is often caused by internal wear and tear or mineral buildup from hard water, which can affect the internal mechanisms of taps and shower fittings over time. In many modern fixtures commonly installed in Dubai homes, these internal components are not designed to be repaired or replaced individually, and attempting to do so can risk damaging the tap.
In Dubai, where water is scarce and, thus, relatively more precious, water leaking from taps and showers is not just unacceptable for the planet but will also cost you money. Any water leakage, big or small, is a plumbing problem that must be fixed.
2. Leaky Toilet
Has this ever happened to you? You flush the toilet, and no water comes out. Even if it does, it isn’t enough to generate the suction force necessary to pull the waste into the trapway and down the drainpipe.
This is usually caused by a leaky toilet tank, i.e., when water from the tank continuously streams into the toilet bowl. Consequently, the tank is unable to collect and store enough water for flushing.
Like a leaky tap, a continuously running toilet wastes water and must be fixed.
3. Clogged Drain
A clogged drain is characterised by water flowing sluggishly through a sink or floor drain. It is typically caused by a blockage in the drainpipes. Hair and soap scum often clog bath, bathroom sink, and bathroom floor drains. In kitchens, sand and sediments can block floor drains, while accumulated grease and food waste can clog sink drains.
With your bathroom or kitchen floor drain clogged, water pools on the floor, especially around the drain mesh. In severe cases, the water may cease to flow out altogether, in which case flooding ensues.
4. Low Water Pressure
Dubai homeowners often complain of low water pressure, which is characterised by weak or slow water flow. It’s frustrating when you’re trying to bathe or shower, as rinsing or filling the bath, which should take you no more than a few minutes, takes much longer.
5. Burst or Leaking Pipe
Burst pipes are among the most common major plumbing problems in Dubai homes due to the heat and hard water.
The high ambient temperature can weaken water and drain pipes. The heat can cause pipes to expand, stressing joints and fittings and leading to failure. UV radiation can make plastic pipes increasingly brittle over time and can also corrode the exterior of metal pipes. Likewise, the heat can cause the water inside to expand, increasing internal pressure within the pipes.
Mineral buildup can also cause corrosion. Corroded pipes are structurally weaker, and they may crack or leak as a result.
How Do You Diagnose Your Plumbing Problems?
Call a plumber for the most accurate diagnosis. Plumbing problems may not be as simple as they seem and may have several potential reasons.
Your toilet may be running due to a faulty flapper flush seal, a malfunctioning float, or a misadjusted fill valve. Likewise, the low water pressure may be due to a weak water supply or a burst water pipe.
Indeed, deciding how to fix low water pressure, a running toilet, or a clogged drain starts with diagnosing the cause. Do you call a plumber whenever you have a plumbing problem? How do you decide when to call a plumber?
It depends on the issue. If it is something uncomplicated and easy to identify, like a clogged drain (and you know how to fix a clogged drain), you may be able to resolve the problem yourself.
That said, we still urge you to call a plumber whenever you have plumbing issues in your apartment or villa, especially if you have a contract for essential maintenance in Dubai already. Properly diagnosing a plumbing problem is the only way you can resolve it completely and prevent it from recurring.
How to Avoid Plumbing Problems
How do you avoid the common plumbing problems in Dubai homes? Here are some tips you can follow:
- Regularly check your taps, showers, drains, and toilet tank components (valves, flappers, etc.) for wear and tear and other visible damage. Replace damaged parts.
- Never pour grease, cooking oil, or food waste down the sink. Remove any oil from your cooking pots and pans before you wash them. Better yet, install a grease trap.
- Use a bath and floor drain mesh to catch hair and other debris that may cause a clogged drain deep in the pipe.
- Regularly clean your taps, toilet tanks (and components), and shower heads (and other parts). Regularly clear your drains.
- Remove hard water buildup from taps and other fixtures by wrapping them in vinegar-soaked cloths or paper towels for 30 minutes to 1 hour, then rinsing them with water.
- Treat your drains to a regular flush using hot water at least once a week. For quarterly cleaning, try a vinegar flush. Pour boiling water into the drain. Follow with a cup of baking soda, which you will let sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Next, pour one cup of white vinegar and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour another pot of boiling water, and flush the residues by running the tap for five minutes.
- Get an annual maintenance contract, particularly one that includes a thorough plumbing inspection to uncover hidden water leakage issues, faulty fixtures, and clogged drains.
Prevent Plumbing Problems
Leaky taps and showers, running toilets, clogged drains, low water pressure, and burst pipes are five of the most common plumbing issues encountered by Dubai homeowners. They can cause so much stress, even for those with rudimentary knowledge of how to fix plumbing issues.
Preventive maintenance can help. Prevent plumbing issues in your apartment or villa by signing an annual maintenance contract with us at We Will Fix It, a leading maintenance company in Dubai. Aside from an annual plumbing system inspection, such a contract also guarantees emergency plumbing services in Dubai when major plumbing problems arise.
Contact We Will Fix It now.
