9 Common Bathroom Problems and How to Fix Them

From cold bathwater to noisy pipes, bathroom plumbing problems happen to every homeowner at some point. However, early identification is important to ensure a minor issue never turns into something major. Learn the top nine signs your bathroom plumbing needs repair so you can call in a pro right away.

1. Overflowing or Clogged Toilet

Dealing with an overflowing or clogged toilet is never fun, but blockages happen—especially if you flush things other than toilet paper. The blockage is most likely somewhere in the drainpipe, but it can be further along in the line between your toilet and sewer main. 

How to Fix It: 

A plunger will do the trick for a small clog. If this isn’t enough, you’ll need to snake the drainpipe. Other times, a clogged toilet can be caused by other plumbing issues, like a poor drainage layout. In the case of repeat clogs, bring in a pro. 

2. Running Toilet 

Is the water in your toilet tank continuously running? This problem is caused by a simple malfunction with the flapper. Your flapper is a tiny valve in the toilet tank. When it wears down or breaks, it can’t form a complete seal, causing water to continuously leak into your toilet. 

How to Fix It: 

To stop a running toilet, you’ll usually need to replace the toilet flapper. This is a simple DIY for someone with light plumbing experience, but you may want to bring in a pro if you don't know what you’re doing.

3. Slow-Draining Sinks and Tubs

Slow-draining or clogged bathroom sinks and showers can be a common occurrence since both are subject to frequent influxes of hair, soap residue, toothpaste, and makeup muck. This build-up can get stuck in the drain, stopper, or P-trap.

How to Fix It: 

You can try using a pipe snake to release a clog or try a homemade mix of baking soda and vinegar. But if all of the sinks in your house are slow to drain, this might be a sign of a larger issue like a pipe leak, a hidden clog, or even tree roots that are clogging the main sewer line.

4. Rattling Pipes

Also known by the off-putting term ‘water hammer,’ the sound of knocking pipes when you turn off a faucet happens when the flow of water suddenly stops and a ‘shock wave’ rattles through the pipes. 

Poorly secured pipes or the plumbing system in older homes can also be a cause of rattling pipes. Rattling pipes are more annoying than anything else, however, it can get worse over time.

How to Fix It: 

To eliminate a water hammer, drain the water lines and charge them with water. This introduces a pocket of air that acts as a cushion. If that doesn’t work, adjusting the water pressure could help. If the rattling is caused by loose pipes, you’ll need to secure them.

5. Leaky Faucets

All those drips from leaky faucets add up to dollars down the drain. Thankfully, diagnosing the cause of dripping faucets is fairly straightforward. Most of the time, it’s due to worn-down components in your sink. 

How to Fix It: 

The fix could be as simple as replacing a loose washer (metal), O-ring (rubber or plastic), or corroded valve. If these simple fixes don’t solve the issue, the entire faucet may have to be replaced.

6. Sewer Smells 

If distinctly rotten smells are seeping up from your drains, it could mean you have a cracked or clogged sewer line or a loose connection joint behind a wall. 

How to Fix It: 

Contact a licensed plumber in your area to hunt down cracks or leaks, but you can also try a baking soda and white vinegar mix to reduce smells in the meantime.

7. Low Water Pressure

If your once-invigorating shower has become a lackluster rinse, it could indicate a variety of issues. The simplest problem to solve is a clogged showerhead or faucet, most likely due to mineral buildup from hard water. If that’s not the issue, you may have a leak or clog somewhere in one of the water lines.

How to Fix It: 

Check the faucet or showerhead to see if either is clogged with water calcification. Soak the heads in plastic bags filled with vinegar for a few hours (or overnight). If that doesn’t help, contact a plumbing professional and have them check for a clogged or burst pipe.

8. Discolored Water

Another sign that your bathroom plumbing needs repair is discolored water. Your water should always be clear and free of any cloudiness, color, or sediment. Yellow- or orange-tinged water may mean that rust is leaching from the pipes, in which case you’ll need to clean rust stains from your bathtub and sink.

Eroding copper pipes will emit a green tint, and actual soil or other sediment means there is a leak or break somewhere. If the water flowing from your bathroom, shower, or in the toilet is less than clear, contact a plumber right away.

How to Fix It: 

Discolored water is common if there’s been a recent water main repair or construction project in your area. If this is the case, you’ll be able to run your faucets until the water clears. If it doesn’t go away, you’ll need to call a plumber to diagnose the cause. 

9. Cold or Lukewarm Water

Are those hot showers not so hot anymore? Does the hot water turn cold within minutes, even if it’s the first thing in the morning? It could be that the water heater element is faulty or it’s time it was replaced. Residual hot water will be used up but the tank can’t maintain a steady temperature if the element is damaged or broken.

How to Fix It  

You’ll need to contact a professional plumber for a repair. They may have to replace the heating element in your water heater. If this has always been a problem in your home or started becoming a problem after you installed a new fixture, the capacity of your water heater may not be enough for the demand. In that case, you can install a larger water heater or an additional point-of-use water heater. 

When to Call a Pro 

Handy homeowners can plunge out a toilet clog or swap out a damaged flapper, but once the repair is no longer simple DIY, you should contact a local plumber. This is especially true if it involves work on a gas appliance like a water heater. Even if you have experience, repairing this can be dangerous, so leave these jobs to a licensed pro. 

Outside of potential safety risks, in many cases, hiring a plumber is well worth avoiding costly water damage from a shoddy DIY repair. Only DIY if you know exactly what you’re doing.