We’ve all had that moment.
The sink starts draining a little slower. The toilet makes a weird noise. The water heater is getting older, but it’s still making hot water, so you figure it can wait.
Sometimes it can. Sometimes it turns into a five-figure repair.
To find out which plumbing problems homeowners should actually worry about, we asked Carlos Ibanez–owner of JC Plumbing with more than 25 years of experience–what he sees every day inside people’s homes.
His answers might save you money.
1. Don’t hire a plumber based on price alone
Everyone likes saving money.
But Ibanez says choosing the cheapest bid is often what leads to the most expensive repairs later.
He’s frequently called to homes where plumbing appeared to work perfectly—until hidden leaks, improper venting or code violations surfaced months or even years later.
In one case, he found a relatively new water heater missing required safety features such as an expansion tank, seismic straps and a drain pan.
“The homeowner usually had no idea because everything seemed to be working normally,” Ibanez said. “The water heater was making hot water, so they had no reason to think anything had been installed incorrectly.”
His advice is simple: Ask questions, hire someone with experience, and make sure the work is done correctly the first time.
2. Your garbage disposal isn’t a trash can
Many homeowners unknowingly shorten the life of their plumbing every day.
Some of the biggest offenders include:
- Grease and cooking oil
- Coffee grounds
- Eggshells
- Pasta and rice
- Fibrous foods
They don’t always clog the drain immediately.
Instead, they gradually build up inside pipes until water stops flowing.
“Many homeowners treat their garbage disposal like a trash can,” Ibanez said.
3. Those “flushable” wipes? Don’t believe the label.
If there’s one thing Ibanez wishes everyone would stop flushing today, it’s “flushable” wipes.
Despite the marketing, he says they don’t break down like toilet paper and remain one of the most common causes of sewer backups his company encounters.
His rule is easy to remember: “The only things that belong in a toilet are human waste and toilet paper. Everything else belongs in the trash.”
4. Skip the bottle of chemical drain cleaner
A slow drain usually sends people straight to the hardware store.
Ibanez says that’s often the wrong move.
Repeated use of chemical drain cleaners can damage older metal pipes, and if the drain is completely blocked, the chemicals often just sit there without solving the problem.
Professional drain cleaning, he says, addresses the actual cause instead of masking the symptom.
“Instead of reaching for another bottle of drain cleaner, it’s usually better to have the drain professionally cleaned so you know what’s actually causing the problem.”
5. The best plumbing upgrade isn’t glamorous
Asked what every homeowner should invest in if they could buy only one plumbing upgrade, Ibanez didn’t hesitate:
A smart automatic leak detection and shutoff system.
“These devices monitor your home’s plumbing for leaks or unusual water usage and can automatically shut off the water before a small leak becomes a major flood,” he said.
Many systems will even send an alert to your phone if it detects a leak or unusual water use.
“We’ve seen small leaks turn into tens of thousands of dollars in repairs when no one was home,” Ibanez said. “A smart shutoff valve can stop the water before that happens. “
6. Don’t ignore an aging water heater
One of the easiest plumbing problems to fix? A dripping faucet.
“Most cases it’s a straightforward repair,” Ibanez said.
One of the most expensive to ignore? An old water heater.
“Unfortunately, water heaters often fail without much warning, and once the tank begins leaking, it can quickly cause significant water damage,” he said.
He also recommends homeowners with older houses, mature trees or recurring drain issues consider having their sewer lines inspected periodically with a camera before problems become emergencies.
“Many people don’t think about it until sewage starts backing up into their home,” he said.
7. Learn this before disaster strikes
If a pipe bursts tonight, would you know where your home’s main water shutoff valve is?
If the answer is no, Ibanez says today is the day to find it.
“Every homeowner should know where their home’s main water shutoff valve is before they even have an emergency,” he said.
Knowing how to stop the flow of water can dramatically reduce damage while you’re waiting for a plumber.
If the problem is isolated to a toilet or sink, shutting off that fixture’s individual valve may be enough.
If a sewer backs up, stop using water anywhere in the home immediately.
“Water can do more damage in 30 minutes than most people realize,” Ibanez said.
8. The plumbing disasters he’ll never forget
After more than two decades in the trade, Ibanez has seen plenty.
One call involved an elderly couple who noticed a sewer smell but didn’t realize their finished basement had already begun flooding because of a backed-up sewer line.
They kept using water for several days.
By the time plumbers arrived, sewage had filled much of the basement.
“If they had known to stop using water as soon as they noticed the warning signs, the cleanup would have been much smaller,” Ibanez said.
Another homeowner tried saving money by shutting off the furnace while leaving for a winter vacation.
Temperatures dropped below freezing. Multiple pipes burst.
When they returned home, extensive water damage had already occurred.
“It’s a reminder that even when you’re away, your home’s plumbing still needs protection,” he said.
For Ibanez, both stories point to the same lesson: Most plumbing emergencies don’t begin as emergencies.
“After more than 25 years in the plumbing industry, I’ve learned that most expensive plumbing repairs start as small problems that were either overlooked or ignored.”
In other words, it’s better to solve the problem before poo-poo hits the fan.
Puget Press thanks Carlos Ibanez and the team at JC Plumbing for sharing their expertise with our readers. To learn more about the company‘s services, visit their website or Facebook page.
