What are the most common plumbing problems in UK homes?

Plumbing is one of those systems that just keeps on working away silently, behind the scenes, allowing us to live in the high levels of comfort and convenience we’ve become accustomed to. While we rarely acknowledge it when it’s working, it’s easy to notice whenever it starts to play up.

Knowing what to look out for can make it easier to spot issues early on, and to get them sorted out with minimal complications. With that in mind, these are some of the most common plumbing problems you might come across in the UK.

Low water pressure

One of the most common plumbing issues in UK homes is low water pressure. While it often shows up in a single manner, the causes can be multiple. You might have an old water pump that’s no longer able to function as intended, the pipes could be blocked from years of mineral deposit, or there could be an issue with the water source. It’s important to get these things checked out by a professional, to ensure that you’re able to get them sorted out as soon as reasonably possible.

Broken boilers

One of the most common but also most annoying issues that occur with UK plumbing systems is boiler issues. Whether they break down completely or just stop being able to heat water up to acceptably hot temperatures, having your boiler break down on you – especially during the colder winter months – can be incredibly inconvenient. 

It’s important to have your boiler serviced on a regular basis by a boiler technician, to ensure that these kinds of issues are kept at a minimum. They can make sure that important parts are replaced as necessary, ensuring both the longevity of the machine and that it functions at peak efficiency.

Blocked pipes

A lot of the infrastructure in the UK is quite old. As a result, many of the water pipes, both in homes and in the general water grid, are getting blocked up with various impurities. How this affects your home in particular will depend on how the issue occurs in your specific scenario. It could lead to backed-up drain pipes, or issues with your water pressure.

Malfunctioning radiators

Lastly, perhaps the single most common issue that occurs in UK plumbing systems is malfunctioning radiators. In most cases, these issues are caused by air bubbles in the system, which means that water isn’t able to get in contact with all the surface area of the radiator. 

While this can seem like a serious problem for those who are unfamiliar with it, it’s often very simple to fix. You simply loosen a small valve, allowing the air to flow out and the water to get to where it needs to be. Known as bleeding, this will need to be done at regular intervals to keep most radiators functioning properly.

Sorting out these basic issues shouldn’t be too hard in most cases, however getting something like a boiler fixed or replaced can end up being quite expensive. By keeping on top of preventative maintenance, you can keep these issues at an absolute minimum.