ANSWERING YOUR TOP PLUMBING QUESTIONS!

Some plumbing problems send people straight to the phone. Others are strange enough that homeowners just live with them for years, assuming that is simply what their house does.

Those are the good ones, so here are 5 questions we hear all the time around Milwaukee.

1. Why do my pipes BANG when I shut off the faucet?

That noise has a name: water hammer. When you close a valve quickly, the water rushing through the pipe has nowhere to go, and it slams to a stop hard enough to shake the pipe against the framing.

It is not just annoying. That repeated shock can loosen joints and wear out fixtures early. Older Milwaukee homes are especially prone to it, and the fix is usually straightforward once a plumber sees how your lines are run.

2. Why do my drains gurgle when the washing machine runs?

Gurgling means air is getting pulled through the water in your traps, which usually points to a venting issue or a partial blockage in a shared line. Your drain system needs air to move water properly, and when it cannot get it the easy way, it steals it from the nearest trap.

It is easy to ignore. It also tends to be an early warning for a bigger backup, so it is worth a look.

3. My water came out cloudy. Should I be worried?

Almost always, no! Fill a glass and set it on the counter. If the cloudiness clears from the bottom up within a minute or two, that is just dissolved air coming out of solution, which is very common when water is cold.

If it does not clear, or if there is any color or grit to it, that is different, and we should talk.

4. Do ice cubes really sharpen my garbage disposal?

They do not, because your disposal does not have blades! It has blunt spinning lugs that fling food against a grinding ring. Ice can help knock debris loose, so it is not useless, it is just not sharpening anything.

What actually protects it: cold water before, during, and 15 seconds after, and keeping grease, fibrous vegetables, and coffee grounds out of it entirely.

5. Why does my basement smell after heavy rain?

This one deserves attention. It can be a dry floor drain trap, which is easy to fix with a pitcher of water. It can also mean water is backing up from the sewer side, which is a real risk in older Milwaukee neighborhoods after a hard storm.

For everything else…!

Got a question we did not cover? That is what we are here for. Take a look at our plumbing services, then contact us online or call 262-220-7020. Same-day service, 7 days a week!