Is it caused by low water pressure, excessive water usage, slow drains, noises from pipes or drains, or other problems related to specific plumbing fixtures.

This may be caused by leaking water pipes, leaking or dripping faucets and sticking flush valves and leaking seals in toilets.

Determine if they are running at unusual intervals, when no one has recently flushed them. When there’s a seal leak in a toilet water tank, the tank will drain slowly over a period of time until the water level drops low enough for the float valve to open and replace it.

Pipes that are not insulated may sweat when cold water runs through them in warmer interior airspaces in the home and water condensing on the surface of pipes may drip, causing moisture problems to appear where no leak exists.

Learn the location of your main water supply shutoff as well as individual supply valves so that leaks can be temporarily stopped and repairs can be made. Toilets, vanities and kitchen sinks usually have a valve for each supply line and are usually located on the adjacent wall underneath the fixture.

Identify the problem that’s occurring with your drains.  Some typical drain problems are:

• Sink(s) and/or tub(s) drain slowly
• Water is backing up in the bathroom tub, shower or sink
• Wet spots or areas in walls or along floors in rooms adjacent to walls containing drain pipes
• Unusual gurgling or bubbling sounds when water is draining

Read label instructions carefully when using a chemical drain cleaning product for clearing clogged or slow-running drains.