Plumbing problems can be frightening when you’re not familiar with the gurgles, creaks, and sounds that go bump in the night. Here are a few things that can really scare you if you’re not aware of the affect they may have on your pipes and fixtures.
Keep Your Jack O’Lantern in Check
Slick, slimy and super sticky, the pulp of a pumpkin is one of those food items that should never go down the garbage disposal. When it dries and hardens, it can be extremely difficult to remove. And the seeds of the pumpkin are also a problem for your plumbing, so it’s best to deposit these spooky pumpkin parts in the trash or compost bin.
Sorcery Suggestion: Pumpkin seeds are tasty little morsels when roasted, so if that’s your thing, you can put them to good use and dispose the rest. Here’s a good recipe.
The Sounds of a Boiling Cauldron
If your water heater is making sounds that might only be fixed by performing an exorcism, then it’s quite possible that your unit has developed a build up of minerals and sediment in the floor of the tank. The crackling sound is quite possibly water working its way through the minerals at the bottom of the unit. Any rumbling could be pieces of sediment that are moving around.
When casting a spell over it won’t work, you may need to drain the tank completely and flush the sediment out. If your water heater is more than 10 years old, then it may be time to consider purchasing a new one. If you’re not sure, then consult with a professional.
Ghostly Sounds Throughout Your House
Your plumbing system can sometimes make rather formidable sounds when you least expect it. Before you perform witchcraft on your home, it may just be one of these common plumbing problems that can create creepy sounds:
- Loose or unsecured supply lines
- Expansion and contraction of your pipes as water and air temperature increases or decreases
- Water hammering (when the tap is turned off too quickly)
- High-pitched squeals (AKA cavitation) when water from a large pipe flows into a smaller pipe; the noise results from the pressure of the water flowing into the smaller pipe
Water hammers and most other odd noises are nothing to be afraid of. However, if you find these noises as aggravating as running out of candy in the first hour on Halloween night, then have a chat with your favorite plumber.
