Oct 1, 2025 · 9 min read
10 Common Plumbing Problems and How to Fix Them
Every homeowner faces plumbing issues eventually. Learn how to identify and fix the 10 most common plumbing problems, and know when to call in professional help.
Read articleElement Service Group provides professional sump pump services services to Durham residents and businesses. Fast response, fair pricing, guaranteed satisfaction.
Real jobs completed by our team in the Durham area
Nick
July 2026
The homeowner was concerned that the sewage ejector pump ran more last night than usual.
Nick found that the unit was cycling properly, between every 3 to 5 gallons of water. He cycled the unit multiple times and checked that no fixtures were leaking in the basement bathroom. He noted the extra running may have come from more water being used during a kids sleepover, and the family was especially concerned because of a recent water heater leak. Nick also provided an estimate for an emergency alarm and a membership.
Everything was functioning properly at the end of the visit.
Durham's diverse housing stock ranges from historic homes to modern builds, each requiring different HVAC approaches and solutions.
The Bull City's hot, humid summers with temperatures often exceeding 90°F demand reliable AC systems with proper maintenance schedules.
Many older Durham homes have ductwork that wasn't designed for central AC, requiring creative solutions and expert retrofitting.
Durham's tree-lined neighborhoods provide shade but also shed debris that can clog outdoor AC units, requiring regular cleaning and maintenance.
More ways we can help in Durham.
Answered by our licensed technicians serving Durham.
Most sump pumps last 7 to 10 years with regular maintenance. If yours runs frequently (common in some Apex neighborhoods with higher water tables), expect closer to 5 to 7 years. We recommend proactive replacement before failure rather than waiting for an emergency.
We strongly recommend it for every home with a sump system. North Carolina thunderstorms frequently knock out power, and that's exactly when groundwater levels spike. A battery backup provides 8 to 12 hours of pumping capacity during an outage.
Frequent cycling can indicate a high water table, an undersized pump, a stuck check valve, or a plumbing leak adding water to the pit. We diagnose the cause and recommend solutions, which may be a larger pump, improved exterior drainage, or a plumbing repair.
Absolutely. Many Triangle-area homes have crawl spaces rather than basements. We install sump pits and pumps in crawl spaces as part of moisture management systems, often coordinating with encapsulation and dehumidifier installation.
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