Can you imagine your home without good plumbing? Thanks to local plumbing services, you can shower, wash clothes, keep a clean home, and more. However, as you look around your home or notice certain changes when using your water fixtures, you may realize it's time to make some updates. Here are some signs it's time to call your local plumbing service for such upgrades.

1. High Water Bill

As each month goes on, do you dread opening your water bill? The average home resident uses as much as 100 gallons of water daily, according to the USGS. Of course, the more people you have in your home, the more water you'll be using. However, you may notice your water bill is getting higher, but your water usage hasn't increased. If you suspect there's a problem, you could always check your water meter, and if your water usage hasn't increased, it may be a sign there may be a leak or other vulnerability somewhere in the home. If you don't have a local plumber fix the problem, your house will continue to waste water you'll have to pay for.

2. Hard Water

What is hard water? You know you'll have hard water when you don't ever feel totally clean after you shower or wash your hands. It can feel as if there is a slight film that remains on your skin or your dishes after you wash them. You may even notice your clothes aren't coming out as clean as they should. Hard water results from a build-up of minerals, often around your water fixtures or sometimes in the piping itself. Your local plumbing service can inspect the issue and upgrade those fixtures as well as install a water softening system. With water softening in place, your home water quality will go back to normal, and you'll be able to feel completely clean again after washing.

3. Low Pressure

There's nothing like taking a nice hot shower in the morning and getting out as quickly as possible to start a busy day. However, if you're once-normal water pressure has gone down to a trickle, it can now take much longer to bathe. The same issue can happen at your sinks. Low water pressure can result from a block either in the pipes or in the fixtures themselves. It can make it hard to do regular duties as quickly as you can. Something as simple as mopping the floor can take a lot longer, as you now have to wait longer to fill up the bucket. That low water pressure may eventually worsen and result in water no longer coming out of your fixtures if you don't have it checked out.

4. Slow Drains

Slow drains can happen if you accidentally clog it up with hair or food particles. Whatever you do, don't make the mistake of buying over-the-counter chemical cleaners. Those cleaners can not only damage your drains and pipes but also wreak havoc on the septic tank itself. They can also leak out into the environment and impact the environment. Your professional plumber has a plumbing snake that can quickly get rid of such clogs without using chemicals.

What if you're in a situation where you have meticulously used drain stoppers to prevent this from happening, but your system suddenly starts draining slowly anyway? If the problem is clearly out of your hands, you may have bigger issues such as a full septic tank or a tree puncturing your pipe. Call in the experts ASAP.

5. Outdated Fixtures

According to The National Association of Realtors, the average American home was built before 1980. If you're living in such a home, you may still have the same bathroom and kitchen fixtures from that period. Even if those fixtures are working, it may be time to upgrade them just based on aesthetics as well as water conservation. The past few decades have seen many innovations in the plumbing world that have allowed for better water conservation, such as dual flush toilets. As mentioned, the average American home uses tons of water, as much as six gallons in one flush, according to the EPA.

Local plumbing services are there to help keep your home functioning and safe. Basic things such as showering, washing hands, washing your hair, or doing laundry shouldn't be a hassle. If you're noticing any signs listed above, don't hesitate to call our team at Plumbing Today LLC. Our group of experienced plumbers will help you out.