Your plumbing is constantly under a massive amount of water pressure, which means that it can experience a whole host of different forms of damage. Damaged plumbing is much more likely to cause leaks and water damage within your home, and it can cause complications for the appliances and water fixtures attached to your plumbing system. Understanding some of the more common signs associated with damaged plumbing can help you determine when you should get in touch with a plumbing contractor to inspect your home's pipes.

Banging and Rattling

One of the most common signs that your pipes have suffered from some sort of rust and stress over time is if you constantly hear a banging, rattling, or shaking sound when you turn the water on. While this can sound somewhat like water hammers, the key difference is that damaged pipes will rattle consistently, whereas banging from water hammers will only happen when you turn the water off. This type of rattling usually means that the support brackets for your plumbing have rusted away, causing your pipes to shake, and thus experience greater wear and tear themselves over time. Fortunately, installing new support brackets is a simple and relatively inexpensive process when compared to replacing entirely broken pipes.

Squealing Sounds

Another sign that points to damage to your home's pipes is if you notice a high pitched whistling or squealing sound coming from your plumbing when you turn the water on. This can be caused by pipes that have become crushed or damaged over time. While this is rare, it can occur due to renovations or construction in your home or other forms of physical damage to the pipes. Usually, the section of your plumbing that is damaged and being pinched shut is quite small and is easy to replace once a professional locates it.

Low Water Pressure

Last but not least, the most serious sign that you need to get in touch with a plumbing professional to inspect your system—and likely repair it as well—is if you notice a sudden decrease in the water pressure in your home, especially when it affects all of your water fixtures at once. This points to an actual broken pipe that is now leaking somewhere in your home. The best course of action would be to turn the water main, which is usually located in the basement of your home next to the water heater, off and then get a plumber to come in and inspect the extent of the damage and do necessary repairs.