Down here in South Louisiana, we know a thing or two about good food, good people, and—unfortunately—bad plumbing. Whether it’s the humidity, the shifting soil, or that crawfish shell someone flushed (yes, that really happened), our homes tend to see some unique plumbing issues. At SMJ Plumbing, headquartered right here in Slidell, we’ve seen it all—from toilets that gurgle like a haunted bayou to pipes that burst like they heard the Saints lost again. So let’s walk through the Top 10 Most Common Plumbing Problems we deal with across South Louisiana.
1. Clogged Drains (Especially After a Boil) Ain’t no party like a crawfish boil—until the leftovers make their way down the drain. Grease, rice, and crustacean remnants can choke your pipes faster than a tourist trying boudin for the first time.Pro Tip: Throw scraps in the trash, not the sink. Your pipes will thank you (and so will your plumber).
2. Leaky Faucets That drip-drip-drip sound keeping you up at night? It ain’t your conscience. It’s your faucet. Leaky faucets are one of the most common calls we get—usually caused by worn-out washers, seals, or cartridges.Left alone, that tiny drip can waste hundreds of gallons a year. And in a place where we measure things by gumbo pots, that’s a lot.
3. Low Water Pressure Nothing’s worse than hopping in the shower and getting a lazy trickle instead of that pressure-washer feel you were expecting. Often, the culprit is sediment buildup in the aerator or corroded pipes (especially in older homes).In Louisiana, the combination of hard water and humid air can be brutal on fixtures.
4. Running Toilets You flushed it an hour ago, but it’s still running like it’s training for a marathon. Usually, the problem’s a worn-out flapper or fill valve. Easy fix, but if ignored, it could cost you hundreds in extra water bills. That money could go toward something important… like Saints tickets.
5. Water Heater Issues No hot water? That’s a cold shower in more ways than one. Water heaters work hard in our climate—especially with all the long, steamy showers needed after a day in the yard or the marsh. Sediment buildup, faulty thermostats, and corroded tanks are all usual suspects.
6. Sewer Line Backups Now this one’ll clear a room faster than Uncle Rick’s bean dip. Sewer backups can be caused by tree roots, cracked lines, or major blockages—and trust me, it smells just as bad as you think it does.If multiple drains are backing up at once, it’s time to call in the pros. Quickly.
7. Burst Pipes (Thanks, Gumbo Soil) Our soil expands and contracts like it’s got its own mood swings. Add in a freeze or two (rare, but when it hits, it hits hard), and you’ve got a recipe for pipe bursts.And let me tell you, it don’t take long for a busted pipe to turn your home into an indoor swamp.
8. Corroded Galvanized Pipes If you live in an older South Louisiana home—especially anything built before the 80s—there’s a chance your plumbing system is still rocking galvanized steel pipes. These bad boys corrode over time, reducing water flow and eventually springing leaks like a Mardi Gras float in a thunderstorm.
9. Washing Machine Hose Leaks If your laundry room smells like mildew or your baseboards are warping, check the hoses behind your washing machine. Rubber hoses dry-rot faster than a gator in the sun, especially with all the humidity we live in.Swap them for braided stainless steel and you’ll sleep better at night.
10. DIY Disasters Bless y’all for trying—but sometimes “doing it yourself” turns into “call Stephen, we broke something.” We’ve seen duct tape on pipes, super glue on faucets, and even a drain unclogged with a garden hose (you don’t wanna know how that turned out).If you’re not sure what you’re doing, it’s always cheaper to call before you make it worse.
Final Thoughts from SMJ Plumbing Look, we love a good challenge, but we also love keeping your home safe, dry, and fully functional. Whether it’s a tiny leak or a full-blown “call Mama, the house is flooding!” kind of day, SMJ Plumbing is proud to serve the fine folks of Slidell and all across South Louisiana. And remember—don’t flush crawfish shells. That one’s personal. Need help fast? Call SMJ Plumbing, where we handle messes so you don’t have to. Let the good times roll… not the water under your cabinets.