It always starts small.
A little drip under the sink. A toilet that takes a few extra seconds to refill. A patch of water in the yard that never seems to dry.
You tell yourself it’s nothing serious. You’ll get to it later.
But plumbing problems are like weeds. Ignore them for long enough and they grow roots. What could have been a quick repair turns into a full-blown headache that costs more time, more stress, and more money than anyone wants to admit.
In this blog, we’ll look at three tiny plumbing issues that seem harmless at first but can snowball into big problems if left alone.
1. The Dripping Tap That “Doesn’t Bother You”
You hear it at night. The tiny, steady sound of a drip. It’s not loud enough to keep you awake, but it’s there. You get used to it.
The problem is, that constant drip is never just about wasted water. It’s often a sign that the washer inside your tap is worn out or that the valve seating is starting to corrode. That means water is leaking through places it shouldn’t. Over time, the leak can spread into the cabinet or wall cavity, causing moisture damage, mould growth, and wood rot.
Even a slow leak adds up fast. By the end of a month, that “minor drip” can waste hundreds of litres of water. Multiply that over a year, and you’ve paid for repairs several times over.
Worse still, if the leak spreads into areas you can’t see, the water will slowly soften timber or drywall until one day you notice a damp spot that never dries. By then, you’re not calling a plumber for a quick fix — you’re calling a builder too.
A plumber can replace a faulty washer or cartridge in minutes and check for hidden leaks behind the wall. What feels like a five-minute annoyance now can save you from a five-figure headache later.
2. The “Slow” Drain You Keep Ignoring
Drains don’t block overnight. They give you warnings. Water pools around your ankles when you shower, or your kitchen sink takes a few seconds longer to clear. It’s easy to shrug it off and think, “It’s still draining, so it’s fine.”
That delay is the beginning of a blockage forming. Soap, grease, hair, and other debris stick to the inside of your pipes, narrowing the pathway. The smaller the gap, the slower the flow. Left alone, it eventually clogs completely.
When that happens, water has nowhere to go except back up. A blocked drain can push dirty water into your sink, floor drain, or even your shower. The pressure can also crack joints or force leaks through weak spots in old pipes.
Some people reach for store-bought drain cleaner, but those harsh chemicals rarely solve the problem and can eat away at the pipes themselves. The real fix involves clearing the blockage safely using high-pressure water jets or drain snakes, the kind of tools only a plumber should handle.
And sometimes, a slow drain isn’t just a local blockage. It can signal something deeper, like tree roots growing into the sewer line. That’s a problem you won’t spot until it’s too late. A quick inspection now could prevent an expensive excavation job down the track.
3. The Toilet That “Still Works”
Every plumber has heard this one: “It’s been running for weeks, but it still flushes fine.”
A constantly running toilet or one that refills itself at random times isn’t just wasting water, it’s a sign that the internal seals or valves are failing. It might seem harmless, but inside the cistern, water is escaping from the tank to the bowl nonstop. Over time, that puts extra strain on your plumbing system, wears down parts faster, and can lead to overflows or leaks at the base of the toilet.
Sometimes, the issue goes deeper. A loose or cracked wax seal under the toilet can let sewer gases escape into your bathroom. You might not notice the smell straight away, but it’s there — and it’s definitely not something to live with.
What starts as an occasional noise or a small leak can turn into warped flooring, damaged subfloors, and a nasty odour that no amount of cleaning will hide.
A licensed plumber can spot these issues immediately and replace the worn parts before the damage spreads. It’s quick, clean, and way cheaper than replacing flooring or tiling later.
Bonus: The “Tiny Leak” Outside
This one deserves a quick mention.
A damp patch near an outdoor tap, a trickle around the hose connection, or a little wet soil near the garden could all seem innocent enough. But underground leaks can erode soil, damage foundations, and attract termites. In some cases, they even point to a broken water main on your property.
You might not see water pooling on the surface, but if your water bill is climbing or you hear faint hissing near a tap or pipe, it’s worth having it checked out. Leak detection gear can find exactly where it’s happening, often without digging anything up.
Why Small Problems Matter
Plumbing issues don’t wait for a convenient time. They build quietly in the background until something gives way. By then, you’re not dealing with a “small” problem anymore, you’re dealing with damage.
A good rule of thumb is simple. If something in your plumbing doesn’t look, sound, or smell right, it’s probably not fine. A quick call to a plumber might seem unnecessary now, but it’s always cheaper than an emergency visit later.
Final Thoughts
Your home’s plumbing is a lot like your car. A small noise today can turn into a breakdown tomorrow if you ignore it. And just like cars, the people who fix them every day can spot problems long before you do.
At Do Some Plumbing, we help homeowners across Logan, Beenleigh, Shailer Park, Springwood, Underwood, and surrounding suburbs catch those small issues before they become major ones. Whether it’s a dripping tap, a slow drain, or a toilet that won’t stop running, our licensed team can find the cause and fix it properly the first time.
So before that “minor” problem grows into a major repair, get it sorted now.
Call Do Some Plumbing — your local plumbers in Logan — for fast, honest, and reliable plumbing services across Brisbane’s southside.
Protect your home, your pipes, and your peace of mind.
Book your service today and stop small problems from turning into big ones.