The Most Common Plumbing Issues We See in Council Bluffs Homes

Some plumbing problems come out of nowhere. Others are just a matter of time.

In Council Bluffs, certain issues show up again and again — and if you know what to look for, you can catch them early and save yourself a costly repair.

After serving hundreds of homes across the metro, we’ve seen a clear pattern. Here’s what Council Bluffs homeowners should keep an eye on (and what to do if you spot it).

You don’t need to be a plumber to know when something’s off — but you do need to know what to look for.

Here are the most common problems we fix in CB homes:

• Dripping faucets and running toilets (wasting hundreds of gallons per month)
• Leaky shutoff valves under sinks and behind toilets
• Low water pressure, especially in older homes or homes with galvanized lines
• Backed-up basement floor drains (especially after a storm)
• Water heater issues — rust, pilot outages, or slow recovery
• Sewer line backups from tree roots or collapsed lines

Most of these start small — but left alone, they can escalate fast.

Council Bluffs has some unique challenges when it comes to plumbing:

• Aging infrastructure — Many homes were built 40+ years ago with materials (like galvanized steel or clay pipes) that degrade over time
• Tree-lined neighborhoods — Beautiful to look at, but brutal on sewer lines
• Heavy rainfall & soil shifts — Which cause foundation movement and drain line misalignment
• Hard water — Speeds up scale buildup in pipes and water heaters

We’ve worked in neighborhoods from Twin City to Fairmount Park to the west end, and the pattern is the same: when homeowners act early, they avoid major headaches.

A lot of these problems are preventable — or at least manageable — with a little attention.

Step 1: Watch for water pressure changes

If your shower feels weaker than usual, it’s not in your head.

Step 2: Listen to your fixtures

Gurgling, hissing, ticking, or knocking usually means air, pressure, or buildup.

Step 3: Get your system inspected

Once a year, it’s smart to have your plumbing checked — especially your shutoff valves, water heater, and main drain.

At McIntosh Plumbing, we offer quick, affordable inspections that give you peace of mind without any pressure to replace what doesn’t need replacing.

Whether you’re seeing one of these signs or just want a check-up, we’ve got your back. Local, honest, and built to serve — it’s how we’ve always done it.

Need help? Let’s get ahead of it before it becomes a problem.

📍 Trusted in Council Bluffs

🔧 Real plumbing. Real solutions. No games.