5 Craziest Plumbing Jobs We've Seen (And Why Hiring a Licensed Plumber Matters)

Being a licensed plumber means every day is different. One service call might be a simple faucet repair. The next might involve tree roots growing into a sewage basin, a failed water heater that could have caused carbon monoxide poisoning, or someone wondering why their sewage pump failed after years of flushing wipes down the toilet.

At Monkey Wrench Plumbing & Drain, we've seen just about everything throughout Salt Lake City and the surrounding area. Some stories make us laugh. Others remind us just how dangerous plumbing shortcuts can become.

Here are five real situations from our "Hall of Fame" and what every homeowner can learn from them.

1. Tree Roots… Inside the House

Most people expect tree roots to invade sewer lines outside. We found them growing all the way into a sewage pump basin inside the home.

Roots naturally follow moisture. Even a tiny opening in underground piping can eventually become a major blockage. Routine sewer inspections help identify these issues before they become an emergency.

2. The Water Heater That Could Have Been Fatal

At first glance, this water heater didn't look terrible. Then we inspected the venting.

The vent pipe had become disconnected and the water heater was exhausting combustion gases directly into the room where people were living.

Improper venting isn't simply a plumbing issue—it can become a carbon monoxide hazard. Unfortunately, the homeowner chose a cheaper repair option elsewhere despite our recommendations.

Lesson: Never choose a contractor based solely on price.

Licensed and insured plumbers inspect the entire system—not just the part that's broken.

3. The Airbnb Pump That Failed After 2½ Years

One customer couldn't understand why their sewage ejector pump failed so early. The answer became obvious after pulling the pump.

Because the property operated as an Airbnb, guests had spent years flushing baby wipes, tampons, and other products that should never enter a plumbing system.

Even pumps designed for solids aren't designed for "flushable" wipes. They don't break down like toilet paper.

Routine maintenance could have identified the issue long before total pump failure.

4. Rocks Inside a Water Line

One of the more unusual service calls involved rocks that had become lodged in the plumbing system.

The debris damaged the home's pressure reducing valve (PRV), causing inconsistent water pressure throughout the house.

It's a reminder that water quality, aging infrastructure, and previous plumbing work can create unexpected problems years later.

5. Sometimes the Craziest Problems Are the Ones You Can't See

Not every dangerous plumbing issue looks dramatic. Sometimes it's:

a tiny gas leak
a loose water heater strap
improper venting
a failing pressure regulator
a hidden sewer leak

Small issues often become the most expensive because homeowners don't know they're there until something fails.

Preventive Maintenance Saves Thousands

One thing almost every one of these stories had in common? The problem had been developing for months—or years.

Regular inspections can identify issues with:

Water heaters
Sump and sewage pumps
Water softeners
Whole-home filtration systems
Gas lines
Sewer systems
Pressure reducing valves

Scheduling preventive maintenance is almost always less expensive than emergency repairs.

One Device We Recommend to Nearly Every Homeowner

Smart leak detection has become one of the best investments homeowners can make.

Systems like the Moen Flo Smart Water Monitor can detect abnormal water usage, automatically shut off water during major leaks, and alert homeowners through a smartphone before significant damage occurs.

While no device replaces regular inspections, early warning systems can dramatically reduce water damage.

The #1 Thing Every Homeowner Should Know

If we could give every homeowner one piece of advice, it's this:

Know where your home's main water shut-off valve is located.

In an emergency, shutting off the water within the first minute can prevent thousands of dollars in damage.

Our Hall of Fame Is Always Growing

Over the years we've found pets inside pipes, cats trapped behind walls during remodels, dangerous DIY gas line repairs, collapsing sewer lines, and plumbing systems that somehow continued working despite every engineering principle saying they shouldn't.

Those stories are entertaining—but they all point to the same lesson. Professional plumbing protects your home, your investment, and your family's safety.