These days everyone is all about DIY. Maybe it started when the economy was bad, and people just needed to save a buck wherever they could. But it has continued, maybe out of the fact that people realized they could do a lot of the things on their own they were always relying on other people for.
There are certain times when you absolutely need to call someone in to do your plumbing for you, mainly because if you could cause a bigger problem than you already have if you try to do something about it on your own. Here are some tips on how to know when it’s OK to do your own plumbing and when you should call in a plumber.
Dealing With Simple Leaks
If you have a leaky faucet, or leaky pipes, don’t get on the phone with the plumber too soon. You may be able to deal with the leak on your own. First you need to do a little inspection to see what needs to be done.
Your first step is to find the leak. Once you know where the leak is you can make the determination of whether it’s something you fix or not, and you also need to have the right tools on hand. if you don’t have wrenches or tubing you can visit your local hardware store, or settle on the pro doing the work.
Fighting A Clogged Drain
There are plenty of products on the market to help you unclog just about any drain. Some of them work better than others. It’s helpful if you know what the culprit of the clog is before choosing your brand. And make sure to follow instructions.
Don’t have time to get to the store? A cup of salt just might be the trick you need to deal with your drain issue. And if that doesn’t work, or you try a drain snake and that doesn’t work, your clog may call for a plumber.
Frozen Pipes
Winter is the culprit when it comes to frozen pipes, and sometimes there are things you can do for it it on your own, beginning with paying attention to what the temps are going to be. Simply keeping faucets on drip may keep your lines from getting frozen.
Before you try to thaw the pipe on your own, you should turn off the shut off valve and turn on the water. If you find that your thawing efforts aren’t working the freeze could be deeper in the line and you’ll want to call in the pros before you get a break!
Lacking Hot Water
There are a few reasons your hot water may be out, although they all revolve around an issue with your hot water heater. Unless you have professional plumbing experience this is one that you’ll definitely want to call in the professionals for.