DIY or Call a Plumber: 7 Important Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

There’s going to be a time when you experience plumbing issues. You’re going to need to know how to respond to the issue you face.

Here’s where a dilemma may arise. Do you call a plumber, or do you try to take care of the issue yourself?

Making the right call is a must as you don’t want to end up with a flood in your home. This guide contains seven important tips you must consider.

Read on to learn when you can DIY and when it’s best to call a plumber.

1. Clogged Toilet and Blocked Drain

One of the most common plumbing issues homeowners face is a clogged toilet. This is a DIY-type of task. You can unclog it by using a plunger.

Another issue you may face is a blocked drain. Hair mixed with soap scum can cause this issue.

There’s a way to reduce the likelihood of a drain being blocked. Mix baking soda and vinegar and pour it down the drain to release the clog. If you hear a fizzing sound, it means it’s working.

After a few seconds of letting this mix settle in, you can pour boiling water down the drain. Repeat these steps a couple of times to clear the blockage.

2. Leaky Faucet

Can’t stand that dripping sound coming from your faucet? You can take care of a leaky faucet by following the next steps.

First, turn off the hot and cold water valves. You’ll find these valves under the sink. Then, you can take apart the old faucet and replace it with a new one.

This is the type of problem that you can fix on your own. Don’t let it slip by as you don’t want to waste water as it can hike up your water bill.

3. Fixing a Leaking Water Pipe

A leaky water pipe can also be something you may be able to fix yourself. If you have the right tools, you should give it a go. It’s a DIY-project that should take less than two hours to fix.

The problem you may face is a broken water pipe. This is one of the problems that you should let a plumber handle. You don’t want to damage the pipe further as it can ruin the entire water system.

What if you observe that you have cast iron pipes? This is an issue that lots of homeowners who live in older homes face.

If you have cast iron pipes, it might not be a good idea to repair the broken pipe. Tell your plumber to replace your cast iron pipes. Keeping these old pipes can cause sewer gases to make it into your home.

4. You Have No Water at All

Picture this scenario. You come home after a long workday and you need to take a shower, but you don’t have any water. What do you do?

In this case, you should call a plumber. A plumber can find out what’s causing you to lose water. This is an issue that you want to resolve right away.

5. You Have No Hot Water

You may find that you have water, but it’s only cold water. Not having hot water after a loved one takes an hour-long shower is normal. Not having hot water for a few hours is a major problem that a plumber needs to fix.

This issue may be due to several things. It may be due to a leak in the hot water tank or a failure in the water tank’s heating element. Other causes can include a tripped circuit breaker or a faulty electrical switch.

Whatever the case may be, you want to hire a plumber to identify the cause. You really shouldn’t be trying to repair an electric water heater tank. The last thing you need is to experience an electrical shock that can cause injuries.

If there’s a need to replace the tank, a plumber can do it for you. The plumber will walk you through the process to ensure you buy the right tank.  This will give you peace of mind knowing that you’ll end up with a safe and effective product.

6. Your Toilet Keeps Overflowing

Having an overflowing toilet is a big nightmare. If you have a full house with children, you’ll want to call a plumber ASAP to address the problem.

The cause may be something simple as a blockage. Sometimes it seems like toilets overflow for no apparent reason. A plumber can do an inspection and resolve the issue in no time.

7. Your House Smells Like Sewage

Have you been smelling a foul smell around the house lately? It may be the smell of sewage.

This odor can be caused by a backup or clog. It can get to the point that the stink can make everyone want to run out of the home to get fresh air outside.

Don’t try to power over the foul smell or try to find out what the cause is. The best thing you can do is to contact a plumber. Your plumber can assess the problem to determine how to best deal with it.

Call a Plumber When You Need a Pro to Fix a Plumbing Problem

If you’re a DIY-type of person, more power to you. You may have some know-how about basic plumbing. If you can fix a problem, you should go for it.

There will come a time when you need to call a plumber. As you read, there are certain issues that you should let a pro address.

Make sure to explore the rest of our blog to continue reading more great articles.