When it comes to tackling plumbing issues, there is a careful balance that homeowners need to strike. Sure, homeowners do not want to spend more money than they must, and fixing the problem on their own can avoid unnecessary expenses; however, homeowners who do not have any professional training run the risk of making the problem worse. This could lead to a more expensive repair down the road. Therefore, it is critical for homeowners to know when they can tackle the problem on their own and when they should hire a professional plumber. There are a few common problems that homeowners must trust a professional plumber to handle.
1. A Stubborn Sink That Drains Slowly
Even though there are a few sink clogs that can be handled with a snake, sinks that continue to drain slowly even after they have had a snake fed through them require a professional plumber. Usually, this indicates that the blockage is farther down the drain than is visible. For example, knotted hair, soap, and crumbs of food are all common issues that can cause sinks to drain slowly. While it can be tempting to pour a caustic solution down the drain to deal with the issue, this could damage the sink and the pipe. In this situation, it is better to call a professional plumber.
2. A Toilet That Keeps Running
Even though the noise of a toilet that keeps running can be frustrating, the true issue comes from the waste of water. A toilet that runs 24 hours per day could use more than 200 gallons of water in this time period. Usually, the culprit is a faulty flapper valve. While some homeowners want to handle this issue on their own, it is always better to trust the experience of a professional plumber instead.
3. A Broken Water Heater
This is one of the biggest problems that homeowners might face. The major challenge is that there is a lot that can go wrong with water heaters and these issues can go unnoticed for an extended period of time. Sometimes, the pilot light goes out. In other situations, the issue could result from a defective thermostat. There might also be sediment building up in the tank that damages the water heater. All of these problems require the attention of a professional plumber.
4. Low Water Pressure
In addition to a cold shower, a weak shower can also be frustrating. If the water pressure is low, there could be a number of possible causes. In some cases, corrosion could be the problem In other situations, there might be a leak that has gone unnoticed. In other situations, there could be mold that has damaged the pipes somehow. Regardless, low water pressure is something that has to be identified and rectified quickly. Otherwise, this could lead to substantial repair bills. This is a problem that requires the experience of a professional plumber.
5. A Leaky Pipe
Finally, this is a problem that could balloon quickly. If there is a pipe leaking somewhere, it could damage the floors, the wood, the walls, and expensive property inside the house. Even though there are some homeowners who think they can identify the leak and tighten this on their own, this is something that is better handled by a professional plumber. If the pipe continues to leak, this creates a damp environment that is perfect for mold to grow. In addition to causing property damage, this could lead to health problems as well. Detecting leaky pipes is not easy, so homeowners should trust a professional plumber to identify and fix this problem quickly.
Contact a Professional Plumber for Help with These Issues
These are a few of the most common problems that require the attention of a professional plumber. Homeowners should rely on a plumbing expert to make sure these problems are identified and fixed quickly.