It is possible to handle minor plumbing repairs around your home with a DIY approach to help you save money. For example, cleaning your showerhead can help you enhance the water pressure if it’s too low. Or, if your bathroom sink is leaking, a simple tightening or replacement of the trap can do the trick! Of course, as with all things, there comes a time when perhaps your best course of action is to call a professional plumber. Below, we will explain the different scenarios when a professional set of eyes is a good idea!
Your Home Is Getting Flooded
Though hardly commonplace, a major supply line leak can flood your entire home in virtually no time at all. When a plumbing pipe bursts, you need to act as quickly as possible to repair the leak and to stop the flooding that causes damage after prolonged exposure. If you are looking for plumbing supplies then see ‘plumbing supply store’.
If this has happened to you, make sure to quickly look for an intermediary water supply cutoff valve. Usually, this can fix the problem by cutting off the water supply to the affected areas only and not your entire property. These valves are standard and will feature either a ball valve or a knob-style cutoff function. If you’re unable to find a shutoff valve that serves this function, make sure you cut off your water supply to your entire residence. Once you accomplish that, make sure you call emergency plumbing services to help handle the repairs!
Your Entire Home Is Without Water
Usually, most plumbing leaks are localized and cause problems in isolated regions. However, if you find that you have no water in your entire house, the first step is to make sure that water stopped flowing in every faucet. Check to see if you can operate either your hot or cold water. If your water heater is the culprit, you will usually find that your cold water still flows properly.
If troubleshooting on your own does not fix the problem, your plumbing leak may be more serious than you imagined. It could oftentimes indicate burst pipes somewhere underneath your street and the water supply intended for your house is diverted elsewhere.
Your Sink Is Leaking And Tightening The Trap Did Not Fix It
Your bathroom or kitchen sink may leak from time to time, and usually, the culprit is the trap located below the sink. If all goes well, you can DIY this fix by shutting off your water supply and either tightening or replacing the trap. In some rarer instances, the leak may also be attributed to your garbage disposal which is also a fairly straightforward repair.
Drainage lines by nature don’t just start and end beneath your sink. Many times they are hidden behind walls or underneath your floorboards, which is why when a leak is discovered, you have to act as quickly as possible! Getting professional help is the only way to eliminate costly damage to your property while ensuring that the problem is properly diagnosed and resolved.
You Smell Noxious Sewer Gases
If your sewer line either has a break or a blockage, you will often find the problem manifesting itself outdoors in your yard. Usually, the symptoms include muddy or murky water pooling in one spot along with a foul noxious gas sewage odour. Sometimes, the problem goes further to manifest itself indoors by filling either your toilet or sink with wastewater. Though it is possible to dig up your main sewer line yourself and eventually repair the problem, it takes a great deal of effort, know-how, and time you may not have. Calling an experienced licensed plumber in your state offers a timely and effective fix!
