Three Situations When You Should Call A Plumber Instead Of Fixing It Yourself
When you're a do-it-yourself homeowner and you see a problem, your first inclination is to figure out what is wrong, then repair it. You have likely made many repairs in the past, so you are undaunted by anything, including plumbing issues. However, there are situations when you should call a plumbing repair company. The following are three of these situations.
There is a water puddle on your lawn that won't go away
Along with the water, there may also be a foul odor. Often, this is your main sewer line. If this is the case, it is a project that is outside the expertise of a homeowner. A plumber has special equipment with cameras that can be pushed through the drain line to find the exact area of the leak. In addition, there are techniques that utilize a trenchless repair. This is accomplished by spraying epoxy inside the drain line, which seals the leak. If the pipe has several leaks, it will be checked internally first, then sealed. This technique can save labor on digging a trench.
Your water heater isn't working
There aren't many repairs you can make to a water heater, so you may need a new one. But you shouldn't try to install one yourself. There are a couple of good reasons for this. The first is that you may install it improperly. This can cause serious issues immediately or over time. It can even lead to a fire, especially if it's a gas water heater. If this happens, the damage may not be covered by your homeowners' insurance policy.
The second issue is with the inspection. Certain jurisdictions may require a building inspector to approve a water heater installation. In this case, a plumber will likely have a quicker time frame for getting this inspection done than a homeowner because they routinely install these water heaters.
The water in your bathroom is draining slowly
This is most noticeable when flushing your toilet but may also see it at the same time with your tub, shower, or sinks. When this happens, you may have a main line stoppage issue. This type of stoppage is cleared using large, moving coils that are pushed through the main drain line. There are versions of these machines that can be rented, but they are a cut below the quality machines used by plumbers. These machines take skill and training to use. You can try using a plunger on your toilet, but if this doesn't work, then you need to have a plumber look at the problem.
You may be handy around the house, but there are limits to what you can do. With plumbing, there are several times when you need to make the call and have a professional fix the problem. Persistent puddles of water on your lawn, the installation of a new water heater, or a slow-draining toilet are three indications that the repair is outside the skill set of a do-it-yourself homeowner.
Contact a local plumbing service to learn more.