There is nothing worse than having plumbing problems because so many of the activities of day to day life require the use of running water, temperature control and a working drainage system. No matter where you turn, there seems to be a problem that you just don’t seem to be able to resolve so it is important to know when you can fix it yourself and when it’s time to call in the experts.
1. Furnace Not Working – No Heat
Although this is by no means the number one problem in terms of frequency, it certainly is high on the list during the long, cold winter months, especially in Western New York. Snow can pile six feet high literally overnight and if you find your heater has finally called it quits, it could be an even colder winter to deal with! For most of us, fixing a heater is beyond our means so this would be one of those times when you simply need to call in a plumbing professional to see what is wrong and whether or not you need a new furnace installed.
2. Drains Clogged
Many times you can fix a clogged drain yourself. Whether pouring liquid drain cleaner down the pipes or snaking out the drain, it is something you can often do for yourself. Unfortunately, there may be times when a clogged drain is the result of tree limbs that have pushed their way through a faulty pipe, with roots clogging up the line and not the actual drain itself. Sewage backed up can be the ultimate cause of a clogged drain and this would be another time you would want to call in the experts. Few of us have the wherewithal to run new pipes so an expert plumber would be in order. Clogged drains within the home can often be fixed with old fashioned remedies!
3. Leaking Faucets
Leaking faucets are another of the most common plumbing problems in many households. Whether you need to simply replace worn washers or totally replace the faucet itself, this is something that can be a DIY project most of the time. It’s only a matter of knowing how to turn off the water main until the repairs can be made. Sometimes it’s enough just to close the valves under the sink while replacing washers on those leaky faucets.
4. No Hot Water
A hot water tank is installed by a plumber so if you suddenly find yourself lacking hot water, it would behoove you to call the plumber at your earliest convenience. Plumbers have access to gauges and tools that can determine whether or not your hot water heater is broken, so always call in an expert if you suddenly find you have not hot water. It could be as simple as a fuse on the heater or a circuit blown in the home, but then again, it could be as serious as an element burning out in your tank. This would take special tools and know-how and it just might be necessary to order the element you need which would mean going without hot water for a day or days until the plumber is able to locate the heating element you need for that particular brand and model hot water heater.
5. Low Water Pressure
When living in a multi-family housing complex there are times when water pressure is low because a great number of people are using the water all at the same time. However, when it comes to a single family dwelling, it typically isn’t a problem. It could be that your shower head is clogged or that you have a major leak somewhere. Yes, you could change out the showerhead by yourself but when it comes to locating and repairing a leaky pipe it is in your best interest to hire a plumber. It would be necessary to find where the leak has occurred and most of the time it is going to be in a hard to reach place like under your home. Why? Murphy’s Law of course!
So, knowing your most common plumbing problems can often help you diagnose the problem in order to find out when you would need to call in the services of a licensed plumber. From hot water tanks to leaking faucets and broken furnaces, there are so many problems that require a specialist it is good to know which you can tackle and which will need a bit of professional TL
