If you’re doing a remodel of your bathroom (which is the most requested job, according to the National Association of Home Builders, and is responsible for almost 80% of renovations), you want to make sure you’ve hired good plumbing services and a company that you can come back to if you have an emergency. Even if you’re not doing a bathroom remodel, knowing when to hire a plumber and knowing a plumber you can call for common plumbing emergencies is key. Most plumbing emergencies should never be done DIY style unless you have a background in plumbing already — it’s better to be safe than sorry! You don’t want to screw something up and have a plumber come in to fix an even bigger mess.
How Can Hiring a Good Plumber Right Off the Bat Be to My Advantage?
If you hire good plumbing services, you might be able to avoid leaks that can cost you a lot in wasted water and money. At least 10% of homes have leaks that account for 90 or more gallons of water wasted every day. One leaky faucet that drips once per second can have an impact of over 3,000 wasted gallons per year. You could take over 180 showers with that amount of water! If you have a leaky shower head that leaks at 10 drips every minute, over 500 gallons of water can be wasted every year — enough to wash 60 loads of dishes in your dishwasher. If you don’t have an efficient water heater, you could also lose money waiting for hot water to turn on. The average house wastes over 9,000 gallons of water this way, which can account for as much as 15% of yearly water heating costs. If you can get good plumbing services or repairs and fix any easily corrected leaks, you could save as much as 10% on your water bill.
How Do I Find Good Plumbing Services?
Chances are, if you’re thinking about when to call an emergency plumber, you need one now and probably don’t want to spend the time searching for a reputable company, so it’s always good to be well prepared and look into this kind of thing before you need their services. Many places now have online sites with reviews (think Yelp, Angie’s List, etc.,) so you can easily find reputable places with positive reviews. Asking friends, family members, and other community members can also be a good way to get referrals you know you can trust. Don’t be afraid to interview potential companies to get quotes and find out what they cover as well.
What Should I Know About My Plumbing?
There are some easy ways to keep your plumbing in good shape to avoid having to pay for costly plumbing repairs later. Don’t flush anything other than fecal matter and toilet paper down the toilet to avoid clogged pipes, and don’t dump food scraps, oil or fats down the sink. (They can freeze and cause a huge blockage.) Keep a hair screen on your shower drain to avoid clogged drains and be sure to pull what hair you can out every few weeks.
You can also keep an eye on your water pressure with a hose bib gauge that you can get at your local hardware store. If your water pressure is too high, it can put a strain on your water pipes and cause a leak and reduces your plumbing’s lifespan. Keeping your septic tank and sewer lines cleared out is also a good way to preserve the lifespan of your pipes. It’ll get rid of any infiltrating tree roots that can cause a backup. Making sure you’re taking measures to keep your plumbing as well maintained as possible will reduce your need to call an emergency plumber in a panic.
Accidents do happen and plumbing services are often necessary. Luckily for us, the demand for plumbers is expected to grow over 20% by 2022, says the Labor Bureau. With a little extra research and time, you can find a great plumbing service that you can call on in any time of need.