When Do You Need To Call A Professional Plumber?

There are many reasons why you should call a plumber at home. Generally anytime you have a problem you are unable to effectively deal with you should call a professional. Of course there will be situations that you can deal with yourself but for serious problems a professional is needed.

Time to call a plumber

One time you should call a plumber is if you have a problem that is getting slowly worse. Leaving a leak caused by corrosion or wear is just waiting for a big problem to arrive.

The problem with having a plumber emergency is that they can cause so much damage to the home or business. When a catastrophic failure happens it doesn’t just mean repairing that part of the plumbing it can mean replacing carpets, wallpaper, electrical equipment and anything else damaged by water.

Getting the right plumber

Certified plumbers offer the highest quality of workmanship, whether you need a professional plumber for home installation, home improvement plumbing or any other type of plumbing.

You can find plumbers on the internet or through directories. Family and friends are always a good place to start for a personal recommendation.

Why do you need a plumber?

It isn’t just for emergencies or failures. Sometimes you need a professional plumber because you are starting a new project. Maybe you are planning an extension to your home and it requires flowing water. Maybe you are building a new bathroom and obviously this will need plumbing and sanitation.

Taking professional advice

Get advice from the plumber before you try a project for the first time. Consider first whether you really have the skills to take on a plumbing project so that you don’t end up having to call further down the line anyway. Ask yourself if your sanitary facilities need to be maintained, if an inspection is required and if so, what type of inspection. Even if you are capable of putting in a plumbing system it might not hurt to ask for a second opinion if possible.

Signs that you need a plumber

If you see rust – coloured water from the tap – then it is time to call a plumber. If you have seen water accumulating in the basement but cannot determine exactly where the water is coming from, call the plumbers.

If you find that you cannot clean your septic tank regularly, there is a good chance that it is clogged. If your kitchen or bathroom has clogged pipes it will take longer to drain and if your pipes have been damaged while trying to repair them, call the plumber. They will assess the damage and restore your sanitary facilities to their proper condition without causing any unnecessary water or property damage. In the situation of having frozen pipes you will need to call a plumber and immediately.

DIY and temporary fixes

Keeping tools in the house can reduce the number of calls to a plumber and the time you need before you call them. Learning some simple plumbing skills might help you if you have a leak in the middle of the night. Calling an emergency plumber will often lead to them giving you some advice over the phone to help quickly while they rush to help you.

Things to do in an emergency

Although it may be your first instinct to call a professional plumber, it is not always necessary. Sometimes you may be able to do a fix and solve the problem yourself but obviously other times you cannot.

If you find that catastrophic flooding from a burst pipe has occurred in your home, you should immediately switch off your main water supply and call your plumber. You need to call a plumber immediately because the problem can be serious and even turning off the water supply in the house is not enough to stop it. If the problem is gas related then shut off the gas and call a gas certified plumber to come out. Different regions have their own gas certification and you can find qualified professionals online, for instance in the UK it is called Gas Safe.

If water is near electrical outlets you need to move yourself and anyone else well away from that area and go to your circuit breakers. Switch off the power in that area of the house immediately.

Summary

Professional plumbers are trained and experienced in fixing all manner of problems and emergencies. If you are unsure of your own ability to fix a plumbing issue then it is time to call in a plumber. Putting these problems off can lead to serious water damage and other issues later on including flooding and serious blockages.