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Even if you are good with home repairs and can generally do your own fixes, a time may come when you will need a plumber’s assistance. Whether the job at hand is too unsafe, too difficult, or will take too much time, sometimes calling a professional is the sensible thing to do. On the other hand, there are also preventative measures you can take to minimize the need to hire a plumber.
If you weren’t aware of this already, clogged drains are among the most common plumbing issue most people will encounter in their home. Drains in your home most frequently get clogged by grease or by hair. You can prevent those pesky clogs caused by grease if you periodically treat your drains with drainage products designed to reduce grease build-up. Or if you’re good about not pouring grease down the drain to begin with, continuing not to do so is the simplest solution. Drain clogs caused by hair can be avoided by frequently cleaning the drain cover each time after showering. If the drain is already clogged, there are commercial products that can fix the problem, just be sure to read the label to make sure it’s specifically formulated for shower drains.
If you live in an area that experiences freezing temperatures, another common plumbing problem you may run into is frozen pipes. It is important to take all possible preventative measures to avoid it since frozen pipes are one of the most expensive plumbing problems to fix. The best way to avoid this costly repair is to make sure that pipes are both heated and insulated well. Be sure to disconnect outside garden hoses, turning off the indoor cut-off valve located close to the faucet, and opening the outdoor faucet to let out the excess water that would otherwise be exposed to sub-zero temperatures which would freeze and cause cracks in the pipes.
If and when the time comes you finally do need to hire a plumber, here are some tips to keep in mind. While the most common ways for plumbers to charge is by the hour, looking for the lowest hourly rate may not be the best way to choose who works on your home. You should decide on a plumber or plumbing company based on their reputation and customer satisfaction rather than just costs. It is a pretty smart idea to ask family and friends about referrals for plumbers they have hired in the past to work on their plumbing. Chances are if others had a good experience with a plumber, so will you.
If you just moved into the area and don’t have local friends to depend on for a referral, the next best thing is to search online and check for high ranking websites in the search engines. Pay attention whenever possible to available reviews online. Although there are certainly possibilities that some of the reviews are fake, more than likely each one was submitted by a real person. If a review sounds genuine then this could be a plumber you can trust.
Before calling a plumber, spend a little time and check all your faucets, toilets, drains, and other plumbing inside your home to make sure there are no other problems going on. List out any and all issues so your plumber won’t have to spend time looking and can fix them all in one visit instead of making multiple trips later on, saving you money in the long run as well.