 Is
my plumber any good?
It isn't very difficult to gain a rudimentary understanding
of plumbing, but it is very demanding to become an official,
certified plumber. And it is very important that you
make this distinction when looking for someone to fix
your problem.
Professional plumbers will provide a permanent, effective
solution. While barely trained 'DIY experts' can
ultimately do more harm than good.
Follow these steps to determine whether or not your plumber
is the real deal:
• ASK FRIENDS – Friends
and relatives can vouch not only for a plumbers level
of expertise or competency, but also to a companies general
demeanor and business attitude. Professionals act professional,
and feedback from trusted friends is a terrific way to
decide if a company or individual is worth your business.
But don't go on recommendations alone...
• CHECK CREDENTIALS - All real
plumbers have gone through a great deal of training and
schooling. Ask them about their credentials, and they
will be more than happy to tell you about all they have
done to earn a good reputation.
• GET ESTIMATES - Respectable
organizations will provide a written work estimate without
being asked. The estimate will detail all work
to be done, as well as provide prices for replacement
parts and man hours needed. On a related note, a trust
worthy plumber will not hesitate to quote a reasonable
amount of time needed to complete the job. Be wary of
those who use a lot of 'maybes' and 'mights' and generally
seem unsure.
• MASTER PLUMBERS - Make sure
that the company you select is
commandeered by a Master Plumber. Master Plumbers go
through even more training. They have passed rigorous
tests, and more importantly, they have countless hours
of experience. Only a Master Plumber can open a certified
plumbing company.
Do I need a plumber?
There are many DIY fixes for plumbing problems. And these
can be effective. However, if you have any doubts, it
is wise to call a plumber.
Common problems addressed by plumbers are:
• Something Smells –If
you've tried unclogging the drain with simple methods
(using DRAINO, running water, etc.) and the smell prevails,
you could have any number of problems. Most likely, an
old piece of food is stuck in the drain, welded in with
soap scum and food grease. But if the smell isn't coming
from the kitchen sink or garbage disposal, you could
have rusted pipes, which could be allowing sewage fumes
to seep into the home. We discuss odors in more detail
further down the FAQ.
• Leaks – Clearly, leaks
require immediate attention and are a sure-fire sign
that a plumber is needed. Leaks are caused by holes
in pipes, or improperly sealed fixtures.
• Faulty Piping – Bad
pipes can cause water or odors to leak into the home.
Pipes get worse with age, as they rust or are generally
corrupted. A plumber can either plug the leak, or replace
the pipe. But you should contact a plumber soon, as the
more time goes by, the more of a hassle your faulty piping
will become.
• Clogged drains –Standing
water, anywhere in a home, is dirty, unsightly and unpractical.
As mentioned above, clogged kitchen drains are caused
by food grease or food particles, and can cause nasty
smells. Clogged bathroom drains are a similar nuisance,
and can prevent you from showering or washing properly.
When a bathtub or shower refuses to drain, there is a
hair and soap build up deep in your pipes. Again, if
simple fixes don't solve the problem, give up and call
a plumber. Frustrated home owners can cause real problems
when they try to unclog really backed up drains.
• Dishwasher issues – There
are a number of signs that your dishwasher needs repair
or maintenance, including: too many suds, unclean dishes,
leaks and slow performance. Many homeowners immediately
buy a new dishwasher when theirs quits working, when
a simple visit from the plumber can fix the problem.
• Hot water heaters – It
is difficult to tell if a hot water heater is acting
up. But don't ignore obvious signs. Strange noises
or foul odors produced by the appliance indicate a real
problem, and you probably need new parts or a new hot
water heater all together.
• Washing machines – Washing
machine drains get backed up very easily. They are also
prone to overflow, which can be quite a messy problem.
A plumber can solve these large issues. Or, if your machine
simply isn't performing as well as it used to (or as
well as you'd like) a plumber can restore it to optimal
levels.
• Noises in piping –Yes,
plumbers can alleviate these bothersome maons and groans.
Much more on pipe noises further down the FAQ.
Finally, it is imperative to emphasize that of all these
problems, none is as potentially damaging as standing
water. If you have standing water in your home where
you don't want it(so pretty much anywhere, then) you
need to call a plumber. Standing water indicates a deep
plumbing problem, and it can damage floors and ceilings
if left for too long.
Do I need a new toilet?
Fortunately, toilets are built to last. Chances are,
this is the first time your bowl has ever needed to be
replaced. Still, there are some problems that require
a completely new fixture. You need a new bowl if:
• The toilet bowl drains slowly
when flushed.
• The tank behind your toilet
bowl is cracked.
• The tank leaks into the bowl
• Your bitch wife says so.
Why does my house smell?
You're right to suspect the plumbing when your house
is over taken by an offensive smell. Plumbing related
odors should always be taken seriously.
They can be caused by:
• WAX SEALS – When wax seals
wear thin between toilet and flange, sewer gas can enter
the home.
• HARD WATER - Hard water is created
by a calcium and magnesium build up in pipes. It smells
very bad. Further, it can corrode your pipes and appliances.
• CLOGGED GARBAGE DISPOSAL – As
briefly touched upon above, food and grease build up
in garbage disposals can cause offensive odors. And they
are a real nuisance to clog without proper training.
• BROKEN VENT PIPES – If
your house smells distinctly like 'sewage', a broken
vent pipe is to blame. The sewage smell is an indicator
of harmful gasses entering the home, and should be dealt
with immediately.
My water pressure is so low in my shower! Help!
Low water pressure is caused by three things:
1. Cheap Shower Head - Many shower heads are to blame
for poor pressure. Often cheap or poorly designed, shower
heads sometimes just can't let powerful water through.
A simple replacement with a high pressure shower head
will fix the problem.
2. Leaking Pipes – If you used to have great
pressure, but its been getting worse with time, you probably
have a leaking pipe. Even a pin-point hole in a pipe
can seriously detract from the pressure in your shower.
3. Faulty Components – When pressure tanks get
old, they are capable of holding less and less pressure.
A faulty water pressure system can be fixed with the
addition of a new water pressure booster system.
Can I thaw my frozen pipes myself?
No! This is a big 'don't try this at home' area. Thawing
pipes seems simple and very self explanatory, but a lot
can go wrong. Call a plumber to get the job done right.
There are a lot of unknowns that affect proper pipe-thawing-procedure.
A plumber will assess the age and condition of pipes,
the amount of ice, and the pipe material. He or she will
then use the appropriate method to thaw the pipe in question,
and you will have running water again before you know
it.
Why are my faucets and drains slow?
Sometimes a clogged drain is to blame when faucets drain
at an impossibly slow speed. But, more often than not,
a faulty 'stopper' is the culprit. Stoppers become less
effective with age, which is why slow drainage is only
a very occasional problem.
After a plumber replaces the stopper, your drain will
flow clearly once more, and won't need to be replaced
again for many years.
What is that annoying, offensive,
loud noise!?!?
Below, we'll outline a few of the most common noises,
explain what causes them and whether or not they can
be fixed.
• WATER HAMMER – When
the noise is isolated and does not occur very often,
you are hearing water hammer. Essentially, this noise
is created when stops running abruptly (like when you
turn off the sink) and water travels through pipes, culminating
in a loud SHOCK. Water hammer can't be prevented, and
it gets worse and louder after many occurrences. Thus,
if you start to hear this every time you stop running
water, you need to call a plumber.
• RUNNING WATER – If you
hear running water WHOOSHING through your pipes, despite
the fact that no water is actually running, the flush
valve in your toilet is leaking. Flush valves don't pose
an immediate problem, but they do need to be replaced
eventually.
• REPETITIVE CLICKING – When
the sound from your water meters is transmitted through
pipes, this annoying noise is pumped into your home.
• PIPES RATTLING – Rattling
pipes are a sign that there is high water pressure in
your plumbing system. High pressure requires immediate
adjustment. If left un-repaired, it can further damage
your homes plumbing system. Rattling might also be caused
by old, worn down appliances. You could have an
old toilet valve, a faulty dish washer fill valve, or
an aging faucet washer. Usually a new part or two
will fix the problem, although occasionally you will
need to replace the appliance itself. |
