Selecting a Local Plumber

            Think you have some leaky pipes or a clogged toilet at home? Calling a plumber may be your first option. There are quite a few available in your neighborhood, but will you really be getting your money's worth after you place the call for one? It may be a fairly small industry, but making sure you don't get cheated out of your hard-earned cash can help you get rid of your plumbing problems for good without breaking the bank.

            So what's there to look for in a plumber? Quite a few things, to be honest. It's just as important to find a plumber who is especially trustworthy, in addition to having the skills and know-how to tackle any plumbing situation imaginable. A winning combination of these qualities will help you get rid of any plumbing debacle your home might have at the moment. Call up a friend and get a recommendation, if you can.

Services Offered

            Depending on the kind of plumbing problem you have around your home, you may need a plumber to service a specific need. For this, you will need to hire a plumber who specializes in a certain kind of plumbing problem. Here are the most common kinds of services offered by plumbers in this day and age:

 

            Plumbers will also be able to diagnose the plumbing problem in your home accurately and reliably in order to give you the service you need to get your home back in working shape.

How to Find a Trustworthy Plumber

            Probably more important than any other element is the amount of trust you can put into a plumber. More often than not, people will find themselves trusting a plumber enough to give an accurate quote and efficient service, but this is not the case for many. You will be leading a plumber into the confines of your home, as well, so it's very important to find one who is especially trustworthy.

            When you look for a plumber, look for the following qualities and signs of a good one:

 

            While the mere act of hiring one can be a lot of work, you should go the extra mile to ensure reliability and safety. Plumbers of today are certainly able and trustworthy enough; you just need to know how and where to look.

4 Important Tips For Finding A Plumber before You Need One

Finding a plumber is not the easiest task when you need one, especially if there is water all over the kitchen.  Calling the first one in a directory can lead to even more problems if they aren't as competent as they should be with your problem.  Here are a few things to look for in a local plumber to hire.

Everyone is always on the look out for being cheated with the fees a plumber charges. However, if you do it yourself you might be spending more than a plumber cost.  In the long run, it pays to know a local plumber before you need one. 

The first rule is to listen when others talk about the plumbing job they had done.  If it's a negative report, then you certainly don't want the same plumber.  Finding a plumber that everyone talks about is the plumber you want.  Although, plumbers do have their bad days, a good plumber will always fix the botched job, usually free of charge. Listen to word of mouth recommendations for a local plumber in your area.  Be sure you have their number on hand for when you need them.

The second rule is to be sure they are licensed to do the work.  Most cities and states have a test plumbers have to pass before they can work.  It also allows them to be bonded, so you won't have to worry they are casing your place for a midnight marketing run.  Ask to see the license or at least get their license number.  You can check it out online.

The third rule is to check their reviews and feedback online.  Technology brought us the Internet, so it pays to use it to find licensed plumbers in your area.  If they are good, of course, the reviews will be outstanding, but with they are bad, you'll be able to find that out, too.

The fourth rule is to have them give you a written quote. You can compare them with other local plumbers, but don't go on price alone.  The least expensive is not always the best.  Written quotes give you an idea of what the price of the plumbing problem will be as well as being able to compare them to other companies.

Choosing the best plumber is a matter of finding a plumber before you need them.  Do your homework and research the local plumber directory to find the one capable of providing you with the service you need before you need them.  If you've just moved into a new area, the proceeding rules will find you the plumber that meets your needs before you have to make that emergency call.

Fix a Faucet Yourself

There are many things around the house that are just not that hard to fix. A leaky faucet is usually one of them. If you are willing to invest a bit of time, you can save your household a service and parts call to a plumber. If you search the Internet, you will see long and involved articles about fixing a faucet. The truth is it takes a lot of words to describe a fairly obvious procedure. So here, only the most important steps and tips will be mentioned.  It is assumed that you will be able to “see” a lot without being explicitly told.

• Most household faucets are delicate: This is really important. So often people grab at the bolts and screws like they are in a fight for their lives. But the fact is, these components are not made of the strongest stuff, and they are very easy to strip. Once these components are striped, your life has just become a lot harder. So, use gentle pressure and a tool that is appropriate.
• It’s all about the right kit: Before you can even do a thing, you have to have gone to the hardware store and purchased the right faucet repair kit. But you cannot do this until you have opened up your faucet’s insides to see what kind of faucet it is (unless you already know). There are two basic categories Washer and Washer less. Faucets with a washer are kind of old-school these days, and not too many new faucets are made this way. But if your fixtures are old, you may have one with a rubber washer at the bottom of the valve. Now, the class of Waterless faucets has three main members: ball, disc, and cartridge.
• Unpacking the insides: In order to know what you are dealing with, you will first have to open up the faucet (do not forget to shut off all water and turn on the faucet to get the remaining water out). Faucets are not rocket science, so you will either see a screw to loosen or a decorative cap to gently pry off with a flat head screwdriver. From there, you will likely see a bolt that you can (gently) loosen. This should grant you access to the main insides. Loosen screws as needed to take completely apart.Often the parts are small, so it is recommended that you lay them out on a tray or towel in an orderly fashion so you can visually see how they all connect. Taking a photo of this array is great in case the cat or dog tips over the tray!
• Assess: With all the components exposed, you will be able to take these (or a photo of them) to the hardware store and match with the correct repair kit. Once you get the repair kit home, you can compare the components from your faucet to the new ones in the kit. Again, this is not brain surgery. Look and see. What part looks the most worn or tired or dirty? This is the one that most likely is the culprit. If you want, you can replace just the one faulty part, or more. It is up to you. Then, reassemble, reattach and turn the water back on. If you need to see some good pictures of different faucet types click here.

These are the key steps to fixing a leaky faucet in your home. Don’t forget that you can always search YouTube for videos that discuss your exact faucet and problem. But the most important thing to know is that you can do this.

 

Fixing a Leaky Pipe

Just about every home owner has experienced issues with the pipes in their home. It seems like it is just a fact of home ownership. Sooner or later a problem will arise concerning pipes. Home owners usually recognize that there is a problem when they receive a water bill that seems rather high. The first thought is that there must be a leak in the house or someone is taking too many showers. Fixing a leaking pipe begins with making sure that there is a leaking pipe in the home. Let’s take a closer look at the issue.

First, go through the house and turn off all the sources that use water. Make sure all the faucets are off. Turn off the ice maker in the fridge. Next, go to the water meter and take a close look at the dials or digits. Moving digits or a dial that continues to move probably points to a leak in the pipes. Finding the source of the leak might take a bit more time. It is time to put on your detectives’ hat and do some research. Often, it is easy to find the leak by listening to the pipes and following the sound.

Once you’ve discovered the source of the leak it is time to get to work fixing the leaking pipe. Often, it is easy to fix the leak with a few items that you might already have around the house. Homeowners should understand that it is important to tackle that leak as soon as possible. A leaking pipe could cause really serious water damage to the house and surrounding furnishings.

Once you’ve discovered the source of the leak turn off the water supply to stop any further damage. For example, if the leak is in the pipe leading to the tub, turn off the water supply valve on the tub. Perhaps, the leak is to a kitchen sink. Turn off the valve that supplies water to the kitchen sink. The valve should be under the sink. Turn off the main water supply vale if you cannot find the other valves.

There are a number of ways to temporarily fix a leaking pipe. First, let’s tackle the simplest way to fix leaking pipes. Take a length of electrical tape and wrap it securely around the leaking pipe. Make sure that the leak area is fully covered. Wrap a few inches beyond the leak for extra security. Now, the next way to fix a leaking pipe is a bit more complicated and requires a few more items for the repair. This repair will require a piece of rubber gasket that is slightly larger than the leak in the pipes. The repair also requires a worm drive screw clamp. Open up the clamp and slowly slip it over the leak on the pipe. Center the strap on the clamp over the rubber gasket patch which is placed on top of the leak. Next, screw the clamp device tight. This repair should last much longer than the previous repair. Still, it is wise to consult with a plumber about a permanent repair on the pipe.

Of course, there are also leaking pipe repair products on the market that are very good at fixing a minor leak in a pipe system. Many of the products are very reasonably priced. Make sure that you read and follow the instructions very carefully.