Categories
Emergency Plumbing Plumbing

DIY Plumbing Problems and When to Call in a Professional Plumber

do it yourself plumbing 300x300 1Water is one of the most destructive and costliest forces when it comes to causing damage to your home. That’s why it’s important to know when you can fix a plumbing issue yourself or when it’s time to call in a professional plumber.

Here are some basic plumbing repairs you can tackle yourself.

  • A slowly dripping faucet
    Hearing a constant dripping sound when you are trying to sleep is not only annoying but it’s costing you money! A steady drip can mean the washer within the faucet needs to be replaced. Turn off the water to the faucet and then unscrew the handle. Inspect the O-ring and washer for damage. Replace with a new washer and reassemble. If the drip continues, you may have broken plumbing or lose parts. If you have a newer faucet with a lever instead of traditional separate knobs, you may need an Emergency Plumbing Professional to replace a broken ceramic plate or fix any of your leaking faucet problems.
  • A running toilet
    After you flush, does water continue to flow into the bowl? If so, that means you have a problem with your lever located in the tank behind the bowl. To fix it, remove the toilet tank lid, find the chain that is likely sunk to the bottom of the tank and reattach it to the lever that is attached to the toilet handle. In some cases, you may need to replace the chain if it has been damaged.
  • A clogged drain
    Stop! Before you pour a chemical drain cleaner down the drain to clear a drain, try using a natural alternative of baking soda, salt, and hot water. Find out how to naturally unclog a drain here. Some clogs are lodged too deep in your pipes to clear or are too large for solvents. That’s when you need a plumbing expert to clear up the situation.
  • A showerhead trickle
    Does your shower head spray water in all sorts of crazy directions or does the water seem blocked in certain parts of it? You might have a limescale buildup on the shower head and spray plate. Try removing the shower head and spray plate and soaking them in a descaling solution. A cleaned shower head should get your shower back on track.
  • A gnarled garbage disposal
    A garbage disposal can sometimes come to a grinding halt. There are some easy things to get it going again. Try resetting it using the reset button at the bottom of the disposal. If that doesn’t work, try using an Allen key to manually turn the disposal to dislodge the clog. If your disposal is leaking or still won’t work, call in a professional.

Here are some plumbing emergencies that are best left to the professional plumbers!

  • Water heater malfunction
    Leaking water heaters or water heaters that are emitting an odor or making a strange sound is all cause to call in a professional. Improperly performing water heaters can be a health and safety hazard. At Code Blue Plumbing, we are experts in gas, electric and tankless water heaters and we can help service your water heater before you have a problem.
  • Sump pump failure
    Your sump pump is your home’s first line of defense against a high water table that can happen when there is a large rain or snow event. If it fails, you could face a flooded basement and expensive water damage repairs. Sump pumps need to be properly maintained and serviced. A Code Blue Plumbing expert can help you if your sump pump fails and also prevent it from doing so in the first place!
  • Burst pipes
    Extreme changes in temperature can cause a water pipe to burst sending hundreds of gallons of water into your home. If a pipe bursts, immediately shut off the main water valve to your home and call a professional.
  • Clogged sewer lines
    The main sewer line to your home is one of the biggest and most important pieces of plumbing. A sewer line collapse or clog is always best handled by a professional. At Code Blue Plumbing we have the tools to diagnose and fix your sewer line issue.

Troubleshooting your plumbing problem is ok as long as you are not in over your head. At Code Blue Plumbing, there’s no need to second guess yourself. Our experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we never charge extra for same day service, evenings or weekend appointments.

Finding an emergency plumber you can trust has never been easier. Call Code Blue Plumbing today and be confident the job will be done right.