Plumbing repairs can be a mystery to many people. Even the most basic problems can cause chaos for these people, when the truth is that these problems can be solved with just a quick trip to the home improvement store. Read this article to find some basic tips about handling plumbing problems in your own home.
The number one benefit of handling your own plumbing problems is that you can save a lot of money. Just for the favor of coming to your home, plumbers charge you an upfront fee for the trip -- whether they end up doing any work or not. It is true that they will usually do work, but why pay $75 just for someone to come out? If you can handle the job yourself, then keep the money and take your wife out for a nice dinner, after you've fixed the garbage disposal yourself.
If you've ever read the "Dagwood" comic strips, you know the downside of trying plumbing repairs yourself. If you don't take the proper precautions, you could end up with a plumbing disaster -- a flooded kitchen or bathroom, or even worse. If you don't know what you are doing, take the time to find out first. If you don't have the time to do the research yourself, then go ahead and call a licensed professional. You definitely don't want to have to deal with the consequences of a botched repair.
One of the easiest plumbing projects is replacing the flapper kit in your toilet. The rubber flapper will corrode over time, and the flapper will no longer form a seal at the bottom of the tank. As a result, water will continue to run. This isn't a big deal as far as damage to your home, because the excess water will run through the bowl down into the sewage system, just like the rest of the water in the toilet. However, it can lead to a bigger water bill than you deserve. Go to the store, buy a toilet flapper kit, and follow the simple instructions for installation. Another project involves replacing a garbage disposal under your kitchen sink. You'll need a friend to help you lift the old unit out and put the new unit in, because they are heavy and awkward, but if you can follow directions and use putty, you're good to go.
When should you call a professional? When the job looks like you're going to have to cut into your wall, or when there looks like there is a leak that you can't find. Evidence of these leaks can take the form of brown stains on the ceiling or walls. That means that water is lurking back there and leaching into your sheet rock -- a major red flag. At these times, get on the phone and call a licensed pro to come do the job for you.
By just learning some of the rudiments of plumbing, you can save yourself those trip fees. However, don't be so eager to do home repair that you end up doing much more damage instead. Keep this in mind, and start building up your plumbing knowledge today.
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