Whether you consider yourself a DIY pro or a have-a-go novice, there are some occasions when you need to down tools and call in a professional. A qualified plumber has studied for years to get the skills and know-how to tackle even the most challenging problems. Here are some of those occasions.
- If you have consistently low pressure throughout the house. Low pressure basically means that your water is being obstructed somewhere along the way. This could be caused by something obstructing the pipes, low pressure from the water source, or badly laid supply pipes. A good local plumber will be able to diagnose the problem and (hopefully) fix it.
- Drains backing up – blocked waste is no fun. If you have done everything you can think of to unblock or clear your drains, it’s time to call in the big guns. Sewer pipes can become blocked over time, can become damaged or obstructed by tree roots. Your plumber has the gear and the know-how to identify the issue and clear any blockage.
- No hot water – if your boiler is on the blink, it may be difficult for you to identify the cause. With a wealth of experience, what will take you hours on YouTube with no guarantee of fixing will take a professional plumber much less time – not to mention the reduced stress of knowing your boiler is in safe hands.
- If your pipes freeze – frozen pipes may seem like a thing of the past, but it only takes one cold snap to make your day a very bad one. To prevent pipes from freezing, leave a couple of taps just dripping, to keep the water moving. If you do notice that your pipes have frozen. Switch off your water supply and switch on the nearest tap. Have a good look at the pipes; if they seem undamaged, you can thaw them out yourself, but if they have cracked or split due to the expanding ice, you will need to call a plumber to repair it. If in doubt – call your local plumber. They may opt to replace the entire frozen section rather than wait for it to thaw and assess the damage.
It is easy to think that you can fix anything yourself, but sometimes opting for DIY can be a false economy – it can cost more to fix a botched fix attempt than it would have to get help in the first place. If in doubt, contact a couple of local plumbers and ask for a quote- this will allow you to assess the risk and see if the cost is worth the peace of mind.
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