Time to Call the Plumber

Why Do You Need to Call a Plumber?

As a homeowner, it is only natural that you want to handle as many of the problems with your home as you can, but sometimes you just have to call in a professional plumber. If you aren’t sure exactly what’s wrong or how to fix it, it’s always better to be safe than sorry. But even for homeowners who are quite handy and have actually fixed minor plumbing issues in the past, there is a line in the sand that should only be crossed for professionals. Here are six situations when a professional plumber should be called in to handle it:

• 1. Valve problems – This is one of those issues that sound much easier than it really is. A valve may be a tiny piece of the overall system, but its small size doesn’t mean that it’s not complicated. Simply trying to find the right valve can be challenging, and even something that seems like a small error can result in holes in your wall and major leaks that cause mold and mildew. This is a small job better left to a professional.
• 2. Building permits required – In most cases when a building permit is required, something major is being done to the home. There is also a higher level of accountability here. Any time you’re going to be moving the plumbing around or changing out any major fixtures, you definitely need a professional.
• 3. Bathtubs – Probably the biggest job in a bathroom remodel is putting in a new bathtub, and the sheer size of this job definitely requires a professional plumber. In addition to the simple size of the job, you could also face a nearly endless list of things that could go wrong.
• 4. Water heaters or sump pumps – If you think dealing with leaky pipes is difficult, you can multiply that difficulty by about a thousand when dealing with major water appliances like sump pumps or water heaters. In addition to dealing with pipes and plumbing, you also have to know the darkest details about how these appliances work. This one is definitely better left to a professional.
• 5. Gas lines – In most parts of the country, a licensed plumber is required in jobs that have anything to do with gas lines. Gas line problems can result in issues that are much more serious than damaged property. You could be talking about lives, so this is definitely a time to get a professional in.
• 6. Big blockages -So there are small blockages and big blockages, and if you’re in doubt about what makes a blockage a big one, don’t worry. You’ll know it when you see it. In fact, you may not realize at first that there is even a blockage, but you will notice some very strange things going on. When the toilet starts backing up into the bathtub, you know that there is a big blockage that needs to be taken care of. Most homeowners can use a plunger or chemicals to clear a smaller blockage, but if you’re having trouble clearing one of any size, even if it seems small, get a professional to come in and take care of it. The plumbing throughout your home is connected, so if you push or pull a pipe the wrong way, you could damage the system elsewhere.

You just can’t be too careful when you’re dealing with any kind of plumbing problem, so when in doubt, get someone who knows what they are doing. Hire a plumber in Costa Mesa from Scott English Plumbing to handle all of your major plumbing problems.