When Do You Need To Call A Plumber? | Mesa, AZ
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When you own a home, you can spend a lot of time looking for problems and trying to figure out how to solve them. Unfortunately, doing a good job of taking care of your Mesa, AZ, home can be tough when you don’t have a lot of expertise. Watching out for plumbing problems so you can get them fixed as soon as possible is one of the keys to taking care of your home. If you’re not sure when to call a plumber, here are some tips to help you decide.
Leaks
No matter what kind of leak you’re dealing with, it’s always a smart idea to call a plumber. Even a small leak can lead to significant water damage in your home, plus leaks waste a lot of water. If you notice a particularly bad leak in your home, you may even want to call an emergency plumbing service.
Time is of the essence when it comes to dealing with leaks, so calling a professional should always be your first move. If you know how to, you can also use either the main water shutoff valve or the shutoff for the fixture to shut off your water and prevent further damage and water waste.
Depending on how bad of a leak you have in your home, you may also need to call a water damage cleanup company. It’s important to remove all the water from your home, as well as any building materials such as drywall which may be developing mold and mildew. While hiring a plumber and a cleanup crew can cost a bit, it’s worth preventing further water damage and a mold infestation in your home.
Clogs
Clogs are one of the most common plumbing problems, so you might not think they’re a big deal. The truth is, clogs aren’t a big deal until they build up too much. However, you can’t get rid of a drain clog by simply continuing to use your drains like nothing happened.
As a homeowner, there are only two things you should do to attempt to remove a clog. First, you can try using an enzyme-based liquid drain cleaner to break the clog down and make it easier to wash down the drain. If that doesn’t work, you can use a plunger to try to loosen up the clog with physical pressure.
If liquid drain cleaners and plungers don’t work, calling a plumber should be your next step. Not only is it important to get clogs removed before they get any worse, but you can also do a lot of damage trying to remove clogs yourself.
Running Toilet
It’s not uncommon for a toilet to continue running well after it’s been flushed, but that doesn’t mean running toilets aren’t a big deal. If you notice your toilet making noise 10 or 20 minutes after you last used the bathroom, make sure you call an expert to take a look at your toilet.
The big problem with running toilets is that they waste an absurd amount of water. Essentially, a running toilet is constantly filling its tank with water and cycling out old water, which is why they can waste nearly a thousand gallons of water in a single month.
The good news about running toilets is that they’re pretty easy to fix in most cases. Running toilets are generally caused by a problem with the flapper, fill tube or toilet lift chain, which are all problems that can be fixed relatively quickly.
Burst Pipes
If there’s one thing you never want to see in your home, it’s a burst pipe. While this isn’t as much of a problem in Arizona due to the higher temperatures, it’s still important to know the basics of burst pipes and how you can prevent them.
Burst pipes are caused by the water inside a pipe freezing and expanding until the pipe is broken. When the water thaws out again, the broken pipe allows it to freely spill out into your walls or crawlspace. This is one of the most common problems that plumbers deal with during the winter.
Fortunately, preventing burst pipes is as simple as making sure your water lines don’t get too cold. If you have lines run in exterior walls of your home, make sure they’re properly insulated. You can have a plumber install heat tape for extra protection, although that’s not a major concern in Arizona.
No Hot Water
You need hot water for so many daily tasks that not having it is somewhat of a plumbing emergency. If the water in your home isn’t getting hot enough or you have no hot water at all, your first move should be calling a plumber to check on your water heater.
The thing to remember when it comes to your water heater is that they aren’t designed to last that long. Modern water heaters only last about 8 to 12 years on average, so it could be time to replace yours already.
In some cases, replacing a thermostat or heating element can get your hot water working again. You may even need your tank flushed of sediment. Whatever the case may be, water heater problems are always a good reason to call a plumbing company.
Here to Help
You’ve got your work cut out for you when it comes to being a homeowner, but you can make the whole process a little easier with help from the pros. If you need a plumber to help get your hot water working again or unclog a drain, Schroeder Plumbing is here to help. From water line repair and replacement to drain clogs and plumbing emergencies, our plumbers can take care of any problem you may have in your Mesa, AZ, home. Next time you have a plumbing problem, give Schroeder Plumbing a call at 480-428-8996.
