And When to Call a Professional Plumber

Most of us would love to save money whenever we can.  When it comes to plumbing, however, it’s generally better to call in the professional; especially when you may be in over your head or you just don’t have the time.

Some of the smaller plumbing jobs, however, can be done at home without the risk of causing a massive flood.  Here are 5 plumbing tips that you can use in order to get the plumbing job done.  When it comes time, however, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is here to serve all of your Lake and Mendocino County plumbing needs.

Know how to Keep Sewer Lines Clear of Root Issues

If you live in a house that’s over 40 years old, your sewer lines are prone to tree root damage.  As the trees mature, their roots go deeper and seek out water.  What’s the wettest area around your house?  Probably that aging pipe that is transporting all the wastewater to the city sewer!  Fortunately, there are no tools required to keep this line clean.  There are a few different brands of root killer which you can flush down the toilet.  This foaming compound enters into the pipes and grabs on to the tree roots that are creeping through the pipes.  It kills the ends, and creates a bond so the roots won’t grow back any time soon.

Why most DIY Sewer lines will require a professional plumber

Root killer is a preventative measure though.  If you haven’t been keeping those pipes clear, you will need someone to clean out the sewer pipes first so that everything can function just how it’s supposed to.

Know how to Replace a Shower Head

Tired of your old shower head?  Or do you have one that dumps out far too much water and you want something to help keep utility costs down?  Replacing a shower head is one of the simpler plumbing jobs you can do.  Using an adjustable wrench, simply unscrew the old fixture, clean the threads, wrap with plumbing tape, and screw the new fixture back on.

Why a professional plumber is a better option to replace a shower head

When you’re working with the pipes there is always the chance that you could do some damage.  Even though it’s a simple job, you may want to have a professional plumber come by to ensure it all goes smoothly.

Know how to Stop a Constantly Running Toilet

A toilet that won’t stop running is pretty annoying.  But do you know how much water you’re wasting?  Your running toilet could be draining thousands of gallons of water each month; costing you hundreds of dollars per year.  The repair is often little more than a minor adjustment on the components.

Take the back off the toilet tank.  Most running toilet problems are due to a damaged or warped flapper.  Turn the water off to the toilet, and then flush to clear the water from the tank.  Remove the old flapper and install a new one.  But what if it’s not the flapper?  If the toilet is leaking through the overflow, simply adjust the float just turn the float adjustment so that the water stops about 1 inch below the overflow tube.

Too many trips to the hardware store can save you a lot of time if you hire a professional plumber

Toilets aren’t actually as complicated as we often think they are.  But they can be overwhelming if you don’t know quite what to look for.  Combine that with multiple trips to the hardware store because there are so many different parts means a plumber can save you a lot of time when stopping a running toilet.

Know how to Turn off the Water to the House

Many houses are getting older, and so are the pipes.  Those pipes will eventually wear out and fail.  What do you do if one breaks and water is shooting into the house?  First, turn the water off!  After that, call the punctual plumber to get the problem taken care of.

Near where the water comes into the house, there will be a water meter and a water shut-off valve.  Most are a quarter turn ball valves.  When the handle is in-line with the water pipe, the water is on; when the handle is perpendicular to the water pipe, the water is off.

If you find it hard locating the main water pipe shut off you will be better off calling a plumber

Prevent as much damage as possible by killing the water to the house quickly.

Know how to Clear Out a Slow Shower Drain

One of the worst feelings in the world is to be taking a shower and the water starts to pool up around your feet.  That slow drain is generally caused by hair going down the drain and getting stuck.  The clog is worsened when soap latches onto the hair creating a big gunk of a mess.

There’s no need to rip the whole drain apart.  Instead, grab a zip it drain cleaning too and push it into the drain.  The “teeth” will slip into the drain easily, and grab the hair on the way back out.  The mess that was slowing your drain is cleared out in just a couple of minutes.  Note: not for the faint of heart!  The gunk pulled from the drain can be pretty gross.

That hairball you pull out might solve the issue… but the issue might be further down the pipes.  In order to really get things cleaned up, a plumber will have to come and “snake” out the drain.  That’s where we can help.

 

Call a Plumber if You’re Not Comfortable

These 5 DIY plumbing tips aren’t the most difficult tasks, but what if it’s a bigger project you want to take on?  Whenever you tackle a DIY plumbing project you have to keep a few things in mind.  First, do you know how to do the entire project the right way?  If not, find a plumber near you.  Second, will you be able to do the job without messing anything else?  If not, a plumber can.  Third, do you have time to tackle the project?  Most of us are busy, if you don’t have time, your local plumber will save you the headache.

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing serves Lakeport, CA and the surrounding areas.  We offer emergency plumbing services for all of Mendocino County and parts of Lake County.  Give us a call at 707-263-1629 to schedule your service.