There is nothing wrong with doing some minor home maintenance yourself. In fact, if you are a homeowner it’s pretty much a guarantee you’ll need to turn a wrench every once in a while. Calling in a professional for every single repair however is a surefire way to go broke.
But, there are certain times when you do need to take off your toolbelt and call in a pro. That’s especially true when it comes to several more serious plumbing problems.
Here are a few signs to let you know it’s time to get on the phone and call your local plumber right away.
Chronic Clogs
Clogged pipes are easy to recognize. If a sink won’t drain or the bathtub fills so much it almost overflows while you’re taking a shower, something is wrong. Another classic sign of a clog is a foul odor emanating from a drain.
While some DIY fixes like pouring a mixture of baking soda and vinegar down the drain can break down some minor blockages for good, if they constantly reappear after a week or so, there’s something more serious going on.
Over time, sediment left by the water traveling through your pipes can harden. As it hardens it can collect more sediment, which also hardens. Eventually, you can end up with a rather serious blockage in your pipes that require the expertise of a professional. If left untreated, it’s only going to get worse.
Wet Walls
If there is one sign that shouts it’s time to call a plumber right now it’s when you see water seeping through your walls or your ceiling. There is absolutely no reason why you should see visible water in your home emanating from anywhere other than a tap.
Wet walls are a telltale sign that you have a leak. While that is a problem of its own, the even bigger reason why you will want to enlist the help of a pro is that tracking down that leak might be a lot more difficult than you think.
Water escaping from a small leak will often piggyback down the outside of your pipes before dripping off and causing damage elsewhere. So, a wet wall in your dining room may actually be caused from a leaky pipe in your guest bedroom.
Frozen Pipes
There are no shortage of frozen pipe emergencies in the Minneapolis area during the winter. When you get subzero temperatures for extended periods of time, it happens. You can try to minimize the chance it happens to you by taking certain precautions like having pipes wrapped in insulated sleeves and leaving the taps on just a tiny bit so there’s always water flowing through them. But, frozen pipes still happen.
If you suspect your pipes are frozen, it’s extremely important not to try and fix them yourself if you don’t know what you’re doing. One false step could cause the pipe to burst, and then you are in a completely different world of trouble.
In Summary
Plumbing emergencies happen. It’s OK to handle minor fixes on your own, but when the big problems appear, calling a professional is going to save you a lot more money than it will cost you.
If you suspect any of the three above problems, get on the phone and call BWS Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning at (952) 681-2615.
