No one is an expert at everything, and if you were, you probably wouldn’t be reading this. You wouldn’t diagnose a family member’s ailment and prescribe a remedy, and it’s the same with some plumbing situations. If it were easy then everyone would do it and the “P” section in the phone book would be much thinner.
Gas Lines
Work on gas lines is one of the biggest jobs that should be left to licensed plumbers. A lot of cities require a licensed person to work on gas lines by code. This is due mostly to the danger inherent in working with gas. Small leaks may not be detected by odor alone. A licensed plumber should always have the proper pressure-testing equipment to ensure that there are no leaks in the line.
Another concern with gas lines is the threading of the pipe and fitting of joints. The equipment to do this is expensive to own (and impractical for the average home owner). Improperly threaded pipe could leave connections with leaks small enough to be over looked by the average home owner. The same holds true for tightening on fittings. Believe it or not, over-tightening a fitting can cause as much trouble and an under-tightened fitting. Again, any plumber worth his weight will always pressure test the lines before leaving the job.
Mainlines (Water and Sewer)
Work with any of your mainlines (water and sewer) is also best left to the pros. Just the process of turning the water off at the street ( “curb box” in plumbing lingo) -requires special equipment. A long rod with a special tip, called a street key, is used to shut off service to the line.
As for the main sewer lines, snaking can be done by a confident home owner. For around $50 you can rent a sewer snake for four hours, which should be enough time to clean tree roots from the line, but it doesn’t guarantee that everything will be fine in the line. If the line continues to back up calling a plumber is the only choice, as it means that there is something else wrong with the line. It could be broken or back pitched and a licensed plumber should be able to detect the problem and suggest a solution.
Generally Speaking
As with anything, whenever you feel uncomfortable using equipment or unsure of the proper way to complete the project a professional should be called. They can usually quickly assess the situation and resolve it. They will also notice any foreseeable problems and suggest resolutions.
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Whether they occur in your kitchen or bathroom, drain clogs are an extreme annoyance and impede your daily routine. There are several causes. A common one is simply hair, food, or debris becoming lodged in the drain of a shower or kitchen sink. Similarly, cooking grease is a lesser-known culprit. However, sometimes when your drains appear backed up, it is a more serious issue. Though you should always call a plumber if you have an advanced issue, there are indeed few ways to solve the problem of stopped up plumbing pipes in the home. Read on to know when to do it yourself!
ReplyDeleteChris from gas plumbing services
Many homeowners who are thinking about calling plumbing services for their home understand the symptoms of the problem. For example, they may see water pooling near the hot water heater or notice a strange odor and sound when they flush their toilet. Take time to research the issue and determine what may be causing your issue. Once you understand what is causing the issue, you can research the steps to repair the problem. Keep in mind that if there are several different issues that could be causing the issues you are noticing, you may consider calling a professional to accurately diagnose your issue. You typically must know what is wrong with your pipes and fixtures before you can repair them.
ReplyDeletetoilet plumbing service