Whether you enjoy DIY projects or want to save money, you may be tempted to try and fix plumbing problems on your own when they rear their ugly heads.
But even if you have some knowledge as to what you’re doing, not only can it be time-consuming, but it can be unproductive as well. In fact, you might make things worse!
So yes, technically you can fix small plumbing issues yourself. But sometimes, you have to draw the line and call in the professionals.
Here are six signs it’s time to put down the tools and hire a plumber instead.
1. Your Water Isn’t Running or It Isn’t Clear
Obviously, if your water won’t flow, this should be a major sign that you need to call a plumber yesterday. Since there can be multiple reasons for your lack of water, you need a professional to step in.
They can quickly find the source of your issue (such as a blocked water main or a huge leak) and take the appropriate actions to get your water running again.
If your water isn’t running clear, then that’s also something you shouldn’t and can’t handle on your own. If you have blue or green water, you may have copper pipes that are corroded.
If you have brown water, then you may have problems with your heater working correctly or there’s an excess of iron in your water supply.
In any case, anything that comes out of your taps that’s not clear water is an issue that needs to be handled promptly by a professional.
2. You Don’t Have Any Hot Water
If there’s no hot water, don’t panic just yet. Check your water heater first; see if the pilot’s still lit or if there are any leaks.
If it’s the pilot, relight it. If there’s a crack or leak in your water heater, then you’ll need to have it either repaired or replaced.
No hot water can also point to your water heater not being large enough to handle your family’s hot water needs. Whatever the reason is for your lack of hot water, you’ll want to consult with a pro plumber to find the right solution.
3. Your Pipes Are Draining Slowly
If only one pipe is draining slowly, then you may be lucky. This most likely means it’s one clogged pipe, and you can try fixing that with a drain snake or some cleaning solution, like a mix of water and vinegar or baking soda.
However, if the clog won’t go away after cleaning, or multiple pipes are sluggish, then you have a bigger problem on your hands. This can indicate that there’s a giant clog further down your sewage line.
Don’t try to get rid of the clog any further, since you can cause damage to the pipes.
You definitely don’t want to wait to get help, since by prolonging the waiting period, water can start coming back up your pipes if the clogs get severe enough. This can cause sewage to leak into your home, which is not safe for anyone in your residence.
4. You Hear Water Running When It’s Actually Not
Do you feel like you’re hearing a whoosh of water running when you’re not running any? Have you gone around to check that all the taps are off? Then you might feel like you’re going crazy.
But you’re not. When you hear water running in your pipes when nothing is being used, that’s a clue that you might have a leak.
Take a look around your house to see if you can find any visible signs of a leak, such as water pooling. Your water bill also might be running higher than usual, despite no extra usage.
By finding the source of the leak, this can help the plumber you hire to fix things quicker. The more information you can give them, the better.
For example, if you tell them the pooled water is warm, this indicates that the leak is in the hot water line, which means they don’t have to poke around finding the source anymore.
5. Your Pipes Are Frozen
If your pipes are frozen, don’t even think about trying to solve this problem by yourself. You might think yourself clever in saving yourself some money by thawing the pipe yourself, but this can do some serious damage.
They can crack or even burst, which would be disastrous.
Instead, you should immediately call a professional plumber to come out to your property.
Not only can they get your water flowing again, but they can also find the reason why your pipes are freezing and give you the proper advice and actions to take to prevent it from happening again.
6. A Bad Smell’s Coming from Your Drains
If enough gunk gets stuck in your drains, it can create a nasty smell, as you can imagine. This can easily be fixable if you regularly clear out your pipes with the mixed solutions we mentioned earlier.
But if the smells persist, it can be a sign that there’s something wrong with your sewer line. What you’re smelling may be the leaking gases, so you need a plumber pronto to help you determine if that’s the actual cause.
By getting regular drain cleaning service, you can prevent your pipes from clogging up, which also prevents a number of other problems. You won’t have to deal with slow drainage and water coming back up the pipes.
Hire a Plumber Who’s Reliable
Many problems having to do with your sink or toilet are things you shouldn’t handle yourself, so make sure you hire a plumber who’s reliable.
The worst thing that could happen is if you pay money for them to fix the problem, only to have it crop up again!
So make sure you do your research and hire the best plumber in the area. That way, you won’t have the headache of plumbing issues come up again in a short span of time.
If you’d like to tackle some DIY projects that are safe and fun to do, then check out our DIY blog section.
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