Be The Pro Or Find One
When you're in a bind and need some plumbing work done, you've got to make a decision, and fast, since having an inoperable toilet or sink couldn't be any more inconvenient. Do you have the knowledge and skills to figure out the problem and fix it, or do prefer to let a professional deal with it? Either way, there are some tips to consider before spending your money.
High risk with potential high reward
If you're one of those people that likes the challenge of fixing something you've never fixed before, this could be a great project for you. There is definitely the high risk of running up your expenses if you don't do your homework, though. A smart thing to do would be to research online the steps to resolve whatever issue you're dealing with. It's easy to find video explanations on YouTube that show you every step of the way. Viewing a few different explanations before beginning could help you avoid making any mistakes during the process.
Costs of doing it yourself breakdown:(depending on your needs)
- Wax Ring (for toilet): $40
- Plumbing wrench: $100
- Plunger: $30
- Plumber's putty: $20
- Putty knife: $30
- Caulking gun: $50
- Sponge & Bucket Container: $15
- New Toilet: $500
- Sewer line snake rental: $70
- Toilet Flange: $30
Finding the right professional
The trickiest part about hiring a professional plumber to do the job for you is finding the right one with the right price. If you hire the wrong guy, it could turn into a nightmare in regards to what they charge and the mediocre job they might do. You could end up spending twice as much money as you were planning to if it's a bad hire. If you take the time to find the professional, chances are you'll be pretty happy with their work and the reasonable price they charge you. Keep in mind, you're also saving yourself time by hiring a pro do it for you. These are all things to be considered.
Cost of hiring a plumber breakdown:
- Plumber's hourly rate: $150/per hour
- Hydro Jetting (for tough clogs): $600
- Clearing a toilet clog: $250
- Emergency Service for clog: $600
- Having household sewer line snaked: $800
Tips on how to prevent leaks
One of the most common water leaks in homes has to do with the washing machine. Like any other potential leak in the house, leaks caused by the washing machine can lead to very costly damage. What can you do to prevent this? For starters, avoid having plastic or rubber hoses. They don't last very long and you can almost always count on them leaking at some point. The hose you can rely on is a steel braided hose. They typically last six years but it's smart to replace them every five. It will be easy to forget the date on which you replaced the hose, so don't forget to jot down the date somewhere. You could do this with a piece of tape and stick it on the hose, for example. Also, it's not a bad idea to check the connections every once in a while to make sure they're tight.
If you haven't ran into any toilet issues yet, get ready because you will at some point. When you have a clogged toilet, a few suggestions can help you solve the issue. When you flush the toilet when it's clogged up, it's common for the toilet bowl to overflow. This is what you need to avoid at all costs since this could damage your floor. If you quickly remove the lid off of the toilet and lift the float, this will stop the toilet from filling up. The next thing you want to do is locate and turn off the water valve. You'll be glad you did so.
Your supply line pipe can potentially be the most expensive thing to fix if you aren't able to prevent it from wearing out or freezing up and bursting. Replacing a burst pipe can cost anywhere from $7,000-$8,000. How do you avoid this potential disaster? You need to keep an eye on the water pressure assuring that it's between 30 and 40 psi. You can purchase and install a water pressure regulator to help you with this. In regards to the pipes freezing up and bursting, you can insulate the pipes. For those of you who are currently building a home, this would be a perfect time to do this.
