Where To Find A Dependable Plumber | Oak Ridge, TN
Thursday, September 9th, 2021
Photo By KatarzynaBialasiewicz at istock
If you have a small leak or dripping tap you may think that you can save a bit of money by doing the repair yourself. After all, there are all those YouTube videos to help, with all those experts offering advice on fixing all types of jobs. Why do you need a plumber?
We at My Professional Plumber have been called out many times to mend an inexperienced DIYers attempts at a repair. What appears to be a simple repair is often not the case. If you are not careful, that dripping tap could turn into a Las Vegas-style water fountain and triple the cost of a professional repair.
If you need plumbing service in Oak Ridge, TN, we have an experienced team on standby, ready 24/7 to respond rapidly to your needs.
Warning Signs That You Need a Plumber
Keep an eye open for certain warning signs, the longer you ignore them the greater the cost of repair.
Clogged Sinks and Bathtubs That Are Slow to Drain
The primary cause of a slowly draining sink is a clog. A clog is formed in your pipework when warm grease, food, and other materials are poured down your sink. As the grease cools it will stick to the insides of the pipe and attract food and other material like coffee grinds to the now sticky surface. The clog will grow and as it gets larger it will restrict the flow of water through the pipe. If you do nothing about it the clog will grow so large as to completely block the sink.
A similar problem can happen in your bathtub and shower tray. You may have also noticed that water is lapping over your feet when you have a shower due to the water slowly draining away. The main cause for clogs forming here is hair, soap, and toothpaste sticking to the pipes.
The problem of clogs will be made worse in an area with hard water. In these areas, minerals that are dissolved in the water can leave limescale deposits on the pipes. They can be hard to remove. It may be tempting to pour chemicals down the sink and bathtub, and this may remove smaller clogs. Many clogs, especially those with limescale deposits may be difficult to remove or could even reform. The use of too many chemicals is going to corrode older pipework and joints and lead to leaks. The only safe way to remove clogs is to have a professional drain cleaning service from our team.
It is probably best to stop clogs from forming in the first place. You can do this by not pouring grease and food down your sink. Place these items in the compost. Another tip is to place hair traps in your bathtub and shower tray, the hair trap will catch any hair, soap bits, or toothpaste before it enters your pipework
Your Toilets Keep Blocking
It comes as a surprise to most people that wet wipes. Kleenex tissues and sanitary towels should not be flushed down the toilet. These items are not designed to easily dissolve in water, and if not flushed away quickly are some of the main causes of blockages. We have marveled at many different items that have been flushed down a toilet and caused a blockage.
Many people will use chemicals to remove any blockage, but this comes with some risks. Again, overuse of harsh chemicals can only cause damage to older pipework and joints. If the source of the blockage is far away from the toilet any chemicals may not even reach it. If the source of the blockage should turn out to be a child’s plastic toy, the chemicals are not going to dissolve that in a hurry.
We also advise you not to keep flushing the toilet to remove a blockage. The most likely thing to happen is that your toilet will overflow, spilling nasty germs and bacteria over your floor, not to mention any human waste. The team from My Professional Plumber in Oak Ridge, TN will have protective clothing to keep them safe from infection so this is not a job you should tackle yourself.
Your Pipes Have Burst
This is probably the most common reason for calling a plumber. We have all seen the pictures of people trying to catch dripping water from their ceilings in buckets. It is not funny if it happens to you. Water is a very destructive force, and the longer a pipe leaks the greater the water damage caused, and the repair bill will be.
If you have a burst pipe you need to do the following things to reduce any water damage caused. First find the main water shutoff valve, if you do not know where it is, find out now. The sooner you turn it off the better. Next, you should turn off mains electricity as well, you do not want to electrocute yourself!
The longer the water runs the greater the damage to your home and personal belongings. It is heart-breaking to see treasured possessions and furnishings destroyed, but the sooner the water is turned off the sooner your Oak Ridge, TN home can dry out and the repairs begin.
You Have a Leak Somewhere
A small leak is not such an emergency as a burst pipe but if left for any length of time the water damage can still be considerable. A small leak is not always easy to find, often the first sign is a water stain on the ceiling or the smell of damp from the cabinet under your sink.
Any damp floors or walls are another sign. If you think that you have a leak, the best thing you can do is to turn off all your taps and water appliances. Then check your water meter to see if it is still running, if it is you have a leak and you need a plumber to quickly find and then repair it.
My Professional Plumber of Oak Ridge, TN
There are many reasons why you may need the services of a plumber and they are too many to mention here. But by calling us you will be assured that only the best qualified and experienced plumbers will arrive at your home.