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More and more homeowners today are making projects around the house, DIY projects. With all of the videos available online that can teach you to do things and the seminars held at local hardware stores, many people try to save money but making home repairs themselves. There are plenty of jobs that the handy homeowner can handle, such as staining a fence, painting the house, or replacing a doorknob. There are some home repairs; however, that shouldn’t be DIY projects. Plumbing is one of them. The plumbing system in your Oak Ridge, TN, home is complicated. Unless you have the necessary training and experience, you can end up doing more harm than good. If someone put too much toilet paper down the toilet, you can use a plunger to break it up. However, there are many jobs that should only be left to a licensed professional.
Slow or Clogged Drains
If the drains in your Oak Ridge, TN home are draining slowly or if they are completely clogged, it can make everyday household tasks difficult and even impossible. When something like this happens, many people will go to the store to buy a liquid drain cleaner. This isn’t the best idea. First, these products don’t always work. If the drain is completely clogged, the liquid drain cleaner won’t be able to reach the pipes. Also, these products can be very harmful to the pipes and can cause permanent damage.
If your drains are slow or clogged, you should call a licensed plumber. The plumber will use a drain snake to remove the clog. If the snake doesn’t work, they can run a camera down the pipes to find the source of the clog.
Running Toilet
When you flush the toilet in your Oak Ridge, TN home, it should run just long enough to refill the tank, and then stop. If your toilet is always running, you should call a plumber. Depending on the water pressure in your home, a running toilet can waste over a gallon of water per hour, which equals to about 26-gallons per day. This is a significant amount of water. If your toilet is running, you should call a licensed plumber. The issue would be with the flapper seal, the flush valve, the overflow valve, the flapper chain, a leaky fill valve, or a corroded toilet handle. A licensed professional has the knowledge and experience to detect the cause of the problem and repair it quickly.
Dripping Faucets
When the faucets in your home start dripping, it can be annoying at first, but soon, you get used to the dripping. Just because the dripping no longer bothers you, it doesn’t mean that it is harmless. Over time, dripping faucets can waste a significant amount of water. In just one day, a dripping tap can waste five gallons of water each day. This totals to 2,082 gallons of water every year. Not only is this harmful to the environment, but it will also increase your water bill.
There are a few things that can cause a leaky faucet, such as corrosion or mineral deposits on the internal parts of the faucet. It can also be due to defective o-rings, gaskets, or washers. Since the internal structure of your faucet is complex, you should leave the repair to a licensed plumber. A licensed professional can easily disassemble the faucet, find the cause of the problem, and repair it.
Frozen Pipes
The winters in Oak Ridge, TN, aren’t as severe as other parts of the country; however, at night, the temperature often drops below freezing. When this happens, the pipes can freeze. Frozen pipes are considered to be an emergency situation. If the pipes aren’t thawed out quickly, they can burst, which would result in a damaging flood. As the ice expands, it can push water toward the closed faucet. This will increase the pressure in the pipes, and soon, they will rupture. If you try to turn on the water on a frigid night and nothing comes out, there is a good chance that your pipes are frozen. A licensed plumber will know how to thaw the pipes before they burst.
To prevent your pipes from freezing, you should allow your faucets to drip when freezing temperatures are in the forecast.
Water Heater Problems
Your water heater is one of the most essential appliances in your home because it is necessary to run many other appliances. Not only do you need hot water to run your dishwasher and washing machine, but you also need hot water to shower and perform many everyday tasks. If you are experiencing any issues with your water heater, you should contact a licensed plumber right away. The longer you wait, the higher the risk of a complete shutdown. The signs to look for include:
- No hot water
- Running out of hot water sooner than usual
- Rusty hot water
- Strange sounds coming from the water heater
A licensed plumber should only handle water heater issues. Trying to attempt the repair on your own can cause more problems. Also, if your water heater is still under warranty, the warranty will be voided unless a licensed plumber repairs it.
If you are having any issues with the plumbing system in your Oak Ridge, TN home, you should contact My Professional Plumber. Our plumbers are licensed, insured, highly trained, and skilled. We can easily diagnose the problem in your home and repair it effectively. Whatever plumbing issue you have, you should not wait to give us a call. The longer the problem persists, the more damage can occur. If your plumbing issue is an emergency, we have licensed professionals available in your area 24 hours a day, seven days a week.