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There are some plumbing issues that don’t require you to call an Arlington, TX plumber. For example, if the toilet is clogged and a plunger is able to dislodge the superficial clog. However, there are a lot of other instances that may not afford you as much latitude. Trying to figure out if you can fix something on your own or if you need the expertise of a plumbing contractor?

Usually, if you are debating the matter this is a clear sign that a professional is the best choice. After all, if you knew how to fix it then you would already be doing it. Your plumbing system is an integral part of your home and the health of your family, so you need to take good care of it. Incorrectly dealing with a plumbing issue can oftentimes end up costing you more to fix than if you had just called a professional in Arlington, TX in the first place. If you are still debating whether you need a plumbing contractor or not, here are a few of the times when you definitely need to call for professional help.

Dripping Faucets

This is one area where homeowners tend to look the other way, but unless you like throwing money down the drain, you really shouldn’t. Believe it or not, a dripping faucet could be costing you money out of your pocket. On average, a slow drip will end up costing you about $20 per year, but a faster drip could cost you as much as $200 a year. At this point not only is the dripping faucet a nuisance, but it is expensive to just ignore.

A lot of dripping faucets are easy to fix. You can first try to change the washer because if the fixture is old there is a good chance that it has corroded. If this doesn’t do the trick, then it is time to call a plumber. They will thoroughly examine the faucet and evaluate the issue which may be complex or point to the need for a new faucet. Water is expensive and in some states out west, there are even water shortages, don’t contribute to the issue by literally wasting it.

Leaking Pipes

Another easy way you may be wasting water is via leaking pipes. However, a lot of time people don’t even notice the leak at first. What they do notice is that their water bill keeps inching higher and higher without any visible explanation. If you notice your water bill incrementally growing then there is a good chance that you have a hidden leak somewhere.

You can start by looking along your exposed piping to see if you can find any obvious signs of leaking which include mold, water damage, or actual moisture. Even if the leak is small, it can still be wasteful as demonstrated by the dripping faucet. However, more importantly, a leak can lead to serious water damage in your drywall or ceilings depending on where it is.

If the leak is ignored for too long it also will lead to the development of mold and bacteria which can cause respiratory issues for the people who live in your home. Some people even have serious allergic reactions to mold or develop asthma as the result of living in a home with mold. For this reason, a leaking pipe should always require a call to a plumber. Keep in mind that if the pressure increases that leak could become a burst pipe which magnifies all of the above-mentioned issues and turns it into a situation that will require an emergency plumber.

A lot of people try to fix a leaky pipe with flex tape, fitting compounds, or joint fillers, but remember that the potential for a leaking pipe to burst is always there. While a quick-fix may be tempting, it is only a band-aid on a potentially horrible situation, so make sure if you place a band-aid on the pipe you still schedule a repair visit with your local Arlington, TX plumber.

Clogged Drains

Clogged drains are something that every homeowner has to deal with at some point, and the internet offers dozens of solutions- some of which are better than others. However, sometimes regardless of how much baking soda and vinegar you dump down the drain or how hard to work the plunger, a stubborn clog will not give way. This is why you should always call a professional to remedy a clogged drain. The truth is that most of these home remedies will help free the clog up enough for water to drain, but in reality, they probably only etched away a bit of the obstruction, which means given enough time the debris will build up and you will have a second clog. Instead of dealing with clogs that never seem to stop (because you are never truly clearing them), it makes more sense to call a plumber and get it taken care of properly from the start.

There are a lot of causes for drain clogs, but most stem from soap or grease buildup, a foreign item that has become stuck in the line somewhere (very common in homes with children), or sewage wastes. In order to get to the bottom of the issue, you need to know what is causing the clog so it can be properly removed and so that you can prevent the clog from occurring again.

After paying a plumber to clean out the drain it would be nice if you could avoid doing the same thing again within the year. A plumber in Arlington, TX can do a camera line inspection and let you know what the issue was to determine if it is a one-time problem or something larger that needs to be addressed. Sometimes proactive drain cleaning is the best way to prevent a clog from occurring again. Sometimes a one-time cleaning will do the trick, but you won’t know until you consult with a professional contractor.

There are two larger issues that a plumber will be looking for in particular when they come out to your home for a clogged drain: invasive roots and offset pipes.

• Tree Roots- Tree roots are one of the largest issues that we deal with in Arlington, TX when it comes to clogged pipes. Tree roots can grow into any piping in your front or backyard and seriously disrupt it. The very tiniest roots are like feathers and can easily break into any small crack or weak area in search of moisture. Once they do, the rich moisture in the pipe allows them to grow quickly until they become thick and covered in debris that catches on the tree root. Before too long, the entire pipe is blocked. The problem with tree roots is that while a plumber can remove them with special tools, they will be back, so if you have a tree disrupting your pipes a routine drain cleaning service is highly recommended. Keeping your lines clean and free of intruders is the best way to avoid a nasty back-up in your basement.

• Offset Pipes- Another problem that is usually unique to older homes, offset pipes are usually the result of settling ground. Over a few decades, the ground that a home sits on will slowly settle and shift and the old piping system will slowly move with it. If any of the pipes become shifted upwards, then gravity will not allow the water to properly flow through the pipes into or out of your home. At this point you may need water line repair, but since it is an expensive and large undertaking, before getting too concerned it is best to have a plumber come out to your Arlington, TX home and evaluate the situation.

Clogged Toilet

Your pipes are not the only thing that can get clogged in your home- your toilet is also a likely culprit. Like most people, if your toilet clogs the first thing you will probably try is the plunger. If you have been working with the plunger for over ten minutes this may be a sign that it’s time to call the plumber. The situation becomes even more urgent if you only have one toilet in your home. While a broken toilet is always an inconvenience, a broken toilet in a home with only one toilet is an emergency.

There are a few simple things that you could check before calling the plumber, but usually, it is a good idea to go ahead and call your local plumbing contractor so that you are on their list of visits for the day. Chances are that even if some of these issues are the problem you will still need their help. Common issues that may have led to a clogged toilet include a bent or cracked flush valve which is not allowing it to clear properly. Clearing, if this is the case you will need it replaced.

Other issues include a broken chain or one that is not connected properly. This is the one thing almost anyone can fix on their own. If the chain is disconnected simply reattach it to the flapper and the toilet should flush again. If it doesn’t, then this wasn’t really the issue and a call to the plumber is still very much required. Finally, sometimes the overflow tube cracks or becomes loose allowing water to drip back into the tank which is then able to accurately note the empty bowl.

Decreased Water Pressure

There are literally dozens of reasons why you may lose water pressure in your home. Your water heater may be full of sediment, your water line may be cracked, you may have a leak in your home, or you may just need to adjust your shower head. There are so many different reasons that the best course of action is to call a plumber and have them narrow down the problem to one thing so it can be fixed accurately. You can spend a lot of money and time chasing issues and fixing things that were not actually related to your water pressure.

We get it, no one wants to take a shower in a trickle of water or attempt to wash the dishes, but this really isn’t a task that you should attempt on your own.

Before calling an Arlington, TX plumber there is one thing you can check- the main shut-off valve. Sometimes the valve gets knocked, which is even more likely if you have young children and spend time in your basement or near wherever the valve is located. It can get hit and then slightly shut, which will reduce the pressure. If you turn the valve so that it is completely open again that may restore water pressure to your home. If it doesn’t then it is time for a plumber.

If the drop in water pressure is sudden, it also may be worth talking to your neighbors to see if they experienced a similar water pressure drop. If the answer is yes, then it is possible something has happened at the main water supplier and even a plumber won’t be able to help. In this case, you will need to call municipal authorities and report the problem so they can get to the bottom of it quickly. Of course, if your neighbors report that their water pressure is not affected, then it is back to being an issue within your home that a plumbing contractor will need to take a look at.

If you notice any of the above signs or something else off with your plumbing, it is time to call for a professional plumber in Arlington, TX. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth is a premier plumbing contractor that can assess and fix nearly every plumbing issue you could be facing. Give us a call today and we will schedule a visit as soon as possible.