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When it comes to your plumbing you may have a lot of questions, and you want to make sure that you are getting those questions answered as quickly as possible. After all, you want to make sure that your plumbing is always working the way that it should. So, how do you do that? You ask a plumber, of course.

Do I Need a Licensed Plumber?

The first common question is whether or not you need an actual licensed plumber. Sure, it could be less expensive to hire someone without a license to work on your home for you, but that’s definitely not the right way to go. Hiring someone who is not licensed means that the job isn’t going to be done the same way and it may not be up to code. Even more than that, it may not be safe for your family.

Why Is My Water Pressure Lower?

If you’ve noticed that your water pressure is down but you haven’t actually changed anything then it means there’s a problem somewhere in the line. You might have a clog or a leak that is causing the water pressure to slow down. Either way, you want to call a plumber to come out and take a closer look so that they can resolve the problem before it gets worse.

Do I Need Regular Drain Cleaning?

Regular drain cleaning is extremely important when it comes to your home because it will help you prevent a lot of the major problems that could otherwise occur in your home. By getting regular drain cleaning your local plumber can find those problems and help you get rid of them before something minor, like a clog, turns into a burst pipe.

Is a Clog Really That Important?

Clogs can be extremely important because even the smallest of clogs can get worse. Once they start to get worse they can cause even more damage. So, what starts out as a slight decrease in your water pressure suddenly turns into a major blockage that requires even more specialized tools and equipment. Or even worse, a burst pipe.

Can I Clear a Clog Myself?

The best thing to do if you have a clog in your pipes is to call a professional Benbrook, TX plumber. Trying to get it out yourself could actually result in you pushing the clog down into the pipe further or if you use harmful chemicals you could damage the inside of the pipes as well as everything that your water system comes into contact with between the pipe and the waterways in your area.

Calling a Benbrook, TX professional is the safest and most effective way to take care of the problem. They can use the right tools to examine the problem and get rid of the clog without the harmful chemicals and without packing it in even worse. That means it’s going to be fixed faster and you won’t have to worry about anything.

Is a Small Leak a Big Problem?

A small leak can be a very big problem because it can continue to get worse. Even a tiny amount of water dripping from a faucet or running in the toilet could cause some damage. And if that leak is happening behind the walls then you’re going to find yourself in even more trouble. You could have water damage that’s happening that you don’t even know about and it doesn’t take much water to create a whole lot of damage.

Even more, a small leak is going to cost you a whole lot of money. That leak, even if it’s in the sink or toilet where it won’t cause water damage, is going to cost you. And it could cost you a whole lot more than you might think. Your water bill could actually go up by hundreds of dollars just from a small drip in your faucet. Not to mention the cost of any water damage that occurs from leaks in other areas.

What Happens If I Don’t Use All the Drains In My House?

You should be running water through each of the drains in your home sporadically. Never go more than a week or a couple weeks at most without running some water through the sink or shower. This makes sure that the drains don’t get too dry and that they don’t start to break down or suffer from damage. It’s important that you’re doing this as a preventative measure however, and not as a reactive one.

What Should I Not Put in My Garbage Disposal?

There are actually a number of different things that you should not be putting in your garbage disposal. That’s because, contrary to the name, it’s not designed to be garbage. In fact, you really shouldn’t be putting any food products into the disposal as it can cause damage to the pipes and may cause clogs or even leaks.

If you do need to use the garbage disposal for food products, your plumber will tell you to specifically avoid a few items, including rice, pasta, egg shells, grease, potato peels, banana skins, celery and coffee grounds. Rice and pasta actually swell when exposed to water, which means they are very easy to create clogs, and grease will stick to anything as it cools in the pipes, causing blockage. Other ingredients may not go through the garbage disposal itself, resulting in an even bigger mess or damage to the disposal.

Can I Reduce My Water Bill?

There are a number of ways that you can reduce your water bill and it all centers on using less water. Some of this will be active things that you need to do, such as turning off the water while washing dishes or shortening your showers by just a few minutes. But you can also get a little help with certain products that a plumber can install for you.

Some products you can talk to your local Benbrook, TX plumber about include low flow toilets, faucet aerators and regulators on your showerhead. All of these things are easy to install if you have the right professional to help. And before you know it you could be saving water and not even noticing. That’s because these products reduce the flow rate of water, but only slightly, so you still get the great experience that you want, but with less water usage.

Why Are My Pipes Coming Loose?

The pipes in your home should not come loose, but depending on whether things are in good shape and working the way they could, you may notice this happening anyway. For example, if your washers are bad it could cause the pipes to move just enough that they start to loosen. If there are other problems within the pipes and plumbing it could cause the pipes to shake or bang together, which can also cause them to loosen. Calling a plumber to fix the problem is important as they can find the true cause.

When Should I Get Maintenance Done in My Home?

In general, you should have a plumber out to look over the plumbing in your home at least once per year. This means once when there are no problems so that they can look over everything and make sure that you’re in good shape. If you only call a plumber when there’s a problem you could end up spending more and definitely suffering with even more problems. Instead, call a plumber before there’s a problem and get it taken care of a whole lot sooner.

What Do I Do If There Are Roots In My Lines?

Roots can easily get into pipes and sewer lines because the water is an attractor. The roots will then grow through the pipes, which results in damage, clogs and a whole lot of problems for you. But if you do experience roots you’ll want to talk with a professional about getting it taken care of. They can find the roots in the pipes and then get rid of them completely so you don’t have to worry about them growing right back in again. You want a Benbrook, TX plumber to take care of this so the problem is actually resolved.

Why Are Drain Cleaners Bad?

Drain cleaners are generally a bad idea because they are chemicals that can be highly corrosive and damaging to the pipes in your home. They’re designed to break down whatever might get in their way and that means the clog but also the pipes that you’re putting them through. Too much of that kind of cleaner could actually cause your pipes to start breaking down. Even more, those chemicals get into your sewer or septic tank and can cause a great deal of problems for everything they encounter there as well as getting into the ground.

Because there are so many chemicals in those cleaners they are not safe to get into the ground and waterways and can kill off the bacteria you need in your septic tank. Not only that but they are harmful to have in the house, especially if you have small children. It’s best to hire a professional to take care of the problem and do it without all the harmful chemicals.

Should I Get a Tankless Water Heater?

If you’re looking to always have enough hot water then a tankless water heater is a great option. They don’t run out of hot water because they don’t actually store it. That means you’ll have a continuous supply as it heats the water while you’re using it. That only generally works for one item at a time however, so you will be able to take as long of a shower as you want but you won’t be able to shower and run the dishwasher at the same time.

Also, a tankless water heater isn’t able to leak because there’s no water stored. That’s definitely going to be a weight off your shoulders and one less reason that you might need to call a professional to take care of things around the house. Not to mention you’ll have lower energy bills because you’re only heating water as you use it rather than constantly to refill the tank. You can talk with your plumber about the options and how to get a tankless heater installed.

Can I Take Care of Plumbing Projects Myself?

It’s always a good idea to hire a professional plumber to take care of plumbing needs. That’s because you can save yourself time and potentially a great deal of money if something goes wrong. While you may feel that you are able to do some of the simple tasks involving your home plumbing, the truth is that you could cause even bigger problems or damage. If that happens, you’ll need a professional anyway.

Not to mention, if you hire a professional to take care of things you don’t have to spend the time doing it yourself. You can let them do it and get on with the other things that you would rather be doing. Overall, it’s going to help you to call a plumber and you should avoid trying plumbing projects on your own.

What You Need

If you’re looking for any kind of plumbing work you can take a look at the questions we’ve answered above and then give us a call at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth. Our team of plumbers can take care of anything that you might need for your Benbrook, TX home and we can answer any of your questions along the way.

You want a plumber who is ready and able to take care of anything that’s happening in your home and that’s exactly what we’re going to do. Just give us a call and we’ll send a professional out to your home in no time. Whether you need regular drain cleaning or a major service, or something in between, we can get it taken care of for you and get you back to enjoying your home.