If you own a home in Arlington, TX then you have to think about your plumbing system, even if it is not the first thing on your mind when you start to think about home improvements. Most people think about paint jobs, new siding, front yard landscaping, and similar tasks while upgrading their home, but in reality, upgrading your plumbing system might be a great way to move forward. This is because every home needs a plumbing system, and every potential home buyer appreciates a plumbing system that doesn’t require extra work.
So how do you create an attractive plumbing system? To start, if your current plumbing system is over 20 years you may want to think about replacing it. Believe it or not, home plumbing systems are not meant to last for the lifetime of a home. In the same way, you need to expect to replace your HVAC system or your water heater at some point, you need to expect to repair or replace your entire plumbing system. However, it does not have to be as threatening as it sounds if you keep up with regular repairs along the way.
The easiest way to retain the value of your plumbing system to boost your home value is by keeping up with repair tasks as they arise. The second easiest way to boost the value of your plumbing system is by hiring a professional plumber to handle plumbing tasks. When you hire a professional plumbing contractor instead of handling the tasks on your own you have an official paper trail and receipts that prove your system has been updated. You also have the advantage of a professional vouching for you which is indispensable when selling your home.
Of course, that is not to say that you can’t handle certain things such as updating your shower faucet, but it does mean that there are a lot of things you probably should not attempt on your own. The following list takes a good hard look at the home plumbing tasks that you should always allow a plumbing service to handle. Even if you are not thinking about selling your home and are not worried about your home value, these are tasks that are too complicated for the average homeowner. They are also tasks that are expensive to troubleshoot once things go wrong.
Sometimes the best way to fix a problem is by calling a professional who can ensure the job is done the first time. If you choose the right plumbing service, most problems can be fixed within the same day. Barring any major issues with your plumbing system, everyone in your home will be happy to simply have the issue taken care of once and for all. With that said, here are the top tasks that you need to call a plumber for help within Arlington, TX.
Water Heater Repair or Replacement
If you look at a water heater it can seem quite simple, but in reality, the installation can be much more complex than you imagine which is one reason you should always call a plumber if you have an issue or need a new water heater. One thing to consider is the fact that water heater installation requires you to deal with water lines, electrical lines, and either gas or oil in most cases. That is a lot of energy in one small spot, and a lot of room for mistakes that can be costly, and even deadly. In addition, the average homeowner doesn’t have the right tools to complete an installation which means you could end up paying as much in tools as you would to just hire a plumber.
In addition, when you hire a plumber to handle your hot water heater replacement they will appropriately size your water needs and recommend a model that will match them. You can talk to them about the average water usage in your home and whether the old tank seemed to match it. The expertise of a professional in this area is extremely valuable since you don’t want to continue to run out of hot water because you chose a tank that is too small for your home or pay extra in energy costs because you chose one that is too large. Plus, the number one thing that impacts the lifespan of a water heater is how well it is installed. With that in mind, paying for a plumbing service is worth paying for a new water heater down the line.
The same goes for a lot of water heater repairs. With so many energy lines to deal with and the complexity of the modern water heater, it is simply not worth it to troubleshoot on your own or pay for the tools that you would need to do so. A professional plumber can figure out the issue much quicker saving you time and money in the process. Plus, they have things like CO2 sensors so they can test the air and make sure your home is safe. Finally, keep in mind that your warranty probably requires professional repair and servicing. There is a good chance that if you don’t use a certified plumber you will void your warranty, which can be a costly mistake.
Sewer Line Clogs
One of the biggest misconceptions about drain clogs is that they can be cleared with a bit of drain cleaner. However, commercial drain cleaners that are sold at your local hardware store are not the solution. In fact, they can lead to more corrosion and more damage over time, which makes them an extremely bad idea and one that most plumbers warn about. However, this is not the only problem with a sewer line clog. An untreated sewer clog or one that is treated but not fully explored will just come back in the future.
This means that a large amount of sewage that came out of your sink or your floor drain will be back in a few months. You can easily get stuck in a very disturbing cycle that can result in property damage and a lot of hassle. A plumber on the other hand does two things when they come to deal with a sewer clog: not only do they remove it but they also diagnose why it happened in the first place. Figuring out what causes the clog is the only way that you can truly prevent it from happening again which should be your objective.
In some situations, you can change the situation by fixing your bad sewage habits, such as using flushable wipes. In other situations such as when tree roots are blocking the line, the solution is routine drain cleaning. However, routine drain cleaning will beat out random blockages any day and the resulting hassle they cause. Plumbers have professional tools and cameras to really inspect your sewer line and see why blockages are occurring. Keep in mind that your sewer line runs deep under your yard, so you don’t want to risk damage to your pipe that would require you to rip it all up.
Sewer Line Repair
Speaking of sewer lines, like any other piping in your home the sewer line can corrode over time. While they are made to be highly durable, nothing lasts forever and you may find yourself in a position where you need to replace your sewer line. This is a massive undertaking and one that should be only undertaken by a plumber. Most sewer lines are buried at least ten feet underground and extend into your city sewage source which means that repair or installation of a new line is carefully regulated by the city. In many cases, it is a job you are not allowed to take on yourself.
Before a sewer line can be installed or replaced in Arlington, TX proper zoning licenses need to be obtained and a series of steps must be taken. While the average homeowner does not know how to do this, a trained plumber does and it will not be an issue to complete them. This is just one of many reasons that you should leave a sewer line repair to a professional. Given the fact that your main water line is also buried deep in your yard, you also need a plumber to assist with this type of repair.
Major Leaks
There are two types of leaks in your home: small drips and minor condensation and leaks that are filling a bucket every hour. Both of these leaks need to be investigated, but one is more serious than the other given how quickly water damage can accumulate and cause huge issues in the future. With this in mind, you need to call a plumber if you have a major leak in your home. YOu cannot afford to wait because a leak that is not addressed will continue to grow and cause dry rot and mold within your home.
Even worse, the longer you wait the better the chance that the leak will turn into a burst pipe which will cause even more damage. Water damage is a real thing and is very costly. In many cases, mold remediation issues are even worse than plumbing issues. Hiring a plumber that can successfully fix major leaks in your home is the best way to know that a leak is fixed for good and won’t pop back up later. It is also something that you can easily take care of with the right help. Leaks don’t have to be threatening if you call right away for help.
Burst Pipes
That said, there are some leaks that are much worse than others. These don’t even count as major leaks, because they are in a league on their own. This type of leak is most commonly referred to as a burst pipe and can be extremely painful to deal with. A burst pipe releases hundreds of gallons of water into your home very quickly. After you find the water safety shut-off valve, your first call needs to be to an Arlington, TX plumber that can help. This is not something that you can play around with, and can even result in structural damage if you don’t get help soon.
Keep in mind also that if there has been a major flood in your home you need to list that as a disclosure when selling your home. While no one wants to do that, it is the law and you don’t have a choice. The best way to circumvent the occurrence of a major flood is to distinctly right that it was professionally mitigated. A trained plumber will not only replace the pipe, but they will mitigate the water and either direct you to a team that handles mold remediation or offer the services themselves. Professional water removal is the only way to certify that your home is structurally safe. You can save the value of your home in this scenario by choosing to hire a professional.
Commercial Plumbing Repairs
Finally, when it comes to commercial plumbing repairs you should always hire a plumber because the personal liability is too large to handle on your own. This goes for someone who owns a small business or for someone who simply manages a few rentals. Any time that someone else’s property or life is in question, you need to hire a professional to protect them and yourself from any future liability. Spending a little on a plumber will pale in comparison to what happens if something goes wrong after a failed DIY attempt.
If you need a plumber in Arlington, TX, turn to Benjamin Franklin Plumbing of Fort Worth for help. We can help in any plumbing-related situation and offer 24/7 emergency plumbing services.