When to Hire a Plumber: A Guide for Homeowners

Did you know that the annual mean wage for all U.S. occupations was $58,260 in 2021? However, plumbers made more that year, averaging $62,250 to $63,350.

Professional plumbers have higher incomes because they face numerous health and safety risks. For instance, their work entails handling sewage that contains human waste. That’s also why federal and state governments consider them essential workers.

Those should be enough reasons to hire a plumber for most plumbing concerns.

This guide details what situations warrant a licensed plumber, so read on.

Leak Detection

Plumbing leaks in U.S. households waste nearly one trillion gallons of water each year. That’s enough water to fulfill the needs of 11 million homes!

Leaks can waste so much water because they often afflict hidden plumbing pipes. After all, most supply lines run underground, within walls, or inside ceilings. Therefore, they can leak for a long time without you even knowing.

If your water bills increased but your actual usage hasn’t changed, you likely have leaks. Musty or moldy smells inside your home can also indicate such plumbing problems.

Call a home plumber to perform a leak detection service as soon as you notice those symptoms.

Massive Leak Repairs

Even if leaks affect a hidden pipe, you can tell you have massive ones if you have low water pressure. You may also hear the actual dripping or the sound of rushing water.

However, you still need to hire a plumber to determine the leaks’ locations. Once found, the professional can repair the defective pipes on the spot.

Multiple Drain and Toilet Clogs

If you only have one problematic drain or toilet, you can first try unblocking it with a plunger or auger. You can buy both at a local home improvement store, hardware, or online.

If you have several clogged drains and toilets, that signals a problem with the main drain. It’s a gigantic underground pipe where all other drain pipes in your house converge. It then connects your home to the public sewer line.

Therefore, a clog in the main drain can affect all other drain lines in your home. However, you can’t unblock it yourself since it’s underground and outside. Instead, you need to hire a plumber to clean it through services like hydro-jetting.

New Plumbing System Installation

Are you building a new home, adding a bathroom, or extending your kitchen? If so, you need to hire a residential plumber for a new plumbing installation.

That includes setting up water supply pipes and connecting them to your main water line. The plumber also has to install drain pipes and link them to the main sewer line. You can check out this service guide to learn more about installing new water and sewer pipes.

Sewer Backflow Valve Installation

A sewer backflow valve is a device installed on a sewer line. Its primary function is to allow used water or sewage to flow only one way: out and away from your house. In doing so, it helps protect your home from potential sewage backups.

Installing a sewer backflow valve isn’t a project you can do on your own; you must hire a licensed plumber. Some municipalities in the U.S. even have laws surrounding who can install it.

Hire a Plumber for These Concerns

As you can see, most plumbing issues, from leak detection to new installations warrant a pro.

The last thing you want is to do more damage attempting to DIY those projects, so hire a plumber instead. Besides, it might be the law in your city or state to enlist their services.

Are you looking for more home improvement or repair guides like this? Then feel free to browse our other informative posts now!