27 February 2018
 Categories: , Blog

Are you someone who likes to try to repair things on your own whenever possible? Do you have a plumbing issue that you're thinking about trying to tackle on your own? When it comes to home repair tasks, there are some things that just about anyone can do and then there are things that should almost certainly be left to a professional. Unfortunately, it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between the two. Some tasks that seem simple at first but that are probably better left to a professional plumber include:

Leaky faucet: In some instances, a leaky faucet is a simple matter of replacing a worn rubber gasket. But this fix can be deceptively simple. Some faucets, especially single-knob shower fixtures, can be difficult to take apart without damaging anything. Even if you do manage to take everything apart, the size of the gasket that you remove isn't always the size of the gasket that you'll need to buy at the store. Gaskets shrink and deform as they age, which is part of the reason for the leaky sink in the first place. This makes it difficult to be able to compare new and old gaskets, even if you bring the old one with you. A professional plumber has the knowledge and experience necessary to fix the faucet correctly the first time, without having to resort to repeated trips to the local hardware store.

Clogged drains: If your bathroom sink or shower drain is the only one that is running slowly, the fix may be as simple as running a short drain snake down the drain to remove the wad of hair and soap that is probably blocking the water flow. But if multiple drains start acting up at once or if another drain starts acting up as soon as you clear the first drain, this is something to call a plumber about. The issue may not be inside your home but instead outside, in your sewer line. This is a location that you'll be unable to deal with on your own but that a professional plumber can handle easily.

Sluggish toilet: In some instances, all that is needed to make a toilet run properly once again is a good plunging. However, when that doesn't work, it's time to call a professional plumber. Though there are many reasons why your toilet might be slow and your other drains are fine, one of the most common is a clogged vent stack. This is a pipe that runs from near the back of your toilet, up to your roof to vent sewer gasses from your sewer line. If this vent pipe gets clogged with debris, a professional-sized drain snake may be needed to break up and remove this blockage.