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6 Plumbing Problems You Should Leave to the Professionals

You consider yourself pretty handy. You like to do things on your own and don't like to depend on others to help with repairs or maintenance tasks. So, you replace light bulbs and shingles, mount new doors or windows and build garden sheds all on your own. Recently, however, you’ve encountered more complicated household problems related to your plumbing.

You might initially think you can handle plumbing repairs on your own, but then something tells you to seek outside help. Listen to the voice inside your head that’s warning you to exercise caution. After all, you may not have dealt with plumbing problems before. Inexperienced plumbing “repairs” could actually do more harm than good – wreaking havoc on your plumbing system, damaging your pipes and causing property destruction. Leave the following six plumbing problems for professionals.

 1. Leaking Pipes

You should never repair leaking pipes on your own, for several reasons. First, you might have to tear through walls, floors or ceilings to get to the leak, since you don’t have the professional equipment to detect one without breaking ground. You could cause extensive and expensive property damage if you don’t have plumbing experience. You may also misjudge the leak’s location and end up ripping out more drywall than necessary.

Second, you may need a welding torch to fix the leak, depending on the type of pipes in your home. Many homes contain copper pipes, which you can’t repair with duct tape or glue. Only professional welding can effectively seal these leaks. A professional plumber will not have these problems. Professionals have the technology, equipment and training to easily find and fix pipe leaks without undue property damage.

Furthermore, leaking pipes often come with related complications, like mold or mildew growth. Being in close proximity to mold can cause serious illnesses and health problems, such as respiratory infections. Never try to resolve mold problems on your own. You need someone with training, expertise and safety equipment to fix the leak, dry out the area, and remedy or prevent mold/mildew growth. For this reason, leave these plumbing problems to professionals in one of our Phoenix or Kansas City offices.

2. Frozen or Burst Pipes

If your pipes have frozen, like pipes often freeze in Kansas City, you can’t use a hair blow dryer or other heat sources to thaw them out. Ice inside your plumbing system does more than just create a blockage. It expands and often cracks the pipes that contain the frozen water. It’s crucial to leave frozen pipe repairs to the professionals. Ice damage can be significant and ultimately cause a flood once the ice thaws.

To prevent burst pipelines and floods from frozen pipes, contact a plumber in your area to professionally handle the thawing process and minimize damage to your property. Otherwise, you could have a plumbing emergency on your hands. If your frozen pipes have already burst and flooded your home, call United’s emergency services at (816) 761-5262 in Kansas City. We can help you remove the water, dry your home and belongings and make the necessary repairs.

3. Large Clogs in Toilets or Drains

Clogs aren’t amateur plumbing problems. Severe clogs can build and exert mounting pressure on the plumbing materials around them. Trying to remove serious clogs with plungers, drain cleaning chemicals or drain snakes could damage the pipes and cause a leak – especially if your home has older pipes. Leave bad clog-related plumbing problems for professionals. If you’ve already plunged your sink or toilet to no avail, leave your plumbing alone and call an expert to assist you.

4. Running Toilets

Are you a victim of the “ghost flush,” where you hear your toilet running when no one is in the bathroom? Sometimes you can fix a running toilet by simply adjusting the flush valve inside the tank. But if your toilet continues to run no matter what you fiddle with, suppress your creative DIY urge and let an experienced plumber handle the problem instead. Your toilet may have an underlying design flaw or more serious plumbing problem you can’t fix on your own.

5. Any Water Heater Issues

Attempting DIY water heater repairs is like playing with fire. Water heaters are sensitive appliances with a propensity to be seriously dangerous. One wrong move and you could have a fire, an electrical problem or even an explosion on your hands. Never try to handle any water heater problems or new installations on your own. These plumbing problems are for professionals only! Keep yourself and your home safe. Call your plumber to handle water heater leaks, rust, pressure problems, temperature issues or a water heater that has stopped working.

6. Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure may happen because you have a leak somewhere in your system or a clog deep within your plumbing. Odds are, you lack the tools and skills to rectify the problem. Trust this repair to a professional. The DIY option may seem attractive, especially if you have a tight budget. However, unless you have experience with plumbing, you could end up with an even more expensive problem on your hands. Keep plumbing stress-free by trusting the professionals.

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