DIY Plumbing Problems and When to Call in a Professional

Water is one of the most destructive and costliest forces when it comes to causing damage to your home. That’s why it’s important to know when you can fix a plumbing issue yourself or when it’s time to call in a professional.

Here are some basic plumbing repairs you can tackle yourself.

• A slowly dripping faucet
  Hearing a constant dripping sound when you are trying to sleep is not only annoying but it’s costing you money! A steady drip can mean the washer within the faucet needs to be replaced. Turn off the water to the faucet and then unscrew the handle. Inspect the O-ring and washer for damage. Replace with a new washer and reassemble. If the drip continues, you may have broken plumbing or loose parts. If you have a newer faucet with a lever instead of traditional separate knobs, you may need an All Clear Plumbing professional to replace a broken ceramic plate or fix any of your leaking faucet problems.
• A running toilet
  After you flush, does water continue to flow into the bowl? If so, that means you have a problem with your lever located in the tank behind the bowl. To fix it, remove the toilet tank lid, find the chain that is likely sunk to the bottom of the tank and reattach it to the lever that is attached to the toilet handle. In some cases you may need to replace the chain if it has been damaged.
• A clogged drain
  Stop! Before you pour a chemical drain cleaner down the drain to clear a drain, try using a natural alternative of baking soda, salt and hot water. Find out how to naturally unclog a drain here. Some clogs are lodged too deep in your pipes to clear or are too large for solvents. That’s when you need an All Clear Plumbing expert to clear up the situation.
• A shower head trickle
  Does your shower head spray water in all sorts of crazy directions or does the water seem blocked in certain parts of it? You might have a lime scale buildup on the shower head and spray plate. Try removing the shower head and spray plate and soaking them in a descaling solution. A cleaned shower head should get your shower back on track.
• A gnarled garbage disposal
  A garbage disposal can sometimes come to a grinding halt. There are some easy things to get it going again. Try resetting it using the reset button at the bottom of the disposal. If that doesn’t work, try using an Allen key to manually turn the disposal to dislodge the clog. If your disposal is leaking or still won’t work, call in a professional.

Here are some plumbing emergencies that are best left to the professionals!

• Water heater malfunction
  Leaking water heaters or water heaters that are emitting an odor or making a strange sound are all cause to call in a professional. Improperly performing water heaters can be a health and safety hazard. At All Clear Plumbing, we are experts in gas, electric and tankless water heaters and we can help service your water heater before you have a problem.
• Sump pump failure
  Your sump pump is your home’s first line of defense against a high water table that can happen when there is a large rain or snow event. If it fails, you could face a flooded basement and expensive water damage repairs. Sump pumps need to be properly maintained and serviced. An All Clear Plumbing expert can help you if your sump pump fails and also prevent it from doing so in the first place!
• Burst pipes
  Extreme changes in temperature can cause a water pipe to burst sending hundreds of gallons of water into your home. If a pipe bursts, immediately shut off the main water valve to your home and call a professional.
• Clogged sewer lines
  The main sewer line to your home is one of the biggest and most important pieces of plumbing. A sewer line collapse or clog is always best handled by a professional. At All Clear Plumbing we have the tools to diagnose and fix your sewer line issue.

Troubleshooting your plumbing problem is ok as long as you are not in over your head. At All Clear Plumbing, there’s no need to second guess yourself. Our experts are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and we never charge extra for same day service, evenings or weekend appointments.

Finding an emergency plumber you can trust in the Mid-Atlantic has never been easier. Call All Clear Plumbing and be confident the job will be done right.