Why That Small Home Plumbing Job May Not Be So Small After All

It's not unusual for homeowners to want to handle any and all plumbing jobs they think they can tackle themselves, in order to avoid the repair bill from a plumber and to get the work done quickly. However, it's also not unusual for homeowners to need to call a plumber anyway, after they've supposedly handled that plumbing job. This is because they've actually made the problem worse or overlooked some area of needed repair. Note a few times when a so-called small plumbing job may not be so small after all and why you want to call a plumber to handle it instead.

1. When Plumbing Pipes are Banging Around Behind the Walls

Typically a banging sound when you turn on the plumbing is due to air in the pipes, and you can bleed the pipes where they're connected to your hot water heater to let this air out. However, the job may not be as small as that. In some cases the pressure of your hot water heater is too high so that too much water rushes through the pipes at once and causes that banging. If you don't adjust this pressure, the pipes will just keep banging and may eventually break. You may also want to consider checking the pipes that have been banging for any resultant damage to the connectors; a plumber will be able to do this and replace those connectors before they come loose and cause a leak.

2. When Pipes Have Frozen

Thawing out pipes that have frozen is not an easy fix. In some cases there has been so much pressure put on the pipes from the water expanding as it froze that the pipe will simply burst as the water starts to melt; it may have already formed a crack but there is no water leak as long as the water is frozen. Once you thaw the water with a heat source, it may leak through the pipe and then the pressure from the water and the ice can cause the pipe to burst. A plumber will know if the pipe should just be removed and replaced after it's been frozen and will ensure there is no damage to your home.

3. When Installing New Pipes

Installing new plumbing pipes should be easy, but homeowners often don't realize the necessary steps to do this properly. Pipes need to match their materials and the connectors between pipes need to be of the same materials so that there is no corrosion and so that the pipes are properly supporting one another. You may also need to use plumber's tape or a type of sealant around the pipes to keep them secure. Have a plumber handle this job so your new pipes last for years.