Although calling a plumber may be expensive, knowing some basic plumbing tips can save you some money or lead you to a plumbing catastrophe!
The first thing to know about plumbing is that there are two systems the drains and the water service, reading up on websites about this will get you on your way to becoming a beginner. Make sure you don't just read one article, read around as one may say something different to another. You should always plan what materials will be needed for the job. At any point you feel that you are uncomfortable with the task at hand, call a qualified plumber to come out, but from experience most plumbing jobs are very straight forward.
Common easily resolved problems:
- Finding the stopcock - A stopcock is what will turn off your water. You can normally find one inside your house either under the stairs, sink or airing cupboard and one outside on the street.
- Finding the isolation valve - If you aren't looking to turn off the water for the whole house and just for lets say fixing a dripping tap, then under the sink there will usually be an isolation valve to turn off the water leading to the sink, which can be easily turned off with a flat head screwdriver.
- Blocked Drain - Some drains can become blocked with hair and dirt. If this happens it can easily be resolved with some common household products such as vinegar and salt or purchase a 'Plumbers Snake' which is a flexible metal rod which can be used to hook out some of the dirt.
I hope these couple of points have given you a better insight into the plumbing basics and I hope I have helped.
24/7 Plumbers
Finding an experienced qualified plumber who knows more than just unblocking a toilet can be a hard task.
Choosing a local plumber can be the cheapest and easiest way to solving your problem, but may not be the most reliable or safest option as I am sure you have all heard about cowboy plumbers. While this is not always the case with local plumbers, you can also come across some big companies who try to pull the wool over your eyes, leaving the reputation of the trade in ruins.
So what are the safest steps to take when choosing a plumber?
- Ask friends and family if they have any recommendations.
- Research the plumber or company on the web
- Phone up and ask if the work is insurance guaranteed
- Phone around for quotes for the best price
- Find out how much experience the plumber has and if they can provide documents to prove this
- Try and haggle with the price given as they may be able to give you a discount
But assuming you don't have time to search for a plumber and need one asap your first port of call should be the internet or your local telephone book. When calling around don't go for the first plumber you call, phone around and get a few quotes and times of when they would be able to get out to you. In my past experience 24 hour free call out services are the best at being at your property on time and on a day that is best for you.
Although going for big well established companies may be slightly more expensive than your local plumber, at least you will have a peace of mind knowing that they safe and the work will be guaranteed.
Fast Direct Plumbers
