5 Telltale Signs You Need to Call a Plumber Immediately

Home care and maintenance can be a hassle that every homeowner understands. While many fixes are DIY friendly, some jobs take too much time or skill to complete on your own. Often times you may not be able to diagnose a problem correctly in order to find a solid fix. In emergencies, the safest and easiest way to get on with your life is to call a professional. Here are 5 signs that you should call a plumber immediately to avoid major damage later on.

1. Slow or Clogged Drains

Slow drains are a common occurrence, especially in older homes. A dozen of different factors could be slowing your water flow from hair, debris, or other build up in your plumbing. Sure you can pour some liquid cleaner into the pipes or try a plunger, but if those fail to improve the situation you’re probably going to need a professional. Professional plumbers will have commercial grade pipe snakes that can reach hundreds of feet and guarantee to clear away major clogs you won’t be able to handle on your own.

Standing water left in a bathtub or sink for extended periods of time can lead to bacteria growth and possibly stain or damage the container itself. Slow draining tubs are a hassle and will leave rings of dirt around the edges as the tub could take hours to drain. Clogged showers are a similar nuisance and you may even find yourself standing ankle deep in water that could potentially spill out all over your bathroom floor. Seek professional help so a slow drain won’t turn into a major problem.

2. Frozen Pipes

Frozen pipes are a major problem to those living in northern states, but any time the weather drops below freezing homeowners need to be aware of the potential for frozen pipes. Frozen pipes can lead to cracks, or dreaded burst pipes, which can cause devastating and expensive water damage throughout your home. Thawing pipes on your own can be a tiresome ordeal and if you miss a spot or a pipe you didn’t know about you’re still at risk for major damage. Professionals will be able to thaw out frozen pipes before any major damage occurs and save you hundreds of dollars or more.

3. Leaky Faucet

With water costs increasing across the nation, it’s wise to make sure none of your taps or faucets or leaking and throwing your money down the drain. Even a small drip every few seconds can amount to gallons of water every day and hundreds of dollars a year. Fixing a leak yourself can be done, but you first have to find the root of the problem and then make sure that your fix is strong enough so that the leak doesn’t just come back the following week.

4. Water Damage and Mold Growth

If you see water stains or even mold growing, you need to get help immediately. Mold is extremely hazardous and the source of the problem lies deeper within your walls where a section of pipe may need replacing. Identifying the source of the leak can be difficult. Experienced professionals will have seen these issues time and time again and will know how to fix a leak permanently.

If you should have a pipe burst, trying to fix it yourself could result in simply having another crack or burst you missed. Calling a professional is a sure fire way to fix a cracked or burst pipe the right way so you won’t have to deal with more headaches later on.

5. Clogged Toilet

A clogged toilet is never fun, and when a plunger fails to clear the clog you’d better hope you have another toilet. “Waiting too long to call a plumber can lead to other issues such as sewage coming back up into your home,” said Smart Choice Plumbing & Air Conditioning. Toxic gasses and other contaminants, usually isolated to sewage lines, should never be introduced into your home, so make sure not to wait too long before calling professional help.

Whether you’ve got major water damage or just a slow draining tub, fixing the problem right away with a professional is convenient and could save you money in the future.