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Plumber Tips: Plumbing Repair Secrets From Experts in Dubai
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If you need a recommendation, call a plumbing-supply or fixture store
They don’t tolerate bad plumbers.
Monday is our busiest day
That’s the day wives call us to correct the “work” their husbands did over the weekend.
A burst washing machine hose is a top homeowner-insurance claim
I’d replace those flimsy rubber hoses with stainless steel ones. And avoid these other laundry mistakes.
No bricks in the toilet tank
They can keep your toilet from flushing correctly. No liquid drain cleaners either. They eat away at the pipes. Try a plunger or, better yet, a $30 auger.
Know where the main turnoff source is
I can’t tell you how many calls I get from people screaming and crying that their house is flooding and they don’t know what to do. These are 35 things every homeowner should know to save money and prevent big screw-ups.
Watch out for long or shedding hair
If you’ve got a Rapunzel at home (or even a rapidly balding man), buy a drain strainer or a hair snare or tell her to use a paper towel to clear the drain. (Soap can gum up the pipes, too, so use as little of that as you can.)
Don’t use “flushable” wipes
Those “flushable” baby wipes are one of the main culprits for clogging pipes. They don’t break down the way toilet paper does. But you don’t want to miss these extraordinary uses for baby wipes (just toss them in the trash instead!).
When it comes to pay…
Pay me by the job, not by the hour.
We might, if you ask
Yes, it’s against the rules to remove flow inhibitors from your showerheads, but some of us will do it if you ask.
I’m a plumber
I’m not a babysitter, a mover, or an auto mechanic. Don’t ask.
The toilet handle is an easy fix
Always jiggling the toilet handle? You need to replace the flap valve. The part costs $4, and it’s an easy fix. I charge $100 just to walk in the door.
Sometimes you don’t even need me
There’s often an Allen wrench that comes with the garbage disposal. I keep it under the sink. When the thing jams, follow the directions in the manual and I won’t need to come out.
One time…
I was working in one bathroom while my client was using the whirlpool in another one. And blow-drying her hair at the same time. Her husband had told her it was fine. I told her he was trying to get rid of her.
Dont hang things from your pipes
Don’t hang clothes on those exposed pipes in your basement. I’ve seen them break and flood a basement.
Old toilet seats are harder to remove than you think
I see this all the time: Women want a new toilet seat and ask their husbands to make the switch. If the seat is old and has metal bolts, you probably need to cut it off with a hacksaw, not unscrew it. A wrench may slip, damaging the bowl and bloodying your knuckles.
Don’t get wrapped up in how much I’m charging for the materials
“Sure, my material cost is different than the guy who runs his business out of his garage,” says Bill Stevens, owner of Berkey’s Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning in Texas. “But it’s not the copper you’re paying for, it’s the experience. At the end of the day, my material cost is between 25-30 percent of the cost of the job.”
Turn off your outside faucets in the winter
Another way to avoid a service call from your plumber is to make sure the outside faucets are turned off in the winter and make sure you disconnect the outside hoses. You need to shut the water off from the inside. We call this valve a “tit.” Then, open the valve on the outside to let the water that’s in there drain out. So you switch both of them to the opposite direction so one is always closed and one is always open. We have to fix tons of these in the spring mostly because people leave their outside hoses connected and they freeze up. The repair could cost $100-$200 or more. Another tip would be if you’re going away for any length of time, like on vacation, turn off your water, and if on any of those days the temperature drops below freezing have someone check in on your house. I’ve been called to homes where the family returned from vacation and there was water flooding out from the front door.
A company that has a good reputation for quality service might charge a little more up-front
But you’ll save in the long run by avoiding call-backs and extra charges. Look for a company that warranties its service for up to a year for major installations or repairs.
Don’t ignore drips and running toilets
Small drips can waste over eight gallons of water a day, and a continuously running toilet can waste more than 200 gallons of water daily. If you ignore them, you’ll pay for it when your water bill arrives. Here are more tips to save on every household bill.
We’ll check things for free
Sure, we’ll be happy to check those supply valves under your sink free of charge after we finish the work you’re paying us for. Just ask. Same goes for checking your water pressure.
Don’t leave your kids with us
I had another lady who said she wanted to run to the grocery store to get some coffee to make for me and my guys while we were installing her new kitchen. She said she was just gonna run to the store and asked if we wouldn’t mind keeping an eye out for her 1-year-old daughter who was sleeping at the time. We said fine, but she ended up not returning until four hours later. The kid was screaming her head off and we didn’t know what to do. We tried holding her. We didn’t know if she was hungry or what to feed her. She just kept crying.
Find a licensed plumber
“Don’t assume that every Mr. Fix-it advertising his services in the local Pennysaver or on craigslist is a licensed plumber,” says one New York plumber. There is no national standard for issuing licenses. Some plumbers are licensed by the state, others by the counties they work in. Check with your local city hall or chamber of commerce. They should be able to direct you to the appropriate source for a list of licensed plumbers in your area.
Don’t go to the Yellow Pages
“Don’t go to the Yellow Pages to find a plumber,” says Berkey’s Bill Stevens. “It’s like guessing lottery numbers. Anyone can make an appealing ad, but that doesn’t mean they are legitimate. In this industry, it’s easy for a plumber who develops a poor reputation to advertise under a different name. They come and go.” Look for a plumber who is well-established in your community. Check the Better Business Bureau and read customer reviews at sites such as ServiceMagic.com, AngiesList.com or Citysearch.com. Local contractors or plumbing fixture stores can also refer you to a quality plumber, according to Grady Daniel, who owns a plumbing company in Austin, Texas. “Most of these firms won’t work with bad plumbers.” Or simply ask your neighbors for a referral. A trusted plumber that consistently delivers quality service does not remain a secret for very long.
Be wary of price quotes that are strikingly lower or higher than competitors
Get a minimum of three bids. Estimates for an average-sized job should be within a few hundred dollars. Be suspicious of anything that is substantially lower or double the price of the rest, and watch out for hidden fees, like charges for travel expenses. A good plumber will not nickel and dime you like this, and many of us will offer free estimates.
Get a clue
You’re calling to say your garage-door opener doesn’t work ever since I fixed your faucet? Get a clue—and an electrician. Sources for this story: Plumbers in California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Texas, and Wisconsin.
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