Essential Plumbing Services Homeowners Should Know About

 

Did you know that the United States is home to an estimated 480,600 plumbers? That may seem a lot, but experts project that number to grow by 15.6% from 2016 to 2026. The increase in the demand for essential plumbing services will drive that growth.

But what exactly are these essential services that only qualified plumbers can do?

This plumbing guide lists all the crucial ones every homeowner needs, so read on.

Drain Cleaning and Unclogging

Drain pipes channel wastewater and sewage from a building into a sewer or septic tank. Most Americans (80%) rely on municipal sewers, while about 20% use septic tanks.

Wastewater refers to used water from any part of a house, such as a kitchen or a laundry room. Sewage is specifically wastewater from the toilet and bathroom. Thus, they’re both potential hazards; 1 milliliter alone can contain millions of bacteria.

So, it’s thanks to drain pipes that hazardous wastewater exits your home.

Unfortunately, old age and improper use of drain pipes can cause them to clog up. These clogs often result from fats, oil, and grease (FOG) disposed of in kitchen sinks. Other causes of blocked drains are food scraps, hair, soap scum, paper towels, and wet wipes.

All the above are stuff you should never pour down drains or flush in your toilets.

Otherwise, it won’t be long before you notice your drains take forever or your toilets don’t flush. These symptoms indicate it’s time to call a plumber for drain cleaning and unclogging.

Such services involve using motorized drain snakes, hydro-jetting, or both. Both aim to break up clogs inside drains to restore the proper outward flow of wastewater.

Leak Detection and Repair

Household plumbing leaks in the U.S. are so common they waste over 1 trillion gallons yearly. That’s a massive waste of resources that 11 million U.S. households could otherwise use.

Plumbing leaks are prevalent because many water supply pipes are underground. Others are inside walls, in ceilings, or under floors. Their being out of sight makes it challenging to determine if they leak.

If your water bills seem higher than your actual usage, you may have leaky pipes. Likewise, moldy smells may indicate plumbing leaks.

If you experience those symptoms, call a plumber for leak detection and repairs. These pros use sound and thermal technology to locate possible leaking pipes.

Installation and Replacement of Plumbing Components

If you’re adding a kitchen or bathroom to your house, you need a plumber for new pipe installation. Likewise, hire one to replace aging or collapsed drain pipes in your existing system. You can view these plumbing services to learn about pipe installation or repiping.

Plumbers are also the ones to call for water heater installation or replacement. They also provide natural gas-related services, such as gas line connections and repairs.

Hire Professionals for These Plumbing Services

From drain cleaning to pipe replacements, all these are essential plumbing services. Without them, your home is at risk of problems like drain or toilet backups and gas or water leaks.

For the same reasons, please only hire a licensed plumber to perform them.

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