Group all of your plumbing repairs for one visit...
• Grouping all of your plumbing problems is one of the easiest ways to save money and time. Before you call a plumber, go through your home and check every faucet and fixture. Make a list of everything that faucet that drips, toilet that runs or drain that clogs. Then, when you call the plumber, have him take care of all the problems at once. You'll avoid additional trip charges, set-up time and the hassle of scheduling multiple visits.
• When placing the call, be very specific about what you need done. If you can, tell the plumber what make and model fixture you need fixed. The plumber might be able to bring all of the parts necessary to complete the job and avoid charging you for a trip to the plumbing supply store – thus saving you money.
Time is Money.
• Anything you can do to save the plumber time will also save you money. Be organized. This means having a written list of specific items you want addressed. If you're not sure what the problem is, have a list of symptoms.
• Clear the work area. Make sure that you remove everything from the cabinet under what needs to be fixed. Make sure the plumber can actually get to the hot water heater in the storage corner of the basement without vaulting over Aunt Bessie's prized lamp.
• Volunteer to handle some of the clean up yourself.
• Keep children and pets out of harms way. To do the job properly, a plumber may need to use specialized tools such as torches or pipe cutters. Chemical glues, acid flux and other solvents may also be used. Make sure to keep your children and pets out of the way so the plumber can do their job without being delayed by extra safety concerns.
Save Money With Preventive Plumbing Maintenance
A great approach to saving money on plumbing is to reduce the need to call them at all! The most common plumbing calls have to do with drains. Many homes have one or two problem drains and several that never need any attention at all.
• Grease build up over time. Don't put grease down your drain. Dispose of it elsewhere
• Grouping all of your plumbing problems is one of the easiest ways to save money and time. Before you call a plumber, go through your home and check every faucet and fixture. Make a list of everything that faucet that drips, toilet that runs or drain that clogs. Then, when you call the plumber, have him take care of all the problems at once. You'll avoid additional trip charges, set-up time and the hassle of scheduling multiple visits.
• When placing the call, be very specific about what you need done. If you can, tell the plumber what make and model fixture you need fixed. The plumber might be able to bring all of the parts necessary to complete the job and avoid charging you for a trip to the plumbing supply store – thus saving you money.
Time is Money.
• Anything you can do to save the plumber time will also save you money. Be organized. This means having a written list of specific items you want addressed. If you're not sure what the problem is, have a list of symptoms.
• Clear the work area. Make sure that you remove everything from the cabinet under what needs to be fixed. Make sure the plumber can actually get to the hot water heater in the storage corner of the basement without vaulting over Aunt Bessie's prized lamp.
• Volunteer to handle some of the clean up yourself.
• Keep children and pets out of harms way. To do the job properly, a plumber may need to use specialized tools such as torches or pipe cutters. Chemical glues, acid flux and other solvents may also be used. Make sure to keep your children and pets out of the way so the plumber can do their job without being delayed by extra safety concerns.
Save Money With Preventive Plumbing Maintenance
A great approach to saving money on plumbing is to reduce the need to call them at all! The most common plumbing calls have to do with drains. Many homes have one or two problem drains and several that never need any attention at all.
• Grease build up over time. Don't put grease down your drain. Dispose of it elsewhere
• In most cases, hair can be trapped in some sort of screen or drain cover. Talk to your plumber next time he's there and ask about suggested ways to prevent the hair from getting in the drain. It's much easier to gather hair off the screen periodically than it is to deal with a clogged pipe.
• Another costly, but often preventable problem is frozen pipes. Make sure that all your pipes are in heated spaces. If any are not, make sure they are well insulated. Each fall, when the weather turns colder, disconnect and drain your garden hoses, turn-off the indoor cut-off valve located near the faucet, and open the outdoor faucet. If there is no cut-off valve, consider installing having one installed. Any water left in pipes exposed to below-zero temperatures will freeze.
• Avoid using chemical-based clog busters. Commercially sold chemical drain cleaners are harmful to the environment as well as your pipes. These products are manufactured with caustic chemicals that eat away at the interior surface of pipes, making the pipes brittle. If you did use one of these products, be sure to tell your plumber so that he can take extra precautions to avoid splashing the caustic chemicals on skin (and if these chemicals burn skin, imagine what they will do to your pipes!).
• Another costly, but often preventable problem is frozen pipes. Make sure that all your pipes are in heated spaces. If any are not, make sure they are well insulated. Each fall, when the weather turns colder, disconnect and drain your garden hoses, turn-off the indoor cut-off valve located near the faucet, and open the outdoor faucet. If there is no cut-off valve, consider installing having one installed. Any water left in pipes exposed to below-zero temperatures will freeze.
• Avoid using chemical-based clog busters. Commercially sold chemical drain cleaners are harmful to the environment as well as your pipes. These products are manufactured with caustic chemicals that eat away at the interior surface of pipes, making the pipes brittle. If you did use one of these products, be sure to tell your plumber so that he can take extra precautions to avoid splashing the caustic chemicals on skin (and if these chemicals burn skin, imagine what they will do to your pipes!).
Flush only what should be flushed....
• Despite the label on "flushable wipes", they really should not be flushed. They are slower to break down than regular toilet tissue and they are much thicker.
• Ladies, your "products" belong in the garbage, NOT the toilet. This is true even if the product says "flushable"! Make sure you remind your teenage daughter of this too!
• Install child locks on toilets if your wee ones have an interest in seeing if Barbie can swim. You'd be surprised at the number of headless Barbie dolls, Matchbox Cars and fast food toys we've recovered from toilets.
Be cautious with your Kitchen Disposal...
• Do not overflow your disposal. Run a little food at a time. Run it with ample water and continue to run water for a minute or so after you shut off the disposal.
• Never, ever put stringy food (such as fresh celery, lettuce, cabbage or rhubarb) in the disposal as these foods will bind up in the blades and burn out the motor.
• Do not put egg shells or coffee grounds in the disposal as they will dull the blades.
Plumbing Problem: Replace Or Repair?
• Water and sewage treatment cost money. When you reduce water consumption, you can save on both counts. If you have an older water-guzzling toilet and it starts to need repairs, give serious thought to replacing it entirely. Instead of spending money on what will probably be a continuous string of repairs. Invest wisely and get a reliable fixture that will save you money over the long run. This is also true for faucets and showerheads. Anytime these need attention, consider replacing them with new, water-saving units.
MJ Carney Plumbing Service • P.O. Box 171, Gasport, NY 14067 • Email: emjaycarney@msn.com
716-628-6245
716-628-6245
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