Typical residential tasks for plumbing contractors would include repairing leaking faucets, installing toilets and sinks, and installing or replacing plumbing fixtures such as showers, toilets, sinks, and water heaters. On the commercial front, plumbing tasks could include plumbing repairs, plumbing system installations and maintenance, steam tub installation and repair, and garden hose hookups. Neighborhood Plumbing contractors also provide specialty plumbing services, which may be specialized in a particular area such as sewer installation, low-flow shower systems, kitchen sink installation, drinking fountain installation, under-the-sink plumbing, and sewer system extensions. For those contractors that work on both the residential and commercial fronts, specialized plumbing contracting services could include:
- Drain cleaning.
- Trenchless sewer repair.
- Foundation crack repairs.
- Septic tank pumping and leaching.
- Septic tank replacement.
Although plumbing contractors do most of the jobs themselves, some homeowners would still prefer to hire them for specific projects. For instance, some homeowners hire plumbers to remodel their bathtubs, including replacing old fixtures and installing new ones with state-of-the-art technology. Others hire contractors for bathroom and kitchen remodels, because these tasks involve complicated plumbing processes. One homeowner may not want to hire plumbers to remodel a bathroom because he does not have the skills or expertise to complete the task, so he would instead hire an interior designer. In this case, plumbing contractors are an ideal choice, since they have the necessary skills and expertise. In this case, hiring a remodeling contractor is most cost effective over hiring a general contractor.
Plumbing contractors are most useful when it comes to emergency repair of leaks in the home. For instance, if you accidentally cut a water main without a faucet stop or valve adjustment, your first move should be to find the source of the leak. This could be a minor leakage or it may be a major leak, especially if it starts near your appliances such as the washer and dryer. The first thing you will need to do is to shut off the water supply in your home, which is the most easiest way to prevent leaks from worsening.
If a leaking pipe is located in a wall, a professional plumbing contractors is a must have in the household. This can save homeowners time and money as repairing damaged pipes will require more materials. In addition to that, repairs and replacements of plumbing fixtures may cause damage to the fixtures, walls, floors, ceilings, doors and windows. A contractor is also useful in removing old plumbing fixtures and replacing them with newer ones. The cost of installing new fixtures may be more expensive than fixing the old ones, but it is important to replace them with high-quality fixtures to avoid accidents like burns. This is especially important for homeowners who live in highly affected areas where there are many cases of electrical fires caused by faulty flushing and cleaning agents used in unvented bathrooms.
It is not easy to find plumbing contractors, especially if you don’t know where to start your search. You can ask your friends and family members, do a research on the internet, or call around to local plumbing companies. Many contractors have their own websites which outline all their repair tasks, including those for home improvement projects, basement waterproofing, sewer and septic system repairs, foundation crack repairs, foundation wall repairs and bathroom repairs. Most offer free estimates, so homeowners can determine how much it will cost to address a particular plumbing repair.
Homeowners should not delay on completing a preliminary investigation before hiring plumbing contractors. This usually requires a referral from a relative or a friend. Conducting a preliminary inspection will let you know if the potential contractor has all the necessary skills and experience for the job. It will also let you know whether the contractor has made any previous repairs to pipes under the final inspection. In the case of new construction, this inspection will not take place because state codes only allow new construction to include one main water supply and one drain.
New construction also requires a special permit, which should be obtained from your city hall or local government office. The local plumbing contractors will often require the city to approve the planned water supply and drain before any plumbing services are carried out. When carrying out the initial inspection, it is important to check the heating and cooling system, hot water heater, gas heater, heating cables, faucets and water pipes. All of these items should be working perfectly and provide safe water pressure.
Although most homeowners are familiar with the common plumbing problem, it is still important to hire plumbing contractors because they may know more about issues that can affect your home’s drains and pipelines. There are a number of plumbing problems which homeowners frequently encounter and are not aware of. These include corroded pipe joints, leaks, slow draining sinks, faucets and showers, slow running toilets and baths, backed up sewer lines and damaged water pipes. Most homeowners take on these jobs themselves and don’t realize how much damage they are actually doing their homes. It is therefore important to use the services of licensed professionals to avoid any damage to your property and increase the safety and functionality of your home.
