If you’re looking to save money on plumbing repairs, you’re not alone. Maintaining your home is an unavoidable part of every homeowner’s responsibility. Even if you are very diligent about properly maintaining your home, eventually something will break and you will need to fix or replace it. Home plumbing is on this list of things that eventually break and when it does, you’ll want to get the best possible deal to fix the situation.
Wouldn’t it be much simpler and less expensive if you had basic plumbing skills and the necessary tools for any repairs that might come up in your home? The next best thing is to keep up with preventative maintenance so you don’t have to resort to calling an emergency plumber when your toilet backs up or your kitchen sink no longer drains. Since most frequent plumbing calls have something to do with clogged drains that create flooding, it’s only natural to make sure your drains and toilets are free of grease, hair, food scraps, children’s toys, and towels.
In the kitchen, to prevent grease buildup, don’t pour grease down the drain! Even better, go vegetarian and avoid fat and oil from unhealthy foods…but I digress! In fact, regularly pouring boiling water mixed with a degreaser down the drain will greatly improve your chances of keeping your drains clean. As for the hair, you can buy an inexpensive trap that you can simply clean every so often.
Another category of preventative plumbing you can do at home is to install water-saving fixtures in your home. Unless you have your own septic bed and well, water and wastewater treatment can cost you dearly, especially in big cities. If you reduce your water consumption, you will save money instantly. Many fixtures today are designed to save energy and money. All you need to do is find these accessories and install them or have them installed in your home.
Of course, if there’s something in your home that really needs to be fixed and you’re not sure how to do it, it’s definitely time to call a reputable plumber. To reduce your plumbing work costs, request a quote in advance and try to be as flexible as possible about when you want repairs done. Many plumbers will negotiate if you are lenient about when you can come in and do the repairs. It doesn’t hurt to ask!