The Toilet
Nothing worse then finishing your bathroom business and…..no flush. We have all been there, hopefully, in the comfort of our own home. The initial instinct is to try flushing again, which rarely works. This just makes the water creep slowly to the top, while you stand there panicked, wondering if you need to react.
The first step in unclogging a toilet is trying the handy plunger. Make sure that there is enough water to cover the cup of the plunger, and preferably, not much more. Too much water means splashing. Try tilting the plunger while inserting it into the water to allow the air to escape, which will tighten the seal. Five plunges should be enough to work. Repeat again, if necessary.
Second, try a snake. A toilet snake is a special plumbing tool that has a long snake-like handle. Pull the spring entirely into the handle, and insert the bit into the toilet. Slowly crank until you meet resistance. Pull it back slightly, then try cranking further down. You may need to wiggle it back and forth to remove the clog.
The Sink
We’ve all had those evenings where the remnants of dinner go down the garbage disposal. You hear a glug, glug, and up it comes on the other side. After doing the up, down tango through both sides of the sink, you finally give up and realize that you must put forth more effort than the disposal switch.
A plunger can be used, BUT, be warned that a plunger forces clogs down, which may end up forcing a clog further into your pipes. The further it goes the more difficult and more expensive it is to remove.
Most clogs will be at the trap under the sink. First thing, be sure the sink is not running water. Then locate the U-shaped pipe under your sink. Place a bucket under to catch water, and remove the slip nuts. PVC piping can typically be loosened by hand. Open and meet the culprit, usually wooden popsicle sticks and spaghetti are common enemies. After discarding the clog, working backwards, tighten the slip nuts.
If there is no clog in your trap, you may need to resort to the snake. Use it the same way listed above with the toilet directions. You may need more elbow grease to get it through the twists and turns in the sink piping, but it should work. If you cannot reach the clog through the sink drain, remove the trap and insert the snake through the piping under the sink.
Plumbers, like most other professions, come in different shapes and sizes. By this, I mean some specialize in emergency calls, while others work on conventional jobs. Some may only work on new buildings and others may be well versed in all areas. Before you call a plumber and sign a contract for services, there are a few questions you must ask before making a commitment to your plumber.
Licensing
The most important: Are you a licensed plumber? You would be surprised how many people are actively working in trade industries and are not fully licensed. If you happen to hire an unlicensed plumber, while their rates may be cheaper, they do not have the proper proof of working knowledge of codes, testing, and other requirements met by state licensing. In addition, if you happen to need a permit, which many plumbing jobs require, an unlicensed plumber will quickly be shut down by the government for not having proper permits.
Insurance
Going hand in hand with licensing is insurance. Mistakes happen and with a plumber, these mistakes typically come with gallons of water. Theft, accidents and mistakes are all covered by proper insurance carried by a contractor. Even a simple slip in fall in your residence could cost you thousands out of pocket when hiring an uninsured worker.
References
Reference are important for all careers, including plumbers. A good plumber will have no problems supplying a reasonable amount (3-5) of references. Be sure to check out these references independently before signing a contract with a plumber.
Prices
Money talks, but service and parts are different languages. Be sure to ask specifics about different service costs, emergency service costs, cost of parts, hourly rates, travel time, etc. An emergency call in the middle of the night will cost substantially more then a scheduled call, but it should not be a surprise. Always remember, some of these prices and costs are negotiable, but make sure the negotiated price is written on your contract.
Response Time
If a plumber offers emergency service, ask what a typical response time is. The smallest plumbing emergency can grow exponentially in damage costs by the minute. Be sure to hire someone who has an office or residence relatively close. A plumber who lives and works in another county, obviously, cannot be the plumber you depend on in an emergency.
Finally, when questioning a plumber, always remember they are professionals and generally will do everything in their power to alleviate and questions and concerns you may have.
