No matter how good you are at DIY, everyone needs to have the number of a local emergency plumber on their phone, as it’s a guarantee you will need to call one at some point and it’s sensible to do so straight away.
Here are five of the most common reasons to call out a plumber, at least one of which you are likely to experience yourself.
No hot water
There’s no worse feeling than stepping into a shower expecting to be hit by steaming hot water only to have a fountain of cold water pour all over you unexpectedly.
While cold showers might be a hit with Wim Hof, it could be a sign of a big problem with your boiler and needs to be repaired immediately.
Hot water is needed for baths, showers and to wash dishes, so it is essential to fix any issues with the boiler as soon as possible.
It might be the case of the boiler needing to be flushed out to remove sludge that has built up inside of it, or replacing rusting parts. After looking at it, an emergency plumber will be able to determine the problem, as it may require getting a new boiler entirely.
Burst pipes
Another problem that needs immediate attention is a burst water pipe. Otherwise, it can cause lots of issues for the entire plumbing and heating system in the house, as well as extensive water damage.
In the case of flooding, this can even cause ceilings to collapse, so it is essential to get a plumber in as soon as you suspect a burst pipe.
Blocked drains
Blocked drains can also result in flooding, due to bottlenecks where water collects. This could happen in a piping connection, at the sink with hair or food, or in an outside drain that has filled with leaves or garden debris.
Although it is unpleasant to unblock a drain, it is extremely important to do so, otherwise it can lead to serious problems with the plumbing.
For instance, a severely blocked drain can result in an overflowing toilet, as wastewater cannot drain out.
Therefore, a plumber is needed to release the most serious blockages to allow the water to drain through the system again.
Leaky pipes and taps
A leaky tap can be one of the most annoying sounds to listen to, which is what tends to drive homeowners to call their plumbers, as they can’t bear the repetitive noise any longer.
In fact, there is a bigger reason to get a leaky tap fixed, and that is because it can waste a huge amount of water every year. According to Water UK, a dripping tap wastes up to 5,500 litres of water.
This is the equivalent of filling up a paddling pool every week throughout the summer, which is likely to surprise most households, many of whom simply put up their dripping tap.
Even if households are not concerned about how this will affect their water bills if they are on a water metre, they might be worried about the impact on the global water crisis.
UNESCO reported that between two and three billion people experience water shortages around the world, with this figure expected to rise as climate change worsens and water demand grows.
For these reasons, it is essential to call a plumber to fix the problem professionally, particularly as it is usual for a leaking pipe to turn into a burst pipe if it is not repaired.
Low water pressure
There are many reasons why you might have low water pressure, which is why you should get a plumber in to figure out the cause of the problem.
Unless your neighbours have the same issue, in which case it is likely to be due to a burst water main, it could be caused by a blockage, a leak, or a problem with the boiler.
Although it can be tempting to put up with low water pressure, this could be a mistake, as there is the risk more damage could be done to your plumbing in the meantime.
For instance, if it is caused by an undetected blockage, this could lead to a burst pipe later on down the line, which would be much more costly and time-consuming to fix.