3 Tips for Reducing Plumbing Repair Costs

by Kevin Smith Author

When you experience problems with your plumbing, you have no choice but to make the repairs as quickly as possible. Your plumbing represents a critical household system. Whether you attempt a do-it-yourself fix of hire a plumber in your area to make the repairs, the important thing is that you get it handled as soon as you can.

Another important factor in plumbing repairs is the cost. Repairs, especially those of an emergency nature, can sometimes be costly. The good news is that homeowners can mitigate some of those repair expenses by taking the right action before, during, and after a plumbing emergency happens. Preventive maintenance is a key component of keeping repair bills low, and those tasks are simple to execute. Keep reading for a few tips that can help you reduce plumbing repair costs in Pittsburgh, PA.

Relieve Pressure During Freezes

Prolonged bouts of freezing weather can wreak havoc on your plumbing. Pipes, by their nature, are full of water. When those pipes are exposed to sub-zero temperatures for long periods, the water inside can freeze. Freezing water expands, and without a way to relieve the pressure created by expanding water, the pipes can rupture. It’s easy to prevent that kind of disaster, however. Simply leave a faucet or spigot dripping during freezing weather. That will give your plumbing a way to relieve the building pressure and save your pipes from rupturing.

Screen Out Debris

Drain clogs are another common cause for service calls, and some of them simply can’t be avoided. For example, tree roots can infiltrate your sewer lines and cause clogs, and there’s little you can do about that. But clogs caused by hair and debris that makes its way into the drain can be prevented with judicious use of a drain screen. A drain screen is a device that covers the drain in your tub or sink and prevents large, line-clogging debris from entering your drain. It can stop hair, food, soap, and other potentially detrimental items from stopping up your drain.

Prevent Expensive Clogs

Another way to prevent costly drain clogs that involves simple household items can be used as preventive maintenance to keep obstructions from developing in your lines. Rather than routinely using harsh drain cleaning chemicals, periodically use baking soda and vinegar to keep clogs away. Simply pour baking soda into the drain, add vinegar, and put the tub stopper in the drain. After a few minutes, flush the drain with boiling water. Not only does the chemical reaction produce gas that can push through minor clogs, the cleaning action will also wash away grease, oils, and soap that cause frequent clogs.

Some plumbing problems will happen despite routine preventive maintenance, and in those cases a plumber may still be necessary to get your system running again. However, you can cut your plumbing repair costs in Pittsburgh, PA, by using these tips to prevent bigger problems in the future.