Knowing when to hire a professional plumber can save you a lot of cash in the long run. You should contact a licensed plumber when a plumbing problem requires the expertise and skill of a professional. Please remember that you can prevent many serious problems and emergencies by hiring an experienced professional when you have a problem with your plumbing system. Keep reading if you want to find out what kind of problems require the expertise of a professional.

4) You will need to have on hand drain leak tape, small gas torch, solder, flux, plumbing sandpaper, pipe cutter, gas tape (to seal gas line) and maybe some pipe glue. Ask the sales person at the hardware store for a more defined list.

With a putty knife, carefully scrape the remaining parts of the wax ring from the area. Clean the spot so that the new wax ring will be level. Place a new wax ring on the opening and replace the toilet. Bolt it back onto the floor, reconnect the water line repair supply tube and watch for leaks as the water is turned back on.



One other common design that is considered "washerless" was made famous by Delta and copied by several other makers. It uses little "cup" seals that fit over springs recessed in the back of the valve body. The springs press these "seals" against the cartridge and regulate the flow through little tapered openings in the cartridge. If you have one of these and it's dripping, changing these springs and seals will usually correct it. Here's a tip. Once you have the cartridge out of the way, insert a phillips screwdriver into the seal and pop both the seal and spring out. Stick the new ones on the end of the screwdriver to help guide them into place. This is especially helpful if you don't have long slender fingers.

Working on the gas lines is also a complex job that only a licensed plumber can handle because it is very dangerous. Small leaks can't always be detected by odor alone, but a licensed professional has the proper equipment that's needed to ensure that you don't have any leaks in the line.

If the area around the fan isn't clean and dry, or if dust or any sort of growth has accumulated on the blades or inside the exhaust duct, it may be a warning sign of excess moisture build-up. Clean the water line repair fan and area well. Then double- check that the fan is operating properly.

Turn the water off at the main shutoff valve at the street. You should be able to take a pair of pliers(or your bare hands) and turn the valve at the water meter to shut off the water to your home. Once you have shut off the water you can cut the pipe around the leak and make the repair.

A large plumbing job, such as re-piping or installing additional fixtures, may require a permit. Check with your city's department of building and safety before asking for estimates, and avoid any plumbers who are reluctant to comply with regulations.