6 Big Reasons to Hire a Professional Plumber to Fix Your Leaking Toilet

Photo by Gabor Monori on Unsplash

According to EPA statistics, most Baltimore residents experience plumbing leaks that result in over one trillion gallons of waste water. Many homeowners understand that house appliances do not remain in stellar conditions for an extended period. You might encounter numerous plumbing issues such as a leaking toilet, a clogged bathroom, or cracked walls. When you encounter such faults, you might be tempted to carry out a DIY project on your plumbing system. Such repairs can cause further damages and extra costs because you are not a certified plumber. Therefore, you need to hire a professional plumber to sort out all your plumbing issues, especially a leaky faucet.

Below are reasons why you should call a licensed plumber to handle your leaking toilet.

1. Plumbing Equipment 

Professional plumbers have special equipment for specific repairs. Hence, when you opt to fix your toilet with any tool, you might not achieve the desired results. Most homeowners do not have these plumbing tools, and trying to compromise with other equipment might result in further problems that were not present. Moreover, one needs the required expertise to repair a leaking faucet successfully. Thus, hiring a certified plumber is the best decision, and you will not have to worry about purchasing the right tools for the DIY job. 

2. Service Warranties

Using an unlicensed plumber to fix your leaking faucet is a huge blunder since they do not provide any service warranty. Conversely, professional plumbers have this option as a mandatory policy. Hence, experts will always do a perfect job and ensure you get real value for your money because they do not want to return in case of any faults. However, if you encounter a faulty component, the professional plumbing company will offer free repairs. Instead of repairing the leaking toilet or getting an amateur, it is always wise to call expert plumbers to handle your plumbing repairs and enjoy the insurance cover. 

3. Reduces Damages

Leaking toilets often occur when you least expect, and trying to solve the problem immediately might result in further damages. You might puncture the pipes or destroy the faucet beyond repair. Most homeowners try to do DIY repairs, not knowing they might escalate the problem. More plumbing problems mean you will spend extra cash on repairs. Therefore, it is imperative to avoid such situations by hiring a skilled and certified plumber to handle the issue. 

4. Comprehensive Diagnostics

Another significant benefit of calling an expert plumber is thorough inspection and evaluation of the plumbing problem. The professional might identify other underlying issues that you did not know existed before. Homeowners usually get detailed diagnostics of the entire plumbing system. This prevents impending plumbing disasters from occurring. In addition, an expert will dig further to establish the cause of the leaking toilet and offer practical advice to the homeowners to avoid such problems from recurring. 

5. Professionalism

Certified plumbers often operate with a sense of professionalism and integrity. The experts often undergo training to establish various plumbing issues and how to fix the repairs. Amateur plumbers can use the wrong tools to fix faulty components. Without any warranty, you can’t claim any free maintenance in case the issue is unresolved. Therefore, professionalism is a fundamental aspect that homeowners need to look out for in plumbing companies to get permanent solutions. 

6. Health and Safety

Plumbing might seem like an easy DIY project when you encounter a leaking toilet. However, the repair is beyond the leaky faucet and malfunctioning system. You can get exposed to harmful contaminants and health hazards while trying to fix the issue alone. Apart from puncturing water pipes, you might mess up the entire sewer line and contaminate drinking water. Therefore, it is much safer to hire a certified plumber to handle all the plumbing repairs.    They have the expertise to follow health and safety regulations. Ultimately, professional plumbers prioritize the safety of your home and community while carrying out efficient services. 

When it comes to plumbing, it is advisable not to gamble with your home. Whether it is a leaking toilet or a broken pipe, make sure you call a professional plumber to fix the repair. While it may be cheaper to handle the issue, you might cause further plumbing problems that will cost you money to repair. Thus, before hiring a plumber, carry out due diligence to know more about certifications, warranties, and professionalism. You can also read customer reviews to find out if the plumbing company has positive ratings. Do not use your home as a DIY project; seek out experts to come and fix your leaking toilet. 

Kitchen Fire Cleanup and Precautions

Photo by Chris Karidis on Unsplash

The kitchen is arguably the hub and heart of every home. Unfortunately, it is the most vulnerable room to fire damage from ovens, stovetops, fryer oil, toasters, and microwaves. Thankfully, most homeowners can contain kitchen fires before it spreads to the entire house. Nonetheless, you will still have to deal with fire-damaged countertops, cabinets, soot, and other forms of damage resulting from kitchen fires. While kitchen fire restoration experts can help you with the cleanup, below are some tips on responding to a kitchen fire.

Dealing with Kitchen Fire Damage

After containing the kitchen fire, consider the following tips when dealing with the aftermath;

• Take Safety Precautions

Even if the fire has been put out, you should observe fire safety tips from the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In most cases, damage from kitchen fire isn’t extensive. However, you should invite professional inspection to assess your kitchen since the fire may damage hard-to-see areas, such as electrical systems, ductwork, and gas lines.

• Ventilate the Entire House

Among the first things to do following a kitchen fire or any other fire damage is ventilating the entire house. Open all the windows, use fans, and other options to clear soot and dust particles that may be dangerous. Ventilating also airs out smoke and burnt food odors. Note that smoke and soot from kitchen fire will spread everywhere. Therefore, you should also consider changing your HVAC filters.

• Document the Damage

After ensuring that your kitchen is safe and habitable, you should document and take an inventory of the extent of the damage. Taking photos and documenting all the damaged items can assist when making an insurance claim. Some items to include in your inventory include personal belongings, kitchen appliances, cabinets, and any other item consumed by fire.

How to Clean After Kitchen Fire

Smoke and soot are the main challenges when it comes to cleaning your kitchen after fire damage. If the damage from smoke and soot isn’t extensive, you can DIY-clean your kitchen using the following tips;

1. Assemble Your Gear

If you’ve seen before, the aftermath of a kitchen fire is soot residue, which forms an unsightly greasy film over kitchen surfaces. Soot residue is often sticky and mainly made up of carbon particles that can penetrate the skin, eyes, and lungs. The harmful nature of these compounds requires that you use proper protection as you do the cleanup. Wear face masks, rubber gloves, and goggles.

2. Start by Cleaning the Air

As mentioned, fire damage always contaminates the air, making it dangerous to breathe. Therefore, open all the windows and doors in your kitchen. You can also place fans in every corner of your kitchen to create cross-current airflow that drives out contaminated air. You shouldn’t run your AC when cleaning as it will circulate the contaminated air through the ductwork into other parts of the house.

3. Clean the Surfaces

Removing soot from kitchen cabinets and other surfaces is a real struggle. However, use a strong cleaning product to rinse the surfaces thoroughly and clean the surfaces repeatedly. Note that you may have to repaint flat finishes after cleaning to cover stains from soot. Some of the equipment that you will need to clean the surfaces include;

• Trisodium phosphate – if mixed with water, Trisodium phosphate has industrial-grade strength and works well on soft residues. It is a strong agent, thus use with gloves and avoid splashes. Also, don’t use this agent to clean chrome fixtures and ceramic tiles.
• Degreaser products – though not harsh as TSP, these agents cleans all types of surfaces. However, always check specific details to ensure that you choose the right product for the job.
• Dry soot sponge – soot sponges can clean all surfaces effectively, including fabrics. They are designed to remove soot residue without water or any other liquid cleaning agents.

Freshen Up Your House

Even if the flame were confined to the kitchen, your entire house might be affected by foul odors. Therefore, you should freshen up the house after the cleanup. You can do this by;

• Using an orange citrus cleaner to wipe non-porous surfaces after removing all the soot
• Opening coffee containers and leaving them inside closed cabinets
• Placing bowls with vinegar at different locations to absorb the smells
• Sprinkling baking soda on the carpets
• Contacting a fire restoration company for help in setting up an ozone generating machine that quickly refreshes indoor air

Conclusion

Even though fire hazards are unstoppable, you should implement various fire prevention tips to reduce the risks of encountering fire damage in your kitchen. Regardless, if the situation has already happened, you should be well prepared to handle the aftermath. While you can handle a small kitchen fire outbreak, you should leave serious kitchen fire damage restoration to professionals. Using wrong cleaning products or wrong techniques can lead to irreversible damages.