Plumbing problems can end up being rather expensive and if you’re struggling to stay on budget, you may need some help. There are several ways you can save money on your plumbing services. You just need to know what to do.
Get Multiple Quotes
Before choosing a plumbing company, you should contact several of them and find out what they offer. It’s a good idea to get multiple quotes before you select one to work with. This will help you save money and should allow you to choose the best company to work with. If they are a good one, you can continue to call them when you need plumbing help.
You may try searching for “plumbing companies near me” to find the most local options, too. This will help you get better quotes, as they won’t need to travel as far.
Regular Maintenance
Everything in your home needs maintenance sometimes. This includes everything from your boiler to your drains. You can do some of these on your own, but it’s usually best to have a heating company handle the boiler and heating systems for you. They can come once a year, usually right before the cold weather starts, to inspect everything and carry out the usual maintenance procedures.
Other things you can do on your own, such as pouring boiling water down your drains once a week, using probiotics if you have a septic tank, and otherwise taking care to look after your pipes and drains. This will only result in more efficient plumbing and fewer problems when things are cared for.
Prevent Future Issues
There are quite a few steps you can take to avoid needing a plumber in the first place. A large number of calls are due to errors made by those living in the house. If you simply prevent the problems, you can save yourself quite a lot of money. Here are a few things to do so you can avoid needing a plumber.
Use Strainers
Drain strainers are essentially little catchment plates that sit in your drains and catch debris before it goes down the drain. Hair and food will be caught so you don’t need to deal with a big blockage later on. This can save you time, money, and stress.
Avoid Grease
If you don’t want to clog your pipes, keep grease where it belongs, in the rubbish. Any type of grease or fat that goes down the drain can congeal and harden in the pipe, creating a big blockage that will collect other food debris, hair, and even soap scum, eventually causing the drain to fail completely.
Flush Paper
Many items are regularly marketed as being flushable, but the only thing that should be going down your toilet is toilet tissue. Sanitary products and wipes should be placed in the rubbish bin or you’ll end up with a blocked toilet at some point. This can be expensive and it’s also rather messy.
Insulate Your Piping
In the winter, any exposed pipes may freeze and if they are full of water, they could rupture, causing massive flooding as the water pours out of them. The simplest way to avoid this is to wrap your pipes in insulation so they don’t freeze.
Just taking care can result in your plumbing bills being lower, so avoid clogging your drains and be proactive in preventing future problems.
Consider a New Boiler
Older boilers are not only less efficient, they’re also more prone to breaking down. You may find that you have to replace parts or hire a heating company to come and fix the boiler on a regular basis. Once you’ve done this for a while, you’ll end up paying the same amount in repairs as you would for a new boiler.
Installing a new boiler is just a good idea if your old one is more than a decade old. Technology has come a long way and you’ll find that newer boilers are much more efficient. In addition, they’re less likely to cause problems and you should be able to enjoy a cheaper life with a fully functioning boiler. Talk to your heating company about whether it’s time to look into buying a new system.
Seek Reliability
Sometimes, when you hire the cheapest company with only money in mind, you end up getting a plumber who is uninterested in really helping. They do the minimal amount to make it look like the job is complete, but you then end up dealing with more issues in a few days or weeks.
Ideally, you’ll end up with a plumbing company that is high level and has a good work ethic. This ensures you will not only get great quality repairs done; it also means they won’t be back to fix the same issue every time. There’s nothing worse than having a plumbing problem repaired, only to discover it was done poorly and you now have to redo everything.
When you choose a company that is not reliable, they may not show up in an emergency or may be very late. They may also use inferior products, which can result in more issues soon. Take your time selecting the right company to work with.
Invest in Quality
The fixtures you choose will also have an impact on the amount you pay for a plumber. Cheap, plastic faucets are more likely to come apart and have leaks. They’re simply not built to last. If you choose fixtures that are worth the money and are sturdy enough to stand up to everyday use, you will find that they last longer and cause fewer issues.
While the initial price may be higher, you’ll save money over time because there are no more repairs to be made. The installation is the main cost.
Choose Your Appliances Carefully
Just light fixtures, your appliances can cause you to spend a lot more money on everything. Cheap, poorly constructed appliances will break down more often and require more repairs. Everything from your dishwasher to your washing machine can cause issues in your home.
Appliances are often some of the more expensive plumbing items to repair, as well. It will cost a lot more to fix your fridge’s water system than to replace a pipe under the sink, thanks to the advanced tech. You should take the time to research the appliances you look at and read the reviews. What are their weak points? What do people like and dislike about them? You may find that there are too many issues with one appliance while another is well reviewed.
It's always worth doing some extra research to prevent massive expenditures in the future.
Fix Small Problems
Has your faucet been leaking? Do you have a rattle in the heating system? Notice the boiler isn’t working quite as efficiently? Is your toilet a little slow to flush? These are just a few of the problems that you need to stay on top of and make sure you get them fixed as soon as you notice them.
One of the biggest and most costly mistakes people make is not fixing problems while they’re still small. Unfortunately, even small issues can become big ones if left. A small drip grows and may cause water damage. A leaking pipe could end up breaking apart completely and soaking your home. A poorly functioning toilet may end up overflowing with sewage everywhere.
If you want to avoid costly plumbing bills, you will need to make sure you call a company as soon as you notice a problem. For example, having a central heating engineer come out to look at your boiler once you realise it’s not working quite as well as it should can save you having to replace it completely.
Often, you will pay a minimal amount for a little issue such as a leak, instead of having to replace entire sections of pipe or reline a drainage pipe. You can easily fix these issues early on and save money over time.
As you can see, it takes time, patience, and some reviews to ensure that you aren’t overpaying for plumbing services. Whether you need a new boiler or just have to select your appliances a little more carefully, there are many ways to save money on your plumbing services.
Gastech - Heating and Plumbing Services Across Blackwood and South Wales
Here at Gastech, we pride ourselves on being one of the most reliable heating and plumbing companies in South Wales. Established since 1986, we have decades of experience and expertise behind us. Need a quality plumber? Contact Gastech today.
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