The plumbing of your house is one of the most important utilities. Additionally, it is also one of the most expensive repairs. When a plumbing problem occurs, it often requires thousands of dollars of repairs and the removal of a good portion of the house?s foundation. The replacement of water and sewer lines is one of these expensive projects. If your home requires replacement of water and sewer lines, these tips will help you complete the project, without going broke.
Get a second opinion
Before you go digging up your entire front yard for replacement of water and sewer lines, make sure they actually need to be replaced. Even if you trust your plumber and their knowledge of the plumbing system, there might be an improved way to handle the replacement of water and sewer lines. Getting a second opinion is only a minimal cost when compared to the cost of the replacement of water and sewer lines.
Find a reputable company
It might not seem important to shop around for plumbing services when every plumbing company is quoting you thousands of dollars. However, the plumbing company that you choose could actually make a big difference. If the replacement is not handled correctly the first time, it is possible that you could have to go back to your home?s foundation. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 425,000 people worked as plumbers in 2014. Call around, ask for referrals, and interview a couple of different plumbing companies before choosing the one to handle your large scale replacement.
Inquire about trenchless replacement
Trenchless plumbing is a newer practice in the plumbing industry. While it is not available for every single plumbing problem, it is worth it to inquire about yours. You will have to find plumbing contractors familiar with trenchless plumbing. They will likely come out to your property, evaluate the plumbing problem, and then consider the possibility of trenchless plumbing. Trenchless plumbing allows the plumber to go through the trenches, instead of digging up your entire front yard.
Prevent another plumbing problem from occurring
It might be too late to prevent a plumbing problem from occurring this time, but it is important for next time. You don?t want to spend thousands of dollars on a replacement, only to have a large scale problem again in a couple of years. While not all plumbing problems can be prevented, there are steps that you can do to reduce the risk of having one that requires a full replacement of sewer lines. This includes fixing leaks, using a tree root stopper, and scheduling regular inspections of the sewer lines. Sometimes, if the problem is caught early enough, it can be handled without a full replacement.
Preventative maintenance is just as important with your plumbing as it is with your furnace or heating and cooling system. According to Plumbing Manufacturers International, 13.7% of water use is the result of leaks. Additionally, keeping up with upgrades can help. Typically, tankless water heaters provide hot water at a rate of two to five gallons per minute. It is also important to avoid flushing large amounts of non flushable items.
The replacement of water and sewer lines is often an expensive one. Some homeowners are forced to take out second mortgages or set up expensive payment plants with the local plumbing company. When you are dealing with a large scale plumbing problem, it is important to get a second opinion, consider alternative solutions, and prevent the problem from happening again later on.