DIY Plumbing Repair - You Have Homeowners Insurance, Use It!

Since most home owners insurance policies don't cover the cost of repairs few people think to check with them when plumbing problems occur. Although they may not cover the repair, they will usually cover the value of damaged property including cleaning up after the repair. The scope of this type of project is typically not a diy plumbing repair project so you will want to find any way you can to help pay for it.

A few years ago I had the misfortune of finding water seeping through a wall in my basement one spring. First this was blamed on a very wet season. Next, when dry weather came around and the leak was still there a basement waterproofing contractor was called in. It was no suprise when this contractor informed me that I had ground water and needed their expensive services. Since the company had a vested interest in me believing this they did not seem to feel the need to offer any other possible explanation. Based on the fact that the remaining 95% of the basement walls had no such problem a third opinion was in order.

Based on the proximity of the leak to the primary kitchen drain pipes a third contractor was called. After a short examination, the plumbing contractor was able to determine that the kitchen drain pipe was leaking (not where we could access it easily of course but behind a cinder block wall under a concrete slab).

The plumbing contractor then made an unexpected suggestion - call my insurance company before starting the repair. That was when he explained that the company would not pay for the repair, but they would pay for the cost of jack hammering up my living room, hall, and/or office floor to find the leak and cleaning up afterwards. He was also able to suggest an alternative solution that was cleaner and much less expensive and present it to the insurance company.

Two repair scenarios were proposed.

The first project would involved having the plumbing contractor find the leak under the living room slab, repair the drain pipe, and then replace the concrete and flooring to clean up after the project. As would be expected the estimate for this repair was on the high side ($4000+ by the time all the cleanup work would have been completed).

The second repair was considerably less intrusive - they would cap off the existing drain line (kitchen only) and re-route it through the joist's in the basement and re-connect it to the main line outside the house. The only "heavy" work in this proposal was cutting a 6 inch hole in the exterior wall and digging a trench to run the new pipe to be reconnected. The remainder of the work amounted to a fairly simple plumbing repair. The net cost for this repair was about half the first proposal

With both of these proposals on hand, the insurance company had no problem in justifying payment for the FULL SECOND OPTION (less deductable of course). The insurance company saved money, the home owner saved money, and the repair was accomplished within 2 days with a minimum of cleanup required.

This entire project demonstrated the value of a good plumbing contractor. They were able to quickly identify the problem, propose multiple solutions, and help justify the payment by the insurance company.

This repair also demonstrated the value of a insurance company. The insurance company was willing to accept and pay for an alternative solution as well as inform the home owner of all the expenses that should be recorded for reimbursement.

Ray Breitenbach writes for SimpleHomeRepairs. Please visit for more information on how to perform you own basic home repairs

Your Home Project - Educating Yourself On Plumber Rates

As any homeowner will attest, calling in a plumber is usually done when there remains little other choice. A thrifty do-it-yourselfer will often try to fix the offending leak, flood, or jiggle in an effort to save money. But when a truly complicated problem arises or the effort at self-plumbing proves fruitless, it becomes necessary to call in the experts. And, subsequently, it becomes necessary to quickly and thoroughly educate yourself on the most current plumber rates.

Jumping headfirst into hiring the first plumber you come across in the yellow pages could easily yield disastrous results. Taking the extra steps to research plumber rates will put you in control of your situation; you?ll know what to expect and therefore know what to seek out in terms of reputable plumbers.

When researching plumber rates there are a variety of sources towards which to turn. The Internet, as always, is a valuable source of information on a variety of topics. Simply do a search for plumber rates in your area and you?ll quickly learn the lay of the land. Further, there are often chat forums where you can access customers who have likely been in your situation at one time or another. Additionally, you can often speak with professional plumbers themselves to learn the current plumber rates for a reputable service.

However, the most invaluable source for learning plumber rates in your area is the people with whom you share a community. Turn to your neighbors, friends, and friends of friends to find the most reputable and trustworthy plumbers in your area. This will also grant you the most up-to-date information about plumber rates.

One important thing to keep in mind is that low plumber rates may not always save you money in the end. More experienced plumbers will often charge plumber rates that match their level of experience. Trying to cut corners by hiring a plumber based solely on their low plumber rates may result in more trouble than it?s worth. A cheaply priced plumber may undercut his competition but there may be a reason for his prices.

However, when hiring an experienced, reputable plumber you can often bring prices down by offering to supply materials yourself. In this way, you are paying only for labor. Keep in mind, however, that there?s risk associated with this as flawed materials will not be guaranteed by the hired plumber.

Ultimately, it may make the most sense to find the best plumber you can find and pay the associated plumber rates. As is often the case, you get what you pay for. So choose wisely.

For easy to understand, in depth information about plumbing visit our ezGuide 2 Plumbing.

5 Ways To Get The Most Bang For Your Buck When Hiring A Plumber

For just about any homeowner the day will come when you need to hire a plumber, and it can be quite a costly phone call to make. There are ways, however, to get the most bang for your buck out of your plumbing.

1 - Reduce the risk

One approach to reducing plumbing costs is to avoid them before they happen. Among the most routine of plumbing calls are those pertaining to drain problems and frozen pops. Lots of houses have a drain or two that is a troublemaker while the rest are fine. Kitchen sinks commonly have a grease buildup in them. Counter this by being careful about what is poured down the drain and occasionally running some boiling hot soapy water down the kitchen sink. Hair in bathroom sinks is another common problem. If your bathroom sink doesn't have any sort of screened drain cover, invest in one and clean it off regularly. Frozen pipes the problem? If your water pipes aren't all connected to a heated portion of your house then make certain that you have these pipes insulated well. If it's late into the season and outdoor water isn't going to be used anymore, then disconnect any outdoor water connections.

2- Buy your own materials

One high-profit area of plumbing is the sale of hardware and fixtures. If you already know what the problem is or you know what your plumber is going to be replacing, then do some price-comparison shopping and purchase the items that will be needed ahead of time. It may be worth your while to make sure that the products you buy are of good quality and your plumber knows how to work with the brand, make, or model of fixture/hardware that you've purchased.

3 - Know your enemy to save chargeable time

No, the plumber isn't your enemy, plumbing problems are the enemy. Make a checklist of anything in your house that leaks, is clogged, or needs plumber attention. When the plumber arrives have him fix everything that is in need of repair at once rather than piecemeal repairing things when they get really bad and requiring multiple trips from the plumber. This will also help the problem get work done more quickly since they will spend less time hunting and diagnosing problem areas of your residence.

4 - Shop around for the best quality rates

Often times the only criteria people use for selecting a plumber to hire is their hourly rate. While saving money on the hourly rate can be helpful, use common sense and make sure that the plumber you hire is qualified and insured. Ask how the hourly rate is calculated. If a plumber offers you a good rate, but they are far away from you and charge for driving time, it may work out to be easier on the wallet to hire a plumber that is closer to your home.

5 - Use water-saving fixtures

Whether your residence makes use of a local sewer system or utilizes a cesspool, lowering water usage will do much to lower long-term plumbing related costs for you. If you have a sink or faucet that is old and uses a lot water, consider replacing it entirely rather than repairing it. The less water you are passing the less you will be charged for water and the less wear and tear your water disposal system will take.

Aaron is a writer for Find Plumbers at PlumberSpot.com

Ten Ways to Save Water With Your Plumber's Approval

1. Fix all Dripping taps and running toilets

2. Don?t turn taps on full bore when you just want to rinse hands ~ use the sink plug

3. Don?t take long showers. If you want to enjoy the peace that water gives, run a bath half full and enjoy the soak with a clear conscience.

4. Don?t let the tap run when you clean your teeth. Just turn it on when needed

5. Make sure you have a water-limiting shower head.

6. If you have Teenagers, put them on an agreed timer so they appreciate why it has to be so ~otherwise threaten them with bathing in the same tub AFTER their brother/sister has had their bath!

7. When having a shower, if you have to let the water run then catch it in a bucket so it can be delivered to pot-plants/garden.

8. If you catch the ?grey water? from your washing machine you can water plants and shrubs~ so be careful of what you wash clothes in. Do you really need to bleach your clothes? Ummmm?..really?

9. Use plugs to limit the amount of water needed everywhere. Only do the dishes when you have enough dirty dishes to warrant a sink-full. Only put the dishwasher on when it?s full of dirty dishes. Don?t do half-loads.

10. If you decide to do the laundry, make sure you only use the amount of water needed to wash the size of the load.

The important thing is to THINK before automatically doing jobs involving water. Make your Plumber proud and help save lives~ the way things are heading, it could well be your own.

http://www.constructingprofits.com

Showing contractors how to make more money ~ working less hours!

DIY Plumbing & Is It Advisable For Your Home

When it comes to DIY plumbing, everyone knows the basics. We all know how to unclog a toilet or clean out a drain pipe, but what if the problem is a little more complex? Most homeowners can handle the minor DIY plumbing projects, such as the aforementioned scenarios. But, what happens if those harsh drain cleaners are a worry to have sitting around the house or you worry about breathing with their strong smell in the air? Below are a few tips to some very simple DIY plumbing projects, which are followed by information on how to know when to hang up your hat and call a professional.

If you have children or pets in the house, harsh drain cleaners may not be the best products to have in your cabinet. Instead, using a new toilet plunger to unclog those stubborn drains is one of the best kept DIY plumbing secrets in existence. This process works perfectly on a single sink, but gets a little more tricky with double sinks. In the latter situation, you will need someone else to help you and you will need a total of two plungers. Your friend should use one plunger to secure the air from exiting out of the properly working side while you plunge on the sink that is clogged. Depending on the severity of the clog, this may take a few minutes and some strength in using the plunger, but it’s much safer than using harsh drain cleaners. When plunging a sink, you must take special care to not push so hard that you damage the sink. At the same time, you have to use enough force to unclog the drain. When using this DIY plumbing method, always use a new plunger.

If you are experiencing problems with your toilet, always turn the water off using the knob at the base before proceeding to work with the repair. This will prevent any overflowing or other situation that may hinder your repair efforts.

If water finds it’s way to the floor of your bathroom, a quick cleanup may make the difference in moisture that eventually leads to a weakened floor or not having any permanent damage. The best way to clean water out of your carpet is by using thick towels to soak up the moisture. Never leave water to dry on it’s own as this will almost certainly lead to rotting of the floor, which will eventually cause the structure of your floor to weaken.

When it comes to knowing whether or not to work on a DIY plumbing project or call a professional, it’s best to gauge a number of factors. Among them, your level of experience in repairing similar problems, the time that you have to dedicate to the project and your level of patience. Plumbing can be stressful, especially when it relates to your own home. If you are not comfortable in completing the project correctly or have complete confidence that you can repair a leak without further problems, it’s best to call a professional. The same is true if you do not have the time needed to correctly make DIY plumbing repairs or the patience needed to make them. Plumbing, like electricity, is essential for your home and family. When it comes to these, nothing but the best will do.

Find all types of home improvement contractors who specialize at installing carpet, doors, siding, roofing and much more. If you are a home improvement contractor or an author of home improvement articles, add your site or articles today.

Your Home Project – Educating Yourself On Plumber Rates

As any homeowner will attest, calling in a plumber is usually done when there remains little other choice. A thrifty do-it-yourselfer will often try to fix the offending leak, flood, or jiggle in an effort to save money. But when a truly complicated problem arises or the effort at self-plumbing proves fruitless, it becomes necessary to call in the experts. And, subsequently, it becomes necessary to quickly and thoroughly educate yourself on the most current plumber rates.

Jumping headfirst into hiring the first plumber you come across in the yellow pages could easily yield disastrous results. Taking the extra steps to research plumber rates will put you in control of your situation; you’ll know what to expect and therefore know what to seek out in terms of reputable plumbers.

When researching plumber rates there are a variety of sources towards which to turn. The Internet, as always, is a valuable source of information on a variety of topics. Simply do a search for plumber rates in your area and you’ll quickly learn the lay of the land. Further, there are often chat forums where you can access customers who have likely been in your situation at one time or another. Additionally, you can often speak with professional plumbers themselves to learn the current plumber rates for a reputable service.

However, the most invaluable source for learning plumber rates in your area is the people with whom you share a community. Turn to your neighbors, friends, and friends of friends to find the most reputable and trustworthy plumbers in your area. This will also grant you the most up-to-date information about plumber rates.

One important thing to keep in mind is that low plumber rates may not always save you money in the end. More experienced plumbers will often charge plumber rates that match their level of experience. Trying to cut corners by hiring a plumber based solely on their low plumber rates may result in more trouble than it’s worth. A cheaply priced plumber may undercut his competition but there may be a reason for his prices.

However, when hiring an experienced, reputable plumber you can often bring prices down by offering to supply materials yourself. In this way, you are paying only for labor. Keep in mind, however, that there’s risk associated with this as flawed materials will not be guaranteed by the hired plumber.

Ultimately, it may make the most sense to find the best plumber you can find and pay the associated plumber rates. As is often the case, you get what you pay for. So choose wisely.

For easy to understand, in depth information about plumbing visit our ezGuide 2 Plumbing