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If you want to handle your own plumbing needs, there are some basic tools that you need to have in your arsenal. These will help you do a wide variety of things with your pipes, and this small investment in gear just might save you money on calling the plumber.

Get A Grip – Wrenches

The most basic and essential tool for your plumbing needs is the wrench. There are two different kinds of wrenches – adjustable and fixed. Fixed wrenches are ones that are made for a certain size. The best possible situation is to have a whole ton of fixed wrenches – one for every size of pipe. This is what the pros have. If that’s not an option, and it isn’t for most folks, go with a good adjustable wrench and some common fixed wrench sizes.

Needed Suction – Plungers

We all know that you need a good plunger for the toilet. When it gets backed up, you can jam that sucker in there and prevent about 90% of the most common plumbing problems. But you also need plungers for the sink, tub and shower. The one used for these flat surfaces is called a cup plunger. The one for the toilet is called a ball plunger. If you’ve got real problems, you might look into getting a bellows plunger. This is the strongest type and it can get out really serious clogs.

Crank It Out – Augers

Lots of folks have never used an auger before, but this is a really important plumbing tool for getting out clogs. It’s a coiled cable that you insert into a pipe. It has a mechanism that you turn and it gets out clogs in drains. There are several different types and you should have one of each. The sink auger is used for sink clogs, and for the deeper toilet clogs, you need a toilet auger. The main advantage is that it’s longer so it can reach further, and it has a different kind of cranking mechanism.

Cut And Ream – Pipe Vises

Pipe vises also come in handy when you’re doing your own plumbing work. These are vises made specifically to grip pipes. They come in lots of different sizes and can be used to do lots of things. You can use them for threading pipes, cutting them or also reaming them. These are a little more advanced than the other types of equipment listed here, but if you’re doing any real work with your pipes you’ll need some.

Patch Things Up – Teflon Tape

Finally, when you need to patch things up, you should use Teflon tape. This is the absolutely best type for dealing with leaking pipes. It’s cheap, but it holds connections really secure so you don’t have to worry about leaks. No other tape does it quite like Teflon.

The above list is just the basics. However, these simple tools are enough to let you do your own plumbing if you know what you’re doing. They’ll keep your pipes working right, and that will keep the plumber away.

Dallas plumbing professionals are great at what they do, if you can find one that is professional enough for you. To know more visit: http://www.angieslist.com/.

They leak, sweat, make loud noises and freeze; no, not your kids- your pipes. When you think about your plumbing if you think about it at all, it is probably only when something goes wrong. That is usually when most of us realize that the part we cant see- the pipes can do a massive amount of damage to our homes when something goes wrong.

A leaking pipe can drain your water bill and if it is leaking in the wrong place it can cause structural damage to your home as well. Here are some ways to tell if you have a leak going that you aren’t aware of. We are assuming you haven’t come home and found your kids floating on the couch cushions, so any leak at this point is probably undetected. There are basically two sources of water coming into your home, your bathroom and your kitchen, that you can check for leaks. Look for loose tiles in the bathroom. If you find a multitude of loose tiles lift them up and check the wall for a spongy feel. If you have a spongy wall you have a leak. You can also look for persistent mold and mildew. Check your tiles grouting lines. Are there gaps? Gaps probably mean mold growing there as well. Where there is mold or mildew there is a water source. You can also check around your toilet for water leakage. Another trick is to rock your toilet- does it move? It shouldn’t and if it does it means it isn’t secured right to the wax ring, which means a potential leak is occurring.

Freezing pipes of course are more obvious. They tend to explode and leave a flood of water in your home; there is no missing this one. If you live in a cold climate you need to take the proper precautions to wrap your pipes and winterize them before the cold sets in. Once they freeze you will need to get professional help fast to try and prevent more damage from occurring when they burst.

Now that you’re aware of your pipes, you are also aware that your knowledge is more limited on how to fix them than ever. You need a plumber. The easiest way to hire a professional plumber with a good reputation is to look at consumer driven web sites like Angie’s List. These web sites offer reviews of a business by the actual clients who use or used the service so you know you are getting an honest viewpoint. This can help eliminate a lot of future leg work and phone calls to try and find someone reputable in your area.

The hardest part about plumbing should be maintaining it, not finding a plumber you can trust and with these tips you should be able to find a trustworthy professional in no time flat.

In Dallas plumbing emergencies and problems shouldn’t leave you all wet. Find a plumber today at http://www.angieslist.com/.