There are different ways to save money at home, but when it comes to plumbing services, many are unsure how they would approach things. Most often, we think that doing everything by ourselves is the best way to go. After all, we don’t need to pay for service and labour fees.
But is this the best approach? Unfortunately, we could sometimes make matters worse. Instead of saving, we’d end up damaging pipes more, so we have to do some replacements that would cost hundreds, if not thousands.
With that, how do we save on plumbing expenses, especially when you live in Sydney? Here are some of the best ways:
- DIY what you can
Yes, fixing plumbing issues may actually make matters worse. But, the key here is to know what you can and can’t do.
For example, you can try unblocking a clogged kitchen drain on your own before calling a plumber. All you need is to try a few things first, such as pouring boiling water down the drain or using baking soda or vinegar to melt down anything blocking the drain. You may even replace a toilet on your own, especially if you have some tools you can use at home.
Most of the time, it only takes a little research and an online video tutorial to fix some plumbing issues on your own.
But then again, know when to stop. If you don’t know what you’re doing, don’t risk it.
- Fix minor issues before they become big
Think a leaking faucet would just fix itself? Or a clogged toilet would magically unclog without you doing anything? Fixing small issues is a must if you want to save money. You can either do it yourself or if you are not confident, call a professional plumber as soon as you can.
With the latter, you might be thinking: how do you save if you call a professional?
It’s simple. Small problems can turn big. For example, a small leak can turn into a busted pipe and flood the place. You will have to pay not just for fixing the pipe, but also the damages on your property.
A quick repair is cheaper compared to all the expenses you’ll pay down the road when something major happens.
- Choose a cheaper alternative when you can
Some plumbing issues offer multiple solutions. Among them is rehabilitating supply and drain pipelines. You can either do a complete replacement or choose to do supply and/or drain relining. The latter is cheaper as it doesn’t require digging and buying new materials. All you need is to find a supply and drain relining Sydney expert who can do the job.
- Prevent plumbing issues from happening
The best way to avoid paying for plumbing services is to avoid them, and you can do so by being more cautious about how you use your plumbing.
This is especially true with toilet clogs, which can be unsanitary and unhealthy when not addressed. Plus, you won’t be able to use the bathroom even when you need to. Among the possible causes of toilet clogs is flushing stuff that is not meant to be flushed, like tissue and sanitary napkins.
The same goes for the bathroom and kitchen drains. Make sure you have a drain strainer to catch anything that is not supposed to go down the drain.
- No harsh cleaners
When cleaning pipes and drains, we often reach cleaners we can buy at the grocery store. But while they do the work, professional plumbers know that they could shorten the lifespan of your pipeline. So instead of using these harsh cleaners, go with the natural cleaners like vinegar and baking soda, or using an auger.