A lot of individuals are experienced DIY'ers and can do all sorts of remodeling, renovating, and repairing around the home. Conversely, there are just as many who do not possess the necessary skills to do these kinds of tasks and have to rely on the services of professional contractors to do the job for them. A good example of this is when you need to repair and replace plumbing fixtures and parts in the bathroom, kitchen, or laundry room. However, there are certain things that you can do to save money on plumbing costs around the house.
- Do regular preventative maintenance - the old cliche "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" definitely applies where care and maintaining plumbing and plumbing fixtures is concerned. Another way to save money on plumbing services is by not needing them and preventative maintenance is the solution. Every month, you should inspect your plumbing for cracks, drips, leaks, slow drains, temperature problems, and water pressure issues. Make sure you have these issues corrected immediately in order to avoid more costly repairs down the road.
- If you do need to hire a plumber, do your homework - make sure that the plumber you hire is not only based in your local area but is bonded, insured, and licensed as well. Hiring an unqualified plumber can be a costly mistake, so make sure that you hire one who is qualified and reputable. Additionally, ask for all the costs upfront to avoid any unwanted surprises like hidden fees you were not aware of.
- If you do preventative maintenance, make a list of what you cannot fix - this enables you to have everything taken care of in one visit and avoid multiple service call charges. Handing the plumber your list of things that need to be done ensures that everything is taken care of at once without having to pay them to come back.
- Look for coupons, deals, and discounts on plumbing parts and services - as with any other business, plumbing contractors oftentimes run deals and specials in order to attract new customers. You can typically find plumbing specials at websites such as Angie's List and Groupon. By searching these websites, you may find the specific repairs or service you are in need of.
- Repair and/or replace worn out appliance and plumbing fixtures that you can do yourself - sometimes these fixtures only require a small part like a clamp or washer and you can do it yourself without the need for a plumber. It's always a good idea to check your plumbing fixtures on a regular basis anyway including faucets, shower heads, taps, toilets, and water heater.
Doing preventative maintenance on your plumbing is one of those things that you can do to save money and avoid more costly expenses at a later date. In addition to the money you save on unnecessary repairs, you will be doing your part to conserve a valuable resource which in turn will save you additional money on your monthly water bill.