Knowing when you should hire a plumber can save you money in the long run. Hire a plumber when the problem is big, and when there’s a higher risk of doing more damage than good.

Call a plumber in the following examples:

• A drop in water pressure throughout the house: This problem can be caused by: obstructions (rust or debris) in the water lines; low water pressure from the main city supply or a well; or even poor supply-line design.
• No running hot water: Unless the hot water system tank is leaking, it might be hard to determine the cause. Hot water system problems can include: heating elements, circuit breakers or blown fuses, faulty thermostats, or a bad overload switch. Gas hot water heater problems include: thermocouple burners and igniters.
• Replacing a hot water heater: Think very hard before attempting to replace a heater by yourself. Remember, your professional plumber can carry the new one to the basement, hook it up, make sure that it works properly, and dispose of the old one.
• Sewer line blockages: If you cannot get the sewer line to stop backing up, you probably have a bad plug in the line that runs out to the main sewer, which is often tree roots. Call a professional plumber or drain-cleaning service. If they get in trouble, they will know what repairs to make.
• Extensive water line damage: Repairing water line damage, which is usually caused by freezing, can take many hours