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.
If your service provider has adequate knowledge and training on the topic, this might be a good time to find out more about energy alternatives. He may be able to install low-flush toilets and lower-output shower heads. This is also a good time to talk about solar thermal water heating, though perhaps before the roofer is finished up top.
Make sure you get all the technicalities right and don't pay the full amount until the task has been completed. Stay in the loop and keep checking-in on the progress of the work. You have to be firm if you don't want to be cheated into accepting poor quality bathtub repair for high costs.
For this reason it is highly important to make sure you are prepared in a plumbing emergency. The first thing to do then is to make sure that you already have the number of a plumber in your phone book that you can find immediately. The sooner the emergency Trustworthy plumber gets there, the less damage you'll do and the less water you'll waste. Meanwhile you will be more likely to be successful in having your plumbing repaired. Don't make yourself rummage around to try and find the number of a plumber at the last minute - keep it somewhere where you can retrieve it easily when necessary.
Before you hire your Local plumber, make sure they are licensed to carry out the work. A lot of plumbing work has to be carried out by licensed professionals, you need to make sure that they are - ask to see their license. Also, ask them their hourly rate, ask friends if they can recommend a reliable, reputable tradesman. When carrying out large renovations in your home, always ask for a written quote from your plumber first, supply him with a set of drawings of the project and ask him to price from the plans.
As precautionary measure, you have to tell all your tenants where their individual water shut off valve is located, as well as the entire building's so they can turn it off in case of emergency. And don't forget to make them accessible. It won't do any good if they know where it is but it's locked and they can't break in.
The best companies are insured in case of any damages. They are very careful when choosing their network of plumbers. For this reason, the professional who visit your house should have their company logo proudly displayed on his uniform.