Plumbers are a breed apart. You would think they use gold for soldering your pipes with the prices they charge. My grandfather was a plumber and I trustworthy drain leak repair was on the truck with him at nine years old. A plumber may or may not give you a free estimate. With a little digging, it can be done. Just give them the work if indeed you do buy the house.
OK. It is Sunday. The sun is shining. I know that at least 10 million refugees from Massachusetts are speeding around Lake Winnipesaukee in their power boats. But surely Mr. Godot, who promises to be a different kind of plumber -- caring, courteous, understanding, and AVAILABLE! -- is not riding around the Lake but making preparations to repair my hot water heater.
It would be good to have a couple of people around while the process is being done just in case there are accidents since acid is a very local water heater repair service hazardous substance.
For the ultimate in gutter cleaning safety, make sure to check the environment near the roof, particularly where you will be cleaning. Be aware of antennae and power lines that may be present. If you're not careful, you could suffer from electric shock in case you touch a power line.
Whether you decide to DI.Y repair or take the easy and safe way out and call in your local bathtub replace plumber, get familiar with the plumbing basics on unclogging and clearing drains. The bottom section of the drainpipe is called a trap that functions to "trap" some water in the line and create a water seal preventing offensive sewer gases from penetrating the home. Bathroom drains of showers, tubs and sinks may become blocked due to a build up of hair, soap scum and bodily oils and fats.
The first and most important thing to do any emergency is to CUT OFF THE WATER SUPPLY. Once this is done, you can take time to locate the problem and do something about it. Now, before you really have to, make a tour of the house and locate the water cut-off valves. Make sure everyone in the family is familiar with them.
Gutter guards are not mandatory gutter supplies. There are many different types of protection available from foam to brushes and from screen covers to sophisticated waterfall systems. Protecting your drain system from leaves and debris is important for two reasons. You will reduce the risk of clogging and rainwater getting into the foundations considerably. Additionally, the system will require less frequent and more basic cleaning, so you will be able to save on cleaning costs. Good protection for the drain system will usually come out to $1,000 to $2,000, but it will save you money in the long run.