Plumber or plunger? Which home repairs should be left to the pros

Plumber or plunger? The inevitable question when something’s clogged, leaks, breaks or in efforts to do preventative maintenance is: What do we do ourselves, and what’s best left to a professional?

Here’s what Bayo Taylor, a plumber with Mr. Unclog, had to say.

When to be proactive, and when to call a plumber

One preventative step: Have a camera inspection done inside of a sewer line, and for that— get a plumber. Otherwise, a homeowner may not know whether something is headed toward a blockage, which could prove expensive in the long run.

Prevent clogs: Consider using a thinner toilet paper. Older pipes with rust can see thicker paper accumulate inside.

Another piece of prevention: Install a flood alarm/sensor.

What should you do about clogging shower drains?

If you want to try to clear a blockage, Taylor said, use an enzyme drain cleaner — don’t use something with acid in it. You can also clean the drain area to try to prevent gunk from building up. If the blockage seems farther down in a pipe, Taylor said you could try to use a manual drain-snake device. He urged caution for anyone attempting to use a power drain snake on his or her own but to instead have a plumber do that.

Clogged toilet? Here's what to do

You can use a plunger to clear things up. If the problem is unusual and persists, then perhaps it's time to reach out to a plumber. If a toilet overflows, shut off the valve behind it and contact a plumber.

Can I fix leaky pipes myself?

Generally, leaky pipes are something a professional should tackle, but just in case — know where the home’s main water shut-off valve is.

“In the case of emergency, that’s the first place you’re going to, to shut off water for the house that’s going to decrease the damage,” Taylor said.

Get more tips online at mrunclog.com.

Michael McKinney covers growth and development in Westchester County and the Lower Hudson Valley for The Journal News/lohud.com and the USA Today Network.