When a pipe bursts or some other piece of plumbing malfunctions, our first instinct is to get the problem under control as soon as possible. The longer such an issue goes on, the harder it will be to repair. Not only will the issue be harder to fix, if left unaddressed, the problem could result in hundreds to thousands of dollars in property damage and water usage fees. Because time is of the essence during a plumbing emergency, we feel pressured to make a repair decision as soon as possible, without giving ourselves time to weigh our options completely.
Do independent research using the Yellow pages, search engines and local business listings. Beforehand, make a list of what you are seeking in a plumber on Long Island. For example, years of experience, what services they provide, whether or not they have emergency service, areas of expertise, types of jobs they perform (residential, commercial, industrial) etc. Look for local plumbing service companies that are a match.
Some slow drain valves do not take washers and therefore you cannot repair them. If you have a washerless shut-off valve that leaks it will need to be replaced. You will need: a propane torch, solder, flux, sandcloth, a wire fitting brush, a small section of copper pipe (most likely 3/4" I.D.), a slip coupling (again probably 3/4") and a shut-off valve. I would highly recommend installing a ball valve with a drain on it as opposed to a washer style valve. If you purchase a decent quality ball valve it will last a very long time.
A Trustworthy plumber will answer all of your questions. Good plumbers will provide you with references, and tell you how long they have been a plumber, and the type of guarantee they provide for their work (warranty.) As well, a professional plumber will offer emergency service for nights and weekends. You should be able to make contact with him or her in a timely manner. A professional plumber will also have all of the appropriate insurance such as liability insurance so that you are protected in the event of an accident.
Call a Local plumber to set up an appointment for an inspection. You will need to be home for this service and when the work is complete, you want to be available to find out what the professional found out. If there is work to be done, depending on the severity, it might be a good idea to go ahead and schedule the next appointment for repairs.
Before you hire a plumber, ask questions. Find out what kind of experience they have and if they offer service 24 hours a day. You can prevent many problems by fixing a plumbing issue before it gets worse. You should also find out if the contractor is reputable and check their references. Compare plumbers until you find one you can trust.
Start off with disassembling the faucet head. Inspect each part to see which are still OK and which ones will need replacing. In some cases, you only have to replace a washer or two, which will save you a lot. However, if you have to replace the whole faucet, make sure that you are getting the same model so that you don't have to worry about compatibility and familiarizing yourself with how to use it.