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.
Block homes can tell you very quickly if they are stressed out just by the appearance of the mortar joints. Those giant unsettling cracks can and do tell a story. This does happen and mortar cracks maybe 10-years old. You need to investigate further.
Ask the plumber company if they are properly licensed and insured and then explain your problems. If you can explain your draining issues, appliance fixtures, or any piping repairs that need looked at then your contractor will have a better idea of rates. Rest assure that even for home flooding, gas lines, and big water damages you'll still be able to get a hold of the emergency plumbing services in your area by searching local water heater repair service on the net.
Do you offer the type of pool container that I want (fiberglass, concrete/gunite, vinyl liner) and how much experience do you have with installing that type of pool?
Whether you decide to DI.Y repair or take the easy and safe way out and call in your local bathtub 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.
Some plumbing companies also offer annual maintenance packages where they would come in once a quarter and take a look at all the plumbing issues. If you get a provider who is offering such a package, it is worth considering. Such checks enable you to identify potential problems and nip them in the bud before they escalate into bigger issues.