Many people who face this kind of price tag wonder if they can get away with patching their pipes. But if the sewer line is old there are almost certainly bathtub replace other bad spots that will give you problems now or in the near future. A series of patch jobs isn't cheap. In the long run, it just makes more sense to replace the entire line.
It water line repair is advisable to speak to neighbors and friends regarding the same. If any of your neighbors or friends has had a plumbing emergency and has been happy with the plumber they engaged then it is best to contact the same plumber. Family may also be of some help as far as recommendation is concerned but neighbors are a better option because they will give you details of an agency in the same area as you.
One other common design that is considered "washerless" was made famous by Delta and copied by several other makers. It uses little "cup" seals that fit over springs recessed in the back of the valve body. The springs press these "seals" against the cartridge and regulate the flow through little tapered openings in the cartridge. If you have one of these and it's dripping, changing these springs and seals will usually correct it. Here's a tip. Once you have the cartridge out of the way, insert a phillips screwdriver into the seal and pop both the seal and spring out. Stick the new ones on the end of the screwdriver to help guide them into place. This is especially helpful if you don't have long slender fingers.
Once you have disconnected the tank remove it from your work space. Do a thorough measurement of the remaining pipe for reference when you go to the hardware store. I will be honest with you, you might need to make a few trips back to the store. Once you get the new tank, slide it into place to line up the plumbing.
Here are some general cautions. Do not begin jobs on holidays, weekends, or at times when plumbers raise their rates or are difficult to reach. Do start early leaving plenty of daylight to call a plumber if something goes wrong. Study the situation carefully. Think about what might happen if something suddenly broke and what the effects would be. Old corroded copper tubing might break in the wall when you are wrenching an angle stop that supplies the water line repair to your toilet. A flood in the wall could be costly. If the angle stop, on the other hand, is new and shuts off easily and you have another toilet in the house then it might make sense to repair the toilet yourself. Be honest, too. Are you handy with tools? Did you do well in shop classes in school?
The work area should always be clean and free of trash and clutter. The cleaner and less clutter there is in a Plumbers' work area, the better able a plumber will be to make sure that his job goes as smoothly as possible.
Find out if the plumber works on a 24 hour basis and, if so, what are the extra charges involved. More important than the costs however are the person's trustworthiness and reputation. After all, he or she will be in your home and around your possessions. You should feel comfortable with their presence and confident that they are honest.