There are other skills plumbers need aside from being able to work with water. One of the most common things that a water softener on is fixing water lines.
Be cautious. If you've just become aware of a problem with water line repair in your home, there are a few steps you should take. First, if there's a lot of water (such as from flooding), you should turn off your electricity to avoid electrocution. Also, don't use your regular household appliances (such as a vacuum cleaner) to remove water. If the water is contaminated (such as from a sewage line), you and your family should leave the home so that you don't get sick. Finally, if the water is from a leak, try to locate the leak's source and turn off the water to prevent further damage.
After you have the stems out you should be able to find the washer on the "inside" end. If it is nicked, torn or brittle it is likely the cause of your drip. Even if it looks brand new, go ahead and replace it. You've already come this far. You can get replacement washers at almost any hardware store. Sometimes you may want to replace the whole stem, especially if the handle end is stripped out. It's best to just take the stem with you to the store and see if you can match it up. Most Do It Yourself stores have replacement stems for many popular brands. If your valve has a center diverter valve to switch the waterfrom the tub spout to the shower head the same process applies. Many times it is easier to replace the diverter stem than to repair it. This really depends on the design of the stem.
The next step in this process is to determine what type of method is available for fixing the problem. You cannot just caulk a crack or fill it in with cement and hope for the best. Unfortunately, there is more work than this because you have to fix the problem from both the inside out and the outside in. This takes a professional in most cases to determine the best method for repair.
OQuality water line repair referrals from friends family or acquaintances can be an invaluable cog in the process. By getting referrals from people you trust, you can make your search a much faster process.
To avoid this, make sure your toilets screws are always tight and repair any leaks right away. A new wax ring should also be installed any time the toilet is removed such as if you happen to be replacing an old toilet with a newer model that you liked such as a more modern KOHLER brand. Replacing your toilets wax ring is pretty simple to do and can pretty much be done in less than an hour by the average person.
In short, the emergency plumber you hire should be from a reputable company. If you think that you can rely on him then you should look for another one. An emergency plumber should be skilled and should be able to deliver quality services to everyone.