Why You Should Avoid DIY Plumbing At All Costs?

With the rise of social media, online tutorials and internet video, it’s easy to find guidance and advice to walk you through DIY projects around your home. Many homeowners opt to take care of maintenance and repair issues themselves rather than find a trusted professional to do the job. While you may be trying to save time and money, DIY plumbing jobs should be avoided at all costs.

Here are some excellent reasons that you should always hire a professional when it comes to your pipes.

Industry Standards

When it comes to the plumbing in your home, some codes and regulations need to be followed. Even if you are just trying to tackle a repair, you may still need a permit from your municipality. Doing this type of work without the proper paperwork could end up costing you hefty fines. You’ll also have to redo the job once you have the correct permits in place.

You might think you can get away with doing the work inside your home because no one will ever find out but when you want to sell your home, you’ll need a home inspection. A home inspection will uncover the work that you did without a permit. You’ll need to bring the work up to code before you can sell your home. By hiring a professional plumber to do the job, you’ll avoid future headaches and expenses.

Expertise

Unfortunately, watching some online videos of plumbing projects won’t make you an expert plumber. Often these videos lack essential details as the creator is trying to keep them short and simple. While learning skills or hobbies through online platforms can be a great way for you to expand your knowledge, it is best left to the professionals when it comes to your home’s pipes.

More importantly, plumbing issues can be complex and you may run into a problem that was not covered in the online videos. This can put you in a tight spot and may end up making things worse rather than better. When it comes to the plumbing in your home, you should not try and do it yourself but leave it to the experts.

Leaks

If your showers are turning cold, you might have a problem with your water heater. An issue like that can be difficult to determine. Moreover, if you start trying to fix the problem on your own, you might end up causing a gas leak or cutting an electrical line. Attempting to DIY in this scenario would be dangerous.

Another challenge that homeowners face when trying to solve plumbing problems is that their work results in a leaky pipe. Then you’ll need to deal with water damage, pipe damage and the potential for mould and mildew to grow.

Judgment Errors

Plumbing problems can be complex and they are not always what they seem on the surface. When you see a backed-up drain, you may immediately assume it’s caused by a clog. However, the issue may be something deeper going on in your pipes. You’ll know this if it starts to happen in more than one drain or there’s a foul odour coming from your sink.

Judgment errors can turn out to be messy and costly or they may lead you to use band-aid solutions to fix a bigger problem. When that happens, the issue can start to rot and get worse over time. Instead of masking the problem or trying to guess at a solution, call a professional plumber. They’ll be able to make the right judgment call and find an effective remedy.

Equipment

Different plumbing problems call for different tools and equipment. Unless you are a professional, you might not have the right ones for the job. If you don’t have the right equipment, you won’t be able to get the job done right. Don’t rely on DIY kits, as you may be disappointed. Make the right call and hire a professional plumber who has the equipment and tools to fix your pipes.

Finishing Touches

Without the proper know-how, DIY jobs may be left unfinished. Professional plumbers know when to tighten a pipe or the correct way to put on a rubber gasket. Even if you don’t think you see problems with your work, it may still not be done correctly. Unless you know to put the finishing touches on your plumbing job, it might lead to disaster down the road, such as a costly leak. Consider the damage that tiny drops of water can cause, like moulding, water damage or even a spike in your water bill.

Pipes and Parts

Expert plumbers have comprehensive knowledge about which pipes and parts fit and work well together. DIYers don’t always understand what pipes and parts should be fitted together and the ones that work best together. There are different materials that these plumbing parts can be made of and, unless you know what you already have in your piping system, getting the wrong part is a risk. Those parts that you get may fail when put under pressure.

Personal Injury

Many plumbing jobs require you to get into tight spots and work in some unusual and hazardous situations. For example, flying debris might hit you in the eye, or you may breathe in some dangerous chemicals. Expert plumbers are trained on how to deal with these scenarios and protect themselves and others on the job site. As a DIYer attempting a plumbing fix could leave you seriously hurt or injured.

Time Shortage

The reality is that plumbing repairs take time. If you’re already working full time during the week and need some downtime on the weekend, you might find the plumbing work gets put on the backburner. Even though DIY advice articles promise the work can be done fast, it will likely take days or even weeks to get it completed. Hiring a professional plumber is the only fast and reliable way to deal with your plumbing problems.

For more information about plumbing services in the Annex, call Brothers Plumbing at 1-800-742-8471 or contact us here.