Do-It-Yourself Plumbing vs. Hiring A Professional Plumber

It might seem like professional plumbers are expensive, and this might be true depending upon the type of job that you need done. In some cases, it might be tempted to do the job yourself to try and save some money. Is it a good idea to try to do plumbing jobs yourself, or should you always call upon a professional?

It is true that you can find supplies at many local hardware stores or online plumbing supply shops. In fact, you can even find lots of online videos and articles that will outline the steps that you need to take to perform many common plumbing repair jobs. These common tasks might include replacing toilet flappers, fixing a leaky faucet, or unstopping a clogged drain.

However, you should probably still hesitate if you are not very experienced in these types of home handyman projects. The articles and videos might be good basic guides, but they rarely tell you what to do if anything goes wrong. They are usually created with a perfect situation in mind, and home owners rarely experience a perfect situation when they have plumbing problems that require urgent attention.

You might be fine if you attempt very simple tasks yourself. For example, many people can figure out how to replace shower handles or unstop a toilet drain if it is a matter of a simple clog. However, in some cases, you might do more harm than good if you try to become an amateur plumber.

Amateur Plumbing Horror Stories

For example, if you try to use a plunger to unstop a toilet with a major obstruction, you might actually be pushing sewage up back into your house somewhere else. That can be a messy problem to deal with, and you would have been better off calling a plumber to diagnose your real problem and handle it without making a bigger mess. If you cannot unplug your toilet with a couple of pushes on your plunger, it is probably time to call for help.

In another case, you might try to wrestle with a stuck faucet and break it off. Now you will have to replace more than just the faucet, and if you forget to turn off the water and drain the pipes, you could cause a flood in your home. If you cannot get a faucet to turn easily, let a professional technician come in and deal with the situation properly.

These are actually real horror stories from people who have decided to call a plumber for most of their home plumbing work in the future.

The Advantage Of Licensed And Professional Plumbers

Licensed and professional plumbers undergo a lot of classroom training and on-the-job experience before they are allowed to call themselves professionals. They are likely to fix the problem right the first time, and they are much less likely to cause more damage in the process. It may seem like they charge a lot, but you are actually paying for years of training and experience.

In addition, these technicians have to come to your house to fix your problems. It is not like you can bring your leaky shower or broken hot water heater to them!

Finally, a plumber is likely to have the right tools for the right job, and he will know how to use them. If you have to go out and buy tools and supplies, you might not really save any money by trying to fix your problems by yourself.

When Should You Call The Plumber?

There are some situations that almost always require professional assistance. In other words, these are urgent situations that should probably not be delayed.

— Broken water heaters are really tough to remove and install correctly. A technician will bring in the new unit, install it where it needs to go, and carry out your old one.

— Low water pressure in your home might be caused by a leak or serious blockage. Get a technician in to figure out the source of the problem quickly before it causes more damage or even flooding.

— Frozen pipes are one of the biggest sources of home floods, and you are unlikely to be able to resolve them yourself. It is better to try to prevent pipes from freezing in the first place, but if you have a frozen pipe try to get a plumber to help you as quickly as possible.

— A severe or chronic blockage in your toilet is probably an indication that your sewer lines are damaged or have severe obstructions. Get a professional to come in and either clean out the mess or find out if you need repairs. Your own attempts to clear blockage might cause damage that you did not even have in the first place.