Your home’s plumbing is essential for making sure that vital services, such as water and sanitation, are provided to your home. They ensure that buildings can be connected to the necessary utilities, ensuring that people have access to clean water and effective waste disposal. It can also play an important role in home décor and even ways to relax after a long day. In any case, however, it’s important to use a licensed and qualified plumber to make any repairs to your plumbing. Here’s why.
Attempting to tackle DIY plumbing repairs can be very dangerous, especially if you don’t have the right expertise or knowledge. Firstly, when trying to repair a plumbing system without professional help, it can be difficult to identify the exact source of the problem. This means that any repairs made may not actually fix the issue and could even make it worse. Here are some of the DIY repairs we’ve seen that ended up costing much more because the owner decided to take matters into their own hands.
Replacing Pipes Without Proper Tools or Training
Some pipes in your home can be under lots of pressure. For instance, pipes leaving your water heater are not only under pressure which is likely more than 50 pounds but it’s also very hot and can burn you. Attempting to replace these pipes without first draining the system and relieving the pressure can mean loads of water damage in your home and possible burns to yourself as well.
Not Draining Water Heater Properly
Another common problem we see is water heater failure simply because the home owner didn’t disconnect the water heater before draining it. If your home’s water supply is cut off and water is drained from the tank it’s a good chance that you will have water heater problems if it’s an electric water heater.
Using Chemical Drain Cleaners
Chemical drain cleaners are bad for your pipes. They can damage your pipes and hurt you if you don’t use them the right way. Not only that, but they are not always effective either and may be corrosive to your skin. Not only that, it’s a powerful chemical and should only be handled by professionals. Make sure if you use any type of chemical drain cleaners that they are stored safely away from pets and children.
Forcing a Clog with a Plunger
While this may work sometimes, it’s the times that it don’t work that is the problem. When you have a clog with an item that will not dissolve such as a Matchbox car or otherwise, a plunger will simply push it further down the line causing clogs in other areas.
Over-Tightening Connections
Attempting to fix plumbing without the right knowledge and experience can cause serious damage. Over-tightening pipes can create excess strain, leading to cracking or bending in the pipes later on. This could cause water to leak out, possibly causing extensive flooding and water damage in a home.
Ignoring Water Leaks
Water leaking is always a problem. Whether it is a small drip that only occurs every minute or two or a hug leak that gushes water out. Once it is leaking, chances are it will not stop and will likely only grow over time. If you have a do it yourself project and end up having a small leak, you’ll need to repair it rather than leaving it as is.
Dealing with Gas Lines
Gas lines present an extreme danger in any home and should only be handled by trained and licensed professionals. This is due to the fact that, if not handled correctly, gas leaks can cause fires, explosions and a variety of hazardous health risks. Gas lines can corrode over time due to various factors such as moisture buildup in the pipes, corrosion of the pipes and even improper installation.
Leave it to the Professionals
For any plumbing project, it’s always best to leave it in the hands of a professional plumber. With their expertise, they can identify any potential issues and make sure that your home is safe from water damage or injury. Plus, most of the time DIY repairs end up costing more than what a professional would charge. So, save yourself the headache and leave it to the pros.
In conclusion, DIY plumbing repairs can be dangerous and costly if done without proper knowledge and expertise. From not draining water heaters properly to using chemical drain cleaners, each repair needs to be handled with care by someone who knows what they are doing. Don’t take the chance of damaging your pipes or worse, potentially endangering yourself and your family. Instead, make sure to contact a qualified plumber such as A2 Plumbers Michigan for any plumbing repairs in your home.