One of the most important parts of your house is the plumbing. It’s responsible for bringing fresh water into your home and carrying wastewater out. Furthermore, it’s responsible for keeping your home free of harmful bacteria and other contaminants.
Because of its importance, it’s vital that your plumbing be installed and maintained properly. While it may be tempting to try to tackle plumbing projects yourself, there are several good reasons you should leave this work to professionals.
Here are seven reasons you shouldn’t DIY your house plumbing:
- Lack Of Experience And Expertise
There are a lot of home improvement projects that you can DIY to save some money. However, plumbing is not one of them. Attempting to do your plumbing can cost you more in the long run, both in terms of money and time. First, if you don’t have experience with plumbing, you’re likely to make mistakes that will cost you to visit their website to call in professionals anyway.
In addition, even if you follow a tutorial or watch a video, you won’t have the same level of expertise as a licensed plumber. This means that you could end up causing further damage to your plumbing system. So, unless you’re a licensed plumber, it’s best to leave the plumbing to the professionals.
- Plumbing Repairs Can Be Complex
While there are some simple plumbing repairs that any homeowner can do, such as fixing a leaky tap, most plumbing repairs are quite complex. This is because the average home’s plumbing system is made up of a network of pipes and fixtures that are all interconnected. So, when one part of the system needs to be repaired, it can also affect other parts.
This is why it’s very important to have a professional plumber assess the situation and make the necessary repairs. Otherwise, you could end up making the problem worse.
- It Can Be Difficult To Diagnose Plumbing Problems
Plumbing problems can be difficult to diagnose, and even a small mistake can lead to major damage. For example, a single misaligned pipe can cause a slow leak that goes undetected for months, leading to extensive water damage. Furthermore, many plumbing systems are hidden behind walls, making it difficult to access them without causing further damage. Therefore, it’s best to leave the diagnosis and repair of plumbing problems to the professionals.
- You Could Void Your Home Warranty
If you have a home warranty, chances are, it won’t cover any damage caused by your negligence. Therefore, if you attempt to do your plumbing, and something goes wrong, you’ll be responsible for paying for the repairs yourself. In some cases, you may even void your warranty entirely. So, unless you’re willing to take that risk, it’s best to leave the plumbing to the professionals.
- You May Not Have The Necessary Tools And Equipment
Many plumbing tools and equipment are specialized, and you may not have access to them.
To do your plumbing, you’ll need to have the right tools and equipment. However, many of these items are specialized and can be difficult (or even impossible) to find at your local hardware store. For example, you may need a pipe wrench or a drain snake, neither of which are typically sold at hardware stores. Even if you could find these items, you may not have the expertise to use them properly. This could lead to further damage to your plumbing system, which will end up costing you more money in the long run.
- You Can Hurt Yourself
While plumbing repairs may not seem particularly dangerous, there’s a risk of injury any time you work with tools and materials you’re unfamiliar with. For example, if you’re not careful when using a plunger, you could end up splashing yourself with the sewage water. In addition, sharp tools and pipes can easily cause cuts and scrapes. If you’re not careful when soldering pipes, you could burn yourself.
- You Could Cause A Flood
If you’re not careful, you could easily cause a flood in your home while attempting to do your plumbing. This is especially true if you’re working with water lines. A small mistake can result in a burst pipe, spilling gallons of water into your home in just a few minutes. This can cause extensive water damage, mold growth, and even structural damage.
In addition, floods can be very dangerous, so you could end up putting yourself and your family at risk if you’re not careful.
Wrapping Up
As you can see, there are several reasons why you shouldn’t DIY your house plumbing. Plumbing repairs can be complex, difficult to diagnose, and risky. So, unless you’re confident in your ability to repair safely and correctly, it’s best to call a professional plumber.