When it comes to plumbing repair, taking care of most of the steps yourself sounds like an enticing way to be time- and cost-effective. There are some plumbing repair tasks that can be performed on your own when it comes to your plumbing fixtures, provided you have the correct equipment and expertise. But the range of plumbing repair can vary, and there is a limit to the tasks you don’t have to pay a professional for. In today’s article, we will go over which plumbing repair tasks are able to be completed on your own and which ones should not.
Since plumbing issues are so common, it is important to be able to handle certain tasks on your own. Here is a list of plumbing jobs that can be performed yourself:
A leaking faucet can usually be an easy fix since the problem most likely comes from things like a worn out O-ring or washer. If this is the case, you can simply purchase a new O-ring or washer from the hardware store and perform the replacement yourself for the singular part.
While there are many benefits to drain cleaning services, there are ways you can take care of a drain clog with home remedies. There are sink and toilet plungers that can do the trick some of the time, and there are even drain snakes you can purchase that can pull out tough clogs from your drains. You have to be careful that you use these tools correctly, however, because incorrect use can cause damage to your drain system. Another solution is creating a vinegar and baking soda mixture that you can pour down the drains along with some hot water to dissolve tough clogs. It is best to avoid frequent use of chemical drain cleaners since their harsh ingredients can damage your pipes over time.
When it comes to maintaining your plumbing fixtures and appliances, there are many regular tasks you can take care of yourself to make sure things like your drains, faucets, and water heater all last through the entirety of their predicted lifespan and beyond. You can do regular drain cleanings with vinegar and baking soda, flush out your water heater tank, tighten connections, etc. As long as you take the proper safety precautions and have the correct tools to complete each job, you could be able to prevent a lot of future plumbing problems by keeping up on small maintenance tasks on a regular basis.
While there is a range of plumbing that you can access without help from licensed services, there are also a lot of dangerous areas you should not work with on your own. These are tasks that should always be left to plumbing professionals:
Any work related to gas lines should always be handled by licensed services. It is incredibly dangerous to tamper with a gas line, and if there are signs of a gas leak in your home, you should evacuate immediately before calling services to repair the problem. The only thing you should do yourself is turn off the gas if you suspect something is wrong.
Sewer lines are also extremely hazardous. If you are experiencing sewage backup, it is important to evacuate the area and call a plumber to examine and repair the issue. Work with the sewer line requires precise equipment and safety precautions to protect your home, the street, and surrounding houses. Sewer lines can become clogged or blocked; they can be invaded by tree roots, and they can even collapse. There could be cracks or breaks in the pipes that need replacement. Typically, homeowners don’t have access to their sewer lines or to the specialized machinery required to access the sewer lines. Any kind of sewer line repair would require digging a trench in the yard and lawn to access the lining, where there is much precision involved to avoid further damaged sewer lines. So you can expect sewer line repair and sewer line replacement to be handled by licensed professionals.
A burst pipe is a plumbing emergency that will require immediate assistance from a plumber. A burst pipe can be the result of something like frozen or cracked pipes and can lead to extreme water damage. Attempting to fix a burst pipe on your own without the proper materials or training can lead to further damage to your pipes and house. And even if you do have success in temporarily fixing the problem yourself, it could be a recurring issue if you don’t know the source and how to remedy it. The best thing to do is turn off the water supply and contact your local plumbers.
Water heaters have many complicated components that can make it difficult to attempt a plumbing repair on your own. Certain factors of a water heater can be very dangerous. Leaks, faulty heating elements, and issues with the pilot light, for example, are all problems that should be left to professional services. If you notice any of the common signs of water heater failure, it is best to have a specialist inspect the problem and go about the plumbing repair job.
While there are some aspects of DIY plumbing repair that can be extremely useful, for most plumbing issues, it is recommended to have a specialist look at the problem before you take action. When you take on plumbing projects yourself that should be handled by plumbers, you risk things like water heater or sewer line damage. But there are also factors, such as building regulations, to take into account. There are plumbing and building codes that must be followed for the safety of the house and those living in and around it, and some labor even requires a permit. Without plumbing training, you could violate one of these codes without even knowing it, leaving you subject to legal action. At this point, you would definitely pay more than if you had hired a plumber.
There is much damage you could risk to yourself and your property, such as water or electrical damage, from performing a plumbing repair incorrectly. Instead of risking this kind of danger, hiring a plumber to come out and inspect the project before completing it quickly and expertly is a much better bet. In jobs such as pipe relining and sewer line replacement, a homeowner is typically not able to handle the entire process on their own without taking much more time and money than a cost-effective expert plumber would require. They have the training and tools to have the source of the disruption located and inspected so that the proper plumbing repair can be completed.
John Owens Services is a reliable plumber from whom you can always expect the best work when it comes to plumbing repairs. Our plumbers have all the training and knowledge on how to complete every level of plumbing repair, from repairing toilets to performing main sewer line repair. We have access to all of the most recent technology to perform pipe relining, water heater services, and any kind of plumbing replacement you require. You can contact us by phone or online to schedule a free estimate for any of our services, and rest assured that we will be able to get your plumbing job taken care of.
Our philosophy is simple, we always want to maintain equipment to give it the longest life possible. Next, we want to focus on repairing when something goes wrong. Then only as the last choice, we replace equipment when needed. That’s the John Owens Way.
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