Plumbing

Love the feeling of satisfaction you get from fixing a pesky plumbing problem on your own? Or do you look at a leaky pipe and hit the panic button?

Some home plumbing jobs are a breeze, while others are a homeowner’s nightmare. And if you get it wrong, you could end up with a plumbing disaster on your hands.

Wondering if DIY plumbing is the right choice? We’re offering up our top tips about when to roll up your sleeves and when to call in the plumbing experts.

What are the Most Common Plumbing Problems?

It’s not uncommon for homes to experience plumbing problems, especially older homes. Damaged pipes, clogged drains, leaky faucets, and low water pressure cause inconvenience and potential damage to your home if left unaddressed. In addition, more serious problems, such as burst pipes or sewer line backups, can occur.

If you want to avoid plumbing problems in your home, carry out regular maintenance checks, including:
  • Cleaning drains
  • Testing water pressure
  • Checking visible pipes for leaks
  • Get rid of limescale regularly
  • Remove debris from outside drains and gutters

Should I Call a Professional?

Sometimes, plumbing still goes wrong, despite all your best efforts with maintenance. When this happens, make a judgment. Can you fix it yourself? Or is calling a professional the wisest choice?

If you don’t have the knowledge or the right tools, ALWAYS call a professional plumber. It’ll prevent more damage to your home and save hassle and stress in the long term.

Why DIY Plumbing Makes Sense

Wondering if it’s worth brushing up on your DIY plumbing skills? Here are the pros of tackling those simpler plumbing jobs yourself.

Save Cash

Let’s face it; plumbing problems can be costly to fix. So the more you can save, the better. Also, unlike plumbers, you don’t charge yourself for giving up your time. So if you think you can fix the issue (clearing a drain or stopping a leaking faucet), why not give it a go yourself? You’ll save money and feel like a DIY superhero once you succeed.

Learn New Skills

It may not seem very technical, but there’s more to plumbing than changing a few washers here and there. Before doing anything, you need to learn how to use the right tools and how your plumbing system fits and works together.

But, like everything else, practice makes perfect. So grab your tools and give it a go. You’ll keep your brain young by learning new skills.

Pride in Your Work

Carrying out DIY plumbing isn’t just about fixing those problems that cropped up in your home—it’s also about gaining a sense of achievement. At the end of a job well done, you’ll have saved money, given yourself more space and time, empowered yourself to make repairs in the future, and gained an invaluable sense of pride from knowing you did it yourself.

Give yourself a pat on the back – you deserve it.

When DIY Plumbing Cons Outweigh the Pros

You might be able to fix a leak, but what happens if there’s a problem further down the line? Some plumbing issues are too complex for a DIY-er.

Costly Mistakes

Plumbing may look easy, but chances are it’s more complicated than you think. For example, once you’ve removed the faucet, can you be sure you know how to fix it all back together again? Or remember which washers and nuts go where? It’s like a 3D plumbing jigsaw!

You don’t want a hefty repair bill, so it pays off to call in a professional to do the work for you.

It Steals Your Time

Unless you’re retired, you probably don’t have much spare time. Work, family, and friends – they all eat into your time.

Think about it. Do you have time to spend hours on a job that you thought would take half an hour? Because sometimes, what seems like an easy fix turns out to be a complicated process.

Equally, you need to be on the ball to carry out plumbing repairs. If you’re tired, you’re more likely to make mistakes, and that’s when costly damage occurs.

Weigh up the time it will take you. It may be a better idea to hire a professional.

Call in the Professionals

Want to avoid a big headache and costly water damage? Hire a professional plumber to do your plumbing work. JW Plumbing, Heating and Air’s expert plumbers are ready to assist you, call today for an appointment.

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