The Dangers of DIY Plumbing

When faced with a plumbing problem, it is generally important to think twice before attempting to repair it yourself.

With the advent of the internet age, there are many videos available online that give instructions on how to complete various tasks yourself. This might be anything from preparing a cake to troubleshooting a computer or phone and even arranging furnishings.

DIY is a popular genre because it gives simple solutions to various problems that people face. DIY videos are indeed useful and can help you save money and time. However, when it comes to plumbing repairs and improvements, DIY jobs are often quite difficult and dangerous.

When faced with a plumbing problem, it is critical to think twice before attempting to repair it yourself. In fact, we recommend contacting an expert plumber to complete the task. In the long run, you may save more money and get peace of mind when you enlist the services of experts.

Some of the dangers of doing your own plumbing repairs and improvements include:

1. Flooding

While conducting plumbing repairs, it is critical to understand what you are doing. If you do not take the necessary precautions, you risk fueling the situation and even causing floods.

Many DIY users make the costly mistake of failing to turn off the main water valve, and by the time they discover their error, the house is practically inundated.

Rather than placing yourself in danger of costly water damage, get a qualified plumber to complete the work.

2. Broken or eroded pipes

The plumbing in your home is a highly technological system that demands the right expertise and instruments.

Sadly, most plumbing repairs cannot be performed by the typical homeowner. Just excessively tightening a joint might produce a leak.

As a pipe becomes damaged, you must eventually replace it. Employing a plumber is definitely worth the added security.

3. Higher repair costs

A lot of things may go wrong with do-it-yourself repairs. As previously noted, you risk exacerbating the condition, making mistakes in repairs, or flooding your home. As a result, you could wind up spending more than you planned.

Added costly expenses as a result of damaged pipes can be for the purchase of new equipment. The scope of work might therefore potentially expand, resulting in a greater overall repair cost.

4. Inadequate fixes

Without the necessary technical understanding, you may not be able to do plumbing repairs flawlessly. This may further result in other issues, such as decreased or increased pressure in the water lines. You may also lose water flow to some portions of the home or harm the shower's heating mechanism.

So, DIY plumbing can assist you in temporarily resolving problems, but if you make blunders like tight bolts or poor fittings, you’ll end up with more problems than you started with.

5. Safety hazards

DIY plumbing may pose a critical danger if you do not know how to use the instruments required for a repair job properly. You may inadvertently injure yourself if you are not careful.

Moreover, if you do not have the necessary instruments and tools for a plumbing job, just avoid using improvized tools as you may harm or worsen the situation.

Also, if you do not use the appropriate approaches, you may accidentally end up with leaking pipes and other plumbing problems. It is easy to believe that one has solved the problem, but without proper sealing, water will leak onto the flooring and lead to mould.

In conclusion

Depending on the structure, different houses have varied plumbing configurations. You won’t always find a DIY video that speaks to your exact circumstances and plumbing configurations.

As such, don’t follow DIY plumbing videos posted online blindly as you may end up making things worse rather than better, and then find yourself in a rut of watching one DIY video after another to solve all of the problems that keep popping up.

Besides, a leaking pipe might sometimes indicate a more serious underlying issue. As a result, without the proper knowledge, you may address a surface issue but end up ruining the entire system. Or, you might cure the problem momentarily just to have it return a few days later.

Ultimately, it is best to contact experts and let them do a professional plumbing job for you.

Josephine Floyd is a marketing head at L&S Turnkey. He is an experienced marketing leader with over 12 years of experience in the plumbing industry. With extensive knowledge of severe water damage, mold damage, and fire damage, as well as general plumbing services, he writes articles about water and flood damage repair and restoration along with heating installation, maintenance, and repair to make readers aware of the potential risk and quick actions they can take to reduce damage.