Plumbing problems can create all sorts of troubles and inconveniences in the home. Dripping water does more than just present an annoyance. The water could cause damage to wood, flooring, and paint. Mold might grow due to dampness creating another hazard. Not every serious plumbing problem, however, requires complicated repairs. A number of DIY videos on the internet show just how easy it can be to fix things.
Here’s an unfortunate fact: a lot of those DIY videos often make the repairs seem way easier than they truly are. Even when the person producing the video sincerely wants to help and educate others, something ends up lost in translation. The same is true of magazine articles and how-to books.
Performing plumbing repair work on your own could prove to be a huge mistake. Here are three big reasons why you really shouldn’t try to perform plumbing fixes on your own:
#1 – You Misdiagnose the Problem
Maybe that leak is nothing more than the result of a caulking problem with the tub and shower. Assuming poor caulking work is the culprit, you go out, buy fresh caulk, cut out the old caulk, and do the job. And then the leak continues. A lot of time was wasted and more water dripped down from the tub onto the drywall on the first floor.
Wasting time and money might be a good reason to avoid trying to fix a plumbing problem on your own. Losing time and funds may not reflect the worst-case scenario when you do the job on your own. Improperly diagnosing a problem could lead you to allow more time for a serious problem to become even more serious. Case in point, letting the dripping water continue to come in contact with a subfloor may lead to the subfloor’s collapse. Any mold inside the walls surely will continue to grow as more water nourishes it.
The first step to properly fixing a problem involves accurately diagnosing one. Someone without the necessary years of problems experience won’t likely be able to do this.
#2 – You Make the Problem Worse
Think about pouring a tremendous amount of drain cleaner down the pipes to deal with an obstruction that cannot be dissolved by lye liquids. You’ll realize this would be more than an exercise in frustration. Doing so could lead to ruining the pipes. Now, instead of merely running a coil down the drain, a plumber might need to take out the damaged pipes and replace them. The costs for dealing with a clog just went way up and became more involved.
Sometimes, even a simple job can lead to a disaster. Imagine breaking a worn valve under pressure while trying to replace it. The damaged valve would send water flying everywhere. Lots of things can go wrong. Touching a corroded pipe could cause it to crumble. Really, a lot can go wrong when you try to fix things without the appropriate know-how and experience. Once something goes wrong, expect to shell out quite a bit of extra money to fix things.
#3 – You Injure Yourself
If making a mistake during a DIY plumbing job only leads to you spending more money, consider yourself lucky. A far worse situation may develop. Incorrectly performing plumbing repair jobs might lead to an injury. The injury could even turn out to be a severe one. Imagine suffering a cut on a corroded and clogged drain pipe. An infection may result. Infections can lead to dire consequences even with proper and immediate medical attention. Yes, these types of risks and more exist when trying to perform plumbing repairs without the necessary background.
Professional plumbers possess the necessary tools, gear, and clothes designed to perform a job safely. Their knowledge also contributes to the ability to perform the work while avoiding hazards and mishaps. Even then, a professional can’t reduce the chance of an injury down to zero.
Overall, some things are best left to professionals to handle. Plumbing work — both major and minor jobs — adhere to this saying.
