When Is Do It Yourself Plumbing a Good Idea and When to Call the Pros?

March 16, 2020

Have you got plumbing problems that need dealing with?

When you start to notice issues with your home’s plumbing, you should always deal with them quickly before they escalate. What seems like a minor plug or clog may actually be, or turn into, something far more severe that could cost you thousands of dollars.

If you consider yourself a “handy” person, then you might attempt to solve your plumbing issues without a plumber, but is that the right thing to do?

In this post, we’re going to talk about when do it yourself plumbing is a good idea and when it’s not. It’s understandable to want to save a few bucks, but try not to get in over your head. These professionals exist for a reason.

Do It Yourself Plumbing Situations

You can fix a lot of minor plumbing issues on your own with some basic tools. A turn of a wrench here and a hammer there and you can put an end to your leaky pipes and faucets. It’s important to note, however, that just because you CAN fix these problems yourself doesn’t necessarily mean that you SHOULD.

Leaky Faucets

A leaky faucet is both annoying and wasteful. You’ll also start to notice your water bill going up after too long, so you should get it fixed immediately.

First, diagnose the problem. A lot of the time, a leaky faucet can be fixed by simply replacing the rubber washer that stops the flow of water after you’ve turned off the tap. Not all faucets have these anymore, so you may need to call a plumber.

Slow Drains

Most clogged drains can be taken care of without a plumber’s help. First, try out some drain cleaning chemicals. These are great for one-time clogs, but you don’t want to be putting that stuff down your drain all the time.

You could also try a drain snake to break up the clog.

Running Toilets

Toilets have a lot of parts, any of which could malfunction at a given time. If you’ve got an issue, it could be the flapper valve, snapped chains, or imbalanced floats. Try all of the normal toilet troubleshooting methods and if you’re still experiencing problems, there’s probably a more serious underlying issue.

Call a Plumber When…

You can’t fix everything yourself, so definitely call a plumber when:

You’ve got low water pressure in faucets, toilets, and showerheads. It could be something as simple as a sediment build-up or something as serious as a burst pipe.
Pipe leaks are a plumbing emergency. If you discover water gushing out of a pipe in your home, turn off your water and call the plumber right away.
If you lose hot water, there’s likely a problem with your water heater. These need to be well-maintained and should last between 10-12 years if looked after. A good plumbing company like ACME Plumbing has the tools and experience necessary to do a job like this.

Don’t Let Problems Get Worse

It’s always good to know some do it yourself plumbing solutions, but they won’t help you when real problems arise. To avoid the more serious issues, have your pipes, drains, and water heater maintained once a year by a real plumber.