Many DIY fixes are usually fun and rewarding. In today’s age of technological advancement, a quick internet search can give you sufficient instructions to fix just about anything including plumbing problems in your house. But, before you rush to get your toolbox from your garage, to repair a plumbing issue by yourself, remember that there are many dangers that accompany DIY repairs.
Compared to other DIYs that you learn as you go such as fixing locks, installing new curtains or even building a new mug shelf, plumbing jobs are best left to the reputable plumbing services in your area. If you are not trained in plumbing, trying to remedy a plumbing problem in your home is always a bad idea.
DIY plumbing fixes can go wrong very fast and leave you with a huge bill that is a lot higher than what you would have paid if you called a plumbing service first.
Here are four dangers of DIY plumbing fixes that you may not know about.
- Home Water Damage
Water is life but it can also be one of the most destructive forces on the face of the earth. Since the most important responsibility of the plumbing system is to transport water, carrying out DIYs on your plumbing system can be hazardous as it can lead to an in-home flood that you were not prepared for.
Flooding can damage floors, walls, and areas with improper plumbing fixtures such as beneath the toilet, around drain openings, and around the dishwasher plumbing. As a homeowner, you will be held responsible for water damage if you fail to turn off the water supply before attempting the DIY repairs.
If you are not sure of the extent of the plumbing situation in your home, it’s advisable to call an experienced plumber who understands how to control the amount of water that goes into a pipe during repair and also knows how to flush out pipes before replacing them. The last thing you need during these tough times is to spend an entire afternoon cleaning up your flooded house.
- Corrosion
Apart from flooding, the other serious danger that comes from DIY plumbing fixes is corrosion. As a homeowner with no experience with piping, you may not have the right knowledge to identify the type of pipes that are installed in your home. In order to complete a successful plumbing task, you need to know the inlet pipes and the ones that drain water.
When different metals come into contact with each other or touch an electrolyte such as water, some of them may start corroding. And since plumbing pipes are made from different metals such as cast iron, copper, or stainless steel, if you end up mixing them without the right fittings, the threat of pipe corrosion becomes very real.
You should always use fittings that insulate any dissimilar metals from one another. A qualified plumber should be able to assess the situation beforehand and identify the types of metals your pipes are made of so that he can find the right fittings to stop corrosion in the years to come.
- Improper Plumbing Repairs
Poorly repaired plumbing fixes can result in leaks and inefficient flow. Though inefficiency may not look like a danger now, it will definitely put a strain in your bank account in the long run. For example, if during your DIY plumbing you end up mixing up elbows, wyes, and tees, you might be forced to deal with unpleasant odors coming from your bathroom and pay more when you invite a specialist plumber to come and fix it.
DIY plumbing can also result in overtightened connections which eventually lead to cracks inside the pipe fittings. A simple DIY such as pouring caustic cleaners inside your drain can also be very dangerous as it can corrode the pipe and cause leakage and flooding over time.
- DIYs Are Expensive
Perhaps the greatest irony of DIY plumbing fixes is that people do them to save money only for them to realize that it was way more expensive in the long run. It’s true that some repairs can be done quickly with a simple screwdriver, a little elbow grease, and a bucketful of hot water. But many plumbing fixes will require specialized equipment, materials, and experienced workmanship to get the job done.
Once you consider the investment required to buy all the expensive materials, equipment, and tools at retail price, and the knowledge required, you will realize that your affordable DIY plumbing fix was anything but cheap.
