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Is plumbing something the average homeowner can do for themselves? Well, yes and no. There are a few home plumbing repairs the average homeowner can learn, but there are also instances where something is best left to a professional.
When determining whether it is best to leave a plumbing job to a professional or attempt to do it yourself, it is often best to keep in mind that it’s not just a matter of a few dollars and time if you mess something up.
Doing the wrong thing in the wrong way could result in damaging your home, hurting yourself and loved ones, and being fined if you fail to get a necessary permit.
That said, here’s a shortlist of two plumbing repair jobs that you could tackle yourself and three, including Water Pipes Repair from United Plumbing, that you should never try to do yourself.
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Things to Do Yourself:
Locate the Turn Off the Water Main
Whenever a homeowner finds that there is flooding in their home resulting from a break in a pipe, they should always turn the water off. Otherwise, water can cause lots of serious damage that can be very expensive to repair.
The valve to the main water line is usually located in the basement or in front of the home. The valve is often very innocuous-looking, and in many cases, looks just like any other faucet handle or usually a little bigger.
When a homeowner first moves into a home, finding out where the water valve is should be a priority.
Find Individual Cut Off Valves
Whenever a homeowner buys a new appliance that uses water, they should find out where the water valve is located. For certain appliances such as a washing machine, the valve is usually located on the machine’s back.
In other instances, such as with fixtures like toilets or sinks, look on the wall behind them, usually down low. Bathtubs or showers are usually a little more difficult to find, but they are still there. Check adjacent closets or in the basement for these.
Things to Leave for a Plumber:
Clearing a Clog in a Sewer Line
Whenever a sewer line gets clogged, your entire sewer system is adversely affected. Besides a clogged line, this problem can also cause a backup into the house that can cause damage to your floors, walls, furniture, electrical systems, and much more.
Fixing a Burst Pipe
Fixing a leaky pipe with a simple temporary patch is no big deal, but when it comes to something more serious like a burst pipe, this is best left to a professional.
The reason for this is that, in most cases, a burst pipe will require a replacement instead of just a patch, which is something best left to a plumber.
Working on Sewer Lines
Unless a homeowner has experience working with underground infrastructure, no one but a plumber should ever attempt to repair a sewer line.
Not only is it essential for anyone doing this type of work to be experienced, but they must also have a permit from local authorities to start digging.
If the local government finds out that you have been digging up sewer lines without a permit, you could be in for serious fines.
Replacing a Water Heater
There you have them: three jobs that only a plumber should attempt, but this bonus point is added simply because it can be very dangerous unless it is left to a professional—replacing a water heater.
Not only is this because water heaters can weigh hundreds of pounds, but they also combine water and electricity, which is a dangerous combination for anyone to handle.
Further, if an installation isn’t done correctly, a water heater malfunction can cause devastating results. A plumber can do the job quickly and easily.
It’s always tempting to do a home repair yourself. Not only can it be easy, but you can also often save yourself some money.
Unfortunately, for many reasons, a DIY project can end up costing more money and time. Why not save yourself some of the hassle of plumbing problems by letting a plumber do what they were trained to do?
