The acronym “DIY” stands for “do it yourself.” Its concept is pretty straightforward; you simply choose to fix a broken item by yourself instead of hiring a professional to do the job for you.

It is not surprising that the “DIY” label is added to many different projects partly because they can be fun to do and you get to learn something new at the same time. Not every activity though can be done the DIY way, and plumbing repairs is one of them.

Plumbing often involves sensitive work which should ideally be done only by a skilled plumber. While it can be cost-saving to repair or replace a leaking toilet by yourself, DIY plumbing can quickly turn into a disaster if you aren’t careful.

Why Is DIY as a Quick Plumbing Fix So Popular?

Many homeowners resort to DIY when it comes to fixing plumbing issues around their home. This is because do-it-yourself plumbing fixes seem simple and easy to do, especially if you’re one of those who can quickly follow instructions.

Below are a few other reasons prefer DIY when it comes to doing quick plumbing fixes:

1. Money-saver

The average cost of getting a plumber to come over to your house and repair a problem with your plumbing is around $45 to $150 per hour. If the plumber agrees to visit your place, it means you may have to take a day off from work to wait for him on the agreed meeting day.

Obviously, this is not a welcoming prospect, and is often the main reason many homeowners opt for plumbing repair DIY version. For them, DIY allows them to save money and time.

2. Online Access

Undoubtedly, the Internet and social media have significantly changed the way we do things. Even the complex nature of plumbing work is being taught online through do-it-yourself plumbing videos.

This has given people more confidence in doing tasks that they hardly know anything about. While this may look good at first glance, it could also lead to disastrous results, especially in cases where skills and knowledge are crucial in order to complete a job.

3. Self-challenge

Some people are naturally adventurous and will try just about anything that catches their interest. This is the core of many DIY plumbing projects; the idea of doing something that’s totally alien to you and finding out later on that you were able to do a good job.

Reasons to Avoid DIY as a Plumbing Solution

The truth is that this plumbing option is often less effective when compared to hiring a professional plumber to do the job. The latter normally has the expertise and training to diagnose any problem and provide you with sound DIY plumbing advice if necessary.

Here are a few other reasons plumbing work should be handed over to the professionals:

1. You are unfamiliar with effective plumbing solutions.

Social media, specifically YouTube, have made it possible for everyone to become an “expert” in practically anything. With YouTube’s many fascinating “how to” videos, you might find that doing plumbing work is not as difficult as you initially thought.

The popular social channel, however, is creating the belief that plumbing repairs can be done by anyone so long as there are clear instructions on how to do them. This is one of many common plumbing mistakes as only skilled plumbers can determine the best way to solve a plumbing problem by simply referring to his list of solutions. Sometimes, this could even mean digging deeper to check if the problem has to do with the underground plumbing system.

2. You don’t have the right plumbing tools and equipment.

Plumbers have a variety of tools that they can use to do their jobs, including tongue-and groove pliers, basin wrenches, and plumber’s snakes. Although you can buy the basic plumbing tools at your local hardware store, they are not as efficient as the ones sold to licensed professionals.

Additionally, many plumbers refer to accredited supply warehouses when getting their plumbing equipment. These warehouses only sell to licensed contractors and the tools they offer are often of higher quality than those made available to the ordinary layman.

3. You could not make a correct diagnosis of the problem.

When a plumber arrives at your house to check the problem with your plumbing, the first thing that he’ll do is to inspect your plumbing system. Obviously, the aim is to determine what the problem is and the plumber will use his knowledge and experience in doing this.

Since you don’t have the same level of expertise, you’ll likely have a difficult time trying to pinpoint the root cause of your plumbing issue if you do it yourself. As it stands, only experienced plumbers can accurately identify where the problem lies and apply the most appropriate plumbing solution.

4. You could end up making the situation worse.

Some plumbing problems only require quick and easy fixes, but if you fail to do it correctly, the situation could get worse. What began as a minor problem could turn into a major plumbing disaster because you opted to fix the problem on your own rather than refer this to a plumber, which is the correct plumbing practice.

5.You don’t have sufficient plumbing knowledge.

There’s more to plumbing fixes than just the tools. There are also plumbing pipes and other parts made from the right materials that you need to consider.

It’s dangerous to simply use plumbing pipes that you purchased from a nearby hardware store to replace an outdated plumbing system. The pipe dimensions and the sizes may not match with those that you have in your home.

Plumbers, meanwhile, are experts in identifying which parts and pipes will work best for you. Often, they will refer to them when your plumbing system needs to be repaired or upgraded.

6. You could hurt yourself when doing plumbing repairs on your own.

Although it might seem like the least dangerous of all jobs, being a plumber is actually quite risky. There are many hazards plumbers have to deal with as they go about doing their jobs.

For instance, when working in tight spaces, plumbers might accidentally injure themselves while holding on to their plumbing tools. Eye injuries can also result in cases where a plumber is exposed to chemicals and flying debris.

Nevertheless, plumbers usually undergo training in plumbing safety so they can keep themselves protected while on the job. This is something that you will not receive as a non-plumber. Thus, you’re exposing yourself to unnecessary risks when attempting to do a plumbing repair DIY style.

7. You could cause damage to other areas of your home.

Doing a quick plumbing fix on your pipes is among the most common plumbing mistakes you could make. This could result in more serious damage if you do not follow the correct procedures. This is especially true in many DIY projects.

A good example would be a leaking pipe; If you try to fix this but you don’t do it right, the leak could pop up again in the future. When that happens, the leak could be bigger and may even lead to water damage that will ruin your walls, floors, ceilings, and many other areas of the house.

Absolute Electrical Heating and Air is the Best Alternative to Any DIY Fixes for Plumbing Problems

While DIY projects are popular options for homeowners having plumbing difficulties, they are not always effective. Absolute Electrical Heating and Air is the best alternative with our team of professional and highly-skilled plumbers.

Call our plumber in Denver who can tell you why we are better than any do-it-yourself plumbing project you’ll come across with. Contact us now so we can also tell you the details of our other plumbing services.