The Most Common Mistakes People Make When Attempting To DIY Their Plumbing

It is definitely true that you can save yourself a lot of money by taking on some simple plumbing repairs yourself rather than hiring a plumber to come out and handle the job. However, it is crucial that you are honest with yourself about your capability to get the job done safely and correctly. Even simple plumbing jobs can go horribly wrong with some small mistakes.

Here are just a few examples of some of the most common mistakes people make when attempting to perform DIY plumbing jobs at their house.

Making connections too tight

You want all of your connections to be snug so you can avoid leaks, but there is such a thing as overtightening. If you crank your fittings too much, you could crack it. The force might not result in a crack right away, but you will be more likely to see cracking in that area over the long run. This is also why you should avoid overtightening closet bolts for the toilet at the floor or between the bowl and tank, as you could not just damage the bolt, but also the porcelain of the toilet.

Not getting the proper spare parts

Say, for example, you're repairing a faucet in your kitchen or bathroom. If you notice the cartridge or washer are worn, that probably means other parts of the assembly will be worn as well. Make sure you analyze all of the parts; these small parts are very cheap at hardware stores, so it's not like you're investing a whole lot more financially to get the job done right.

Not turning off the water

You'd think it would be common sense that you need to shut off the water to a sink or toilet before you start doing plumbing work, and yet plumbers can provide you with all kinds of stories about people who tried to take on DIY plumbing jobs without shutting off the water first. A failure to turn off the water will result in you having full water pressure shooting out of the pipes when you disassemble a part, which could quickly result in flooding and some significant potential damage.

Overreliance on chemical drain cleaners

Clogs happen. Even if you're good about not letting items down the drain that shouldn't be there, every now and then a clog is still going to form. When this happens, you should avoid having chemical drain cleaners be your first step. Use a plunger, snake or barbed drain cleaning tool, or remove the P-trap and get rid of the clog manually. Liquid cleaners are the last line of defense; their caustic agents can damage your plumbing and are awful for the environment.

Not using the proper tools

If you're going to be doing plumbing jobs, you need plumbing tools. A pipe wrench and hack saw aren't going to be appropriate for every job. You should also consider tubing cutters, extendable basin wrenches, strap wrenches and other specialized tools so you can avoid damaging your plumbing systems.

For more information about some of the most common DIY plumbing mistakes you should avoid, contact us today with your questions. Our licensed professionals can help: info@pipemasters.ca or (289) 404-9063. PipeMasters is part of Oakridge Plumbing Ontario Ltd. All rights reserved.