From the homeowner’s perspective, it can be inviting to try to save some money by handling plumbing repairs by themselves. Nevertheless, the risks involved are rarely worth the savings – especially since in most cases it ends up costing you more in the long run. Trying to save a few dollars by handling plumbing repair jobs on your own rather than calling a professional can backfire big time.
One of the worst things that a homeowner can try to do themselves is to attempt to install a hot water heater or boiler. An improperly installed water heater or boiler can start fires, poison the air inside a home, or even cause an explosion in severe cases. Another possible issue that can present itself, if the unit is not installed correctly, is a carbon monoxide leak. Do not put yours and your family lives in danger by using a shortcut.
The most common type of repair work that homeowners do on their own is drain cleaning. Unfortunately, this type of repair rarely works out because the homeowners do not have the proper tools. Although home repair stores like Home Depot or Lowes sell snakes and Draino, they are actually a cheaper, riskier version of the professional grade tools that real, licensed plumbers use. These cheap tools rarely, if ever, get the job done correctly. A professional drain cleaning can save pipes and eliminate long term problems that can potentially cause more damage in the future such as leaking pipe seams and burst pipes.
The professional team here at Kew Forest Plumbing & Heating frequently get calls from people who need a qualified plumber because they tried, and failed, to handle a plumbing repair by themselves. By the time these people realize they cannot handle their repairs on their own, they are usually stuck in a jam. These issues require getting a plumber out to the job site immediately—often late at night after business hours or on a weekend. Before you decide to DIY, give us a call and have us handle the issue for you!
