Are you a DIY’er
Home-owners across the nations are taking on more Do It Yourself projects, especially involving plumbing. Successfully completing a plumbing project yourself gives a boost of pride and can save a great deal of money. But for every success story, there are stories of things that go bad. Plumbing mistakes can be costly and the most common ones are easily avoided.
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Forgetting to shut down the water main to the house is probably one of the most frequent mistakes according to a licensed Houston plumber we spoke to. People may shut off a water valve to a sink or other fixture and not test to see if the shut off valve is bad. Once the fixture is removed, the amount of water that can spill out could be tens of gallons, by the time the houses water main is shut down. Another problem is people that start working on plumbing without locating the water main. If they need to reach it in an emergency they could find their home flooded before they know it. Always be aware of where the main shut off is and use it whenever possible.
Another common mistake is not researching the repair or improvement that is being made. Plumbing is more than simply connecting pipes, there is a great deal of science involved in plumbing. People may be trying to add a drain-line from their house, but don’t know that the size of the pipe will determine how much water can be pushed through. Some people forget the basics, like most plumbing is run by gravity. Water does not run uphill instead it will back into your home. A Dallas plumber interviewed said that making mistakes in laying pipes can have disastrous consequences. Take time to research the work that is about to be done. A little bit of time preparing can save time and possible repair bills.
Along with researching how to do the repair or improvement, it is important to find out if you can make the improvement. Some municipalities have strict code enforcement and permits must be obtained for certain types of plumbing projects. Failure to obtain required permits may result in fines, extra expenses of having to have the work removed, replaced, and reinspected. Make sure that you are allowed to do the plumbing project yourself, or if a licensed professional must do the work.
There is an old saying, “Measure twice, cut once” and this is very true in plumbing according to a San Diego plumber. Making mistakes by estimating measurements can waste time, because pipes have to be re-cut. Not following this “Golden Rule of Plumbing” can also be incredibly wasteful of materials. A pipe cut too short is wasted and more money must be spent to replace it. Take time to make sure that everything is remeasured, check the measurements, and make adjustments for fittings.
Failing to know when to call in professional help from licensed plumbers is probably one of the most avoidable mistakes that people make. The DIY person takes a certain amount of pride in their work and may not want to admit when they need help. Face it, some jobs are just too big to do alone and problems may come up that people may just not be prepared for. Replacing shower handles may start off easy, but if pipes are cracked then the repairs may involve having to cut out a section of wall. Do not let pride get in the way of successfully completing your plumbing project, know when to call in for
professional help.
