Some plumbing tasks, like replacing a leaky faucet or a leaky drain pipe underneath a sink, aren’t that difficult. The issue is that you can make things much worse if you try to do the work yourself and don’t do everything correctly. In general, DIY plumbing work is always a bad idea due to all of the dangers and risks it could involve or issues it could result in.
Leaks and Water Damage
Even if you can see the source of your water leak, it’s not a good idea to try to replace the damaged piece of pipe on your own. Depending on the location of the leak, it’s easy to create an even larger water leak than the first. You could also end up with significant water damage to your flooring or the sheetrock on the wall or ceiling.
Another major concern with trying to replace a faucet yourself is that you could break the waterline that sticks out through the wall when trying to unhook or reconnect the flexible water lines that run to the sink. If this happens, the only way you can stop the broken pipe from leaking is to close the valve on your main water line. That means you won’t be able to use your water until you can get a plumber out to replace the broken pipe.
You could also end up cracking the porcelain when trying to fix certain issues with a toilet, resulting in the toilet constantly leaking and needing to be replaced. The best way to avoid major complications like these is to just hire a plumber for whatever work you need done. That way, you can be certain the job will be done correctly and won’t have to potentially pay much more to fix something you accidentally messed up.
Insurance Implications
Homeowners’ insurance companies often frown upon doing DIY work on things like your plumbing, electrical, and HVAC systems. Most insurance policies don’t cover water damage from something like a gradual leak, but they usually do cover damage from certain sudden, accidental issues like a burst pipe or broken washing machine hose. You can also file a claim with your insurance if you hire a licensed plumbing company and they do something wrong, resulting in your plumbing leaking and causing water damage to your home. In this case, your insurance company will take the necessary steps to get the plumbing company or their insurance to pay for the necessary repairs. If you do the work yourself and end up causing a leak, you’ll have no other choice but to pay for the repairs out of your own pocket.
Worsened Issues
Even something as seemingly harmless as using drain cleaner to unclog a drain can be a major risk, as it can lead to much worse problems in the future. The issue with drain cleaning products is that they contain extremely harsh, corrosive chemicals that eat through pipes and can cause a serious leak. That means you’ll have to pay a plumber far more to replace the pipe than what it would’ve cost you to just have them unclog the drain in the first place. Trying to use a pipe snake to unclog a drain yourself is also a bad idea, as you could end up breaking the drain pipe or doing major damage to your toilet. These potential issues are why the best option is to call a plumber if you can’t clear the clog with a plunger.
Safety Hazards
Most basic plumbing work isn’t all that dangerous as long as you take certain precautions. Nonetheless, there’s still a chance you could suffer a minor or potentially major injury even when performing what seems like a routine task, such as cutting yourself and needing to get stitches. Work that requires cutting into a wall or ceiling is much more dangerous due to the risk of hitting an electrical wire. There are also certain things, like trying to work on a water heater, that can be incredibly hazardous if you don’t know exactly what you’re doing.
For instance, doing any work on an electric water heater yourself carries the risk of electrocution. If you don’t wire everything correctly or damage any wiring, it could lead to an electrical fire as well.
Working on a gas water heater is dangerous due to the risk of damaging the gas line and causing a gas leak. There’s also the danger that a gas water heater can end up leaking carbon monoxide into your house, creating a risk of potentially fatal carbon monoxide poisoning.
Another concern with any type of water heater is that you could damage the pressure-relief valve and prevent it from working as it should. If this happens, there’s a chance it could result in the water heater exploding if the pressure in the tank ever gets too high, which is precisely what the pressure-relief valve is designed to prevent.
Voided Warranty
Another reason you should never attempt to maintain or fix your water heater yourself is that there’s a high chance it will end up voiding the warranty on the unit. Most new water heaters come with a 6-year warranty, but some are covered for up to 12 years. However, if you read the terms of the warranty, you’ll almost always see that they explicitly state that the warranty is immediately void if anyone other than a licensed plumber works on the unit.
Code Violations and Permit Requirements
When doing any work on your plumbing, everything must meet the relevant plumbing code requirements. Failing to meet these requirements can create a major hassle in the future if you want to sell your house. Not doing things according to code can also lead to health and safety hazards. For instance, not installing a dishwasher correctly can lead to backflow issues, resulting in dirty water flowing back into your plumbing and contaminating your water supply.
Another thing to note is that most places require you to get a permit when performing various types of plumbing work. A permit isn’t required if you’re just replacing a fixture like a faucet, but you almost always need one when making more substantial changes or additions to your existing plumbing. One concern if you don’t get a permit, it could result in a fine. The city or county could also require you to hire a licensed plumbing company to tear out and redo the work you did yourself.
When you need any work done on your plumbing system, Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter is the company to depend on. Our local, family-owned and operated company has years of experience serving homeowners in San Jose and the Greater Silicon Valley area and a strong reputation for providing excellent service. We’re available to help 24/7 for plumbing services and won’t rest until your needs are fully met.
To schedule service with the best plumbing company in the area, contact Plumbtree Plumbing & Rooter.
