When you’ve got some plumbing jobs to do around the house, many homeowners choose to DIY in order to save money and time. While a popular option, there’s plenty of things that can go wrong if you don’t have the skills and experience needed to carry out plumbing tasks and it could end up costing you much more than you think.
Read on to discover our top tips on how to avoid the 5 most common DIY plumbing mistakes in the home or business.
Not Turning The Water Off
One of the most common plumbing mistakes is not turning the water off before repairs. Leaving the water on while fixing a valve can result in major flooding of your kitchen or bathroom and a very expensive mess. Always shut off the main water supply before starting any DIY plumbing job.
Using Too Much Drain Cleaner
Drain cleaner is an easy go-to for blocked drains but can cause more harm than good. Using too much drain cleaner can result in more blockages further up and corrode the pipes, risking future leaks. Try using a snake or barbed drain cleaning tool instead to get the job done.
Not Having Enough Spare Parts
Often, DIYers will make the mistake of only having the part they need to fix the problem, rather than carrying spare parts in case more work is required. If a faucet repair job means replacing the washer or cartridge, chances are the O-rings and gasket will need replacing, too. Save yourself another trip to the hardware store by ensuring you buy all the parts the first time around.
Over-Tightening The Connections
Another one of the big plumbing mistakes to avoid is over-tightening your plumbing connections. By over-tightening pipes, faucet supply tubes and toilet bolts, you risk cracking or warping the fitting and potentially causing a bathroom flood. Hand tight is just enough to ensure consistent water flow.
Not Using The Correct Equipment
A galvanized pipe fitting can’t be removed with an ordinary pipe wrench without damaging it and requires an internal pipe wrench. Whether it’s a small repair job to fix some toilet problems or a full-scale bathroom renovation, always make sure you have all of the right tools on-hand to get the job done safely and properly.
Simplify Your Plumbing Problems By Hiring A Professional
Now that you know the 5 most common DIY plumbing mistakes and how to avoid them, your next repairs job should be a lot more successful. If you think you need a bit of extra help in avoiding the biggest plumbing mistakes altogether – hire a professional plumber to get things right the first time. Barker Plumbing Services have over 30 years’ experience in plumbing installations, repairs and maintenance on the Gold Coast. Give us a call today to discover how we can help you.
Related Tag: Blocked Drains Gold Coast