When it comes to plumbing repairs there are a lot of questions that might be running through your mind. If a pipe breaks or your toilet won’t flush, do you really need to call a plumber? Or can you fix it yourself? And what if you make a mistake and end up causing more damage than if you had called in the first place?There are lots of common plumbing repairs that could be tackled by anyone who has a basic understanding of how it all works and how to fix things when they go wrong. However, there are also quite a few things that only a professional plumber will be able to do properly or safely. Here are a few questions that might be floating around in your head at the moment:
The first step to figuring out if you need a plumber or if you can do a repair yourself is to understand what the plumbing system in your house looks like. There are three main areas of a home’s plumbing system - the water supply (or main), the sewer system and the drainage system.The water supply contains the pipes that bring fresh water into your home from a nearby water main. The sewer system is where your kitchen and bathroom waste is transported away from your home and out to a sewage treatment plant. The drainage system is where the pipes that bring water out of your home are located. These are the areas you will want to check before attempting any sort of plumbing repair or maintenance.
There are a number of different types of plumbing repairs that you may encounter during your lifetime. If you’re not sure which repair is for you, keep reading to learn more!There are three main types of plumbing repairs - emergency repairs, maintenance repairs and planned repairs. - Emergency repairs - These are repairs that need to be done as soon as possible to keep your home from becoming uninhabitable. A broken pipe that is letting water drip into your home or a toilet that won’t flush are examples of when you might need to call a plumber for an emergency repair. - Maintenance repairs - These are repairs that are done on a regular basis to prevent small problems from turning into larger problems. This might include cleaning a pipe to help it last longer, replacing a broken toilet part, or replacing a damaged faucet.- Planned repairs - These repairs are done at the request of the home owner and generally require more time and money than an emergency or maintenance repair. Examples of planned repairs include water main replacements or installing new plumbing fixtures like a new showerhead or faucet.These are just a few examples of the different types of plumbing repair that you might encounter. There are many more types of repairs that can be done by a DIY homeowner. However, there are also repairs that only a professional plumber should attempt to repair.
Now that you know what the different types of plumbing repairs are, you might be wondering what you need to know before you make any repair on your own. Here are a few things you should know before you tackle any plumbing repair: - Find out if there are any permits or license requirements for plumbing repairs. - Know the proper tools and techniques for the repair you are attempting. - Read the instructions of the repair you are attempting and watch the repair being done before you attempt it yourself. This will give you a better idea of how it is done and also let you know if there is anything you need to be careful about to avoid making a mistake.
If you have determined that you need to make a plumbing repair, you need to figure out when you should call a plumber. Generally, you should call a plumber whenever you are unsure how to perform the repair or if the repair is something that requires special expertise and experience. Here are three situations when you should definitely call a plumber:- If the repair is beyond your skill level. - If the repair is complex and requires special tools and equipment. - If the repair will be done in a location that is difficult to access or might be a trip hazard.
The answer to this question really depends on the repair you are attempting. If you are attempting any of the repair examples above, then the answer is probably not. However, there are many repairs that are simple and don’t require any special skills or tools.Here is a list of repairs that are simple enough to try to do yourself and don’t require a plumber.- Fixing a clogged toilet - Fixing a leaking faucet - Fixing a broken washing machine - Replacing broken toilet parts - Replacing a broken faucetIf the repair you want to make is on this list, then the answer to “can I fix a plumbing problem myself?” is probably yes.
There are a lot of plumbing repairs that can be tackled by anyone who has a basic understanding of how the plumbing system works and how to fix things when they go wrong. However, there are also quite a few repairs that only a professional plumber will be able to do properly or safely. Here are a few points to remember when deciding if you should call a plumber or if you can do a repair yourself: