In today’s world of Social Media, it is getting easier to do projects yourself without hiring a professional (see YouTube). It can be incredibly rewarding to see the results of your own successful work doing DIY projects. With many Do It Yourself projects, you can roll up your sleeves and figure things out as you go. Easy right? A DIY project like building a shelf in your closet can be successfully done with some online guidance and testing, even if you don’t know much about building to begin with. Trust me, I am one of these people!

There are some things, however, that require professional training and expertise to successfully complete, such as licensed plumbing work. A lot of people think they can save money by doing their own kitchen or bathroom plumbing, but unlike other home projects, even the tiniest mistakes do not come cheap. There is no room at all for “testing”, and if you attempt to figure it out as you go, you could end up doing more damage than good. Water is very cleansing but also very destructive!

Here are a few things to consider when asking yourself if you think you could tackle your own plumbing repairs and/or installations.

Do I Have The Expertise?

Licensed Plumbers have years of training and experience in the plumbing field, and possess skills and knowledge that the average Joe homeowner does not. They can solve a vast array of plumbing problems every day when in the field. When professional plumbers look at a complicated problem, they are able to come up with a solution immediately and perform this solution without any errors. Plumbers also have a variety of special tools and they know exactly how to install a pipe with the correct connections and materials and to make sure everything is flowing correctly.

Plumbing can be tricky and difficult for the common person. While you might save some money by choosing to do any plumbing yourself, you might do something incorrectly and cause more problems for yourself in the long run. The smallest error in a plumbing repair can lead to leaks, malfunctioning sinks and toilets, and other serious plumbing problems. It just is not worth it. When and if you hire an experienced plumber, you can trust the job will be done correctly and rather quickly depending on the repair. You are greatly minimizing the risk of problems in the future and saving money at the same time.

Do I Know What Pipes I will Need?

There are so many different types and sizes of pipes, connections, and valves, all for different places and uses. The wrong pipe in the wrong place can be dangerous. Wrong size or placement of different connections and valves can cause leaks and eventually lead to corrosion. The wrong size pipes might cause clogs, and even burst pipes. It’s best to leave plumbing issues up to the licensed professionals, as they have the knowledge of all plumbing materials and how to use them correctly.

What are Plumbing Codes?

Your home plumbing line system is mainly responsible for the overall health of your home. We count on this system to bring fresh clean water into the home and to expel the dirty out of these lines. Because this home plumbing system is so important, there are different plumbing codes in place to ensure everything is in proper working order and your home is as healthy as possible. If you choose to do your own plumbing repairs, it can be easy to violate plumbing codes without knowing it, which can lead to city fines. A professional licensed plumbing technician has a great understanding of all of your towns plumbing codes so their installations will be up to code each and every time.