DIY Plumbing – Is It Worth It?

Plumbing issues can be a costly nightmare. When confronted with a leaky pipe, clogged drain, or installing a new appliance, the idea of DIY-ing it appeals to many homeowners.

Doing your own home maintenance projects is a great way to learn a new skill and take responsibility for your home. Still, homeowners should use caution and ask themselves, “Is DIY plumbing worth it?”

Saving money is great, and there are certain plumbing repairs a person with minimal skill can handle. But when it comes to many plumbing issues, doing it yourself can end up causing more damage and incurring higher costs.

Here’s what you need to consider before tackling a DIY plumbing project.

What Kind of DIY Plumbing Repair Is It?

When it comes to DIY plumbing repairs, the difficulty level is extremely important. If you’re talking about thawing a frozen pipe or fixing a loose toilet seat, you can probably handle it without much risk of damage.

Installing new bathroom or kitchen hardware, such as a showerhead or faucet, is also something you can likely tackle on your own.

If the project sounds like it’s going to be more complicated than any of those, however, you should seriously consider hiring a professional plumbing service.

What Is Your Skill Level?

It is important to compare your skill level to the type of project you are considering undertaking. What might be a simple repair for one person may not necessarily be simple for you.

It’s important to be realistic about your skills.

Ask yourself how much plumbing knowledge and experience you have. Do you know how to shut off your water main? Or where to find the backflow valves in your home?

If you don’t know the answers to these questions (and rest assured, many people don’t!), then it is probably not in your best interest to tackle most DIY plumbing projects.

However, having little knowledge of plumbing doesn’t mean you should never try to tackle a DIY plumbing project. You can’t learn if you don’t try something. Just be smart about what you’re getting into.

Remember that the goal of DIY is to learn skills and save money. If you aren’t going to be able to do the project efficiently and at a lowered cost, then the DIY method is not in your best interest.

Furthermore, take into consideration what you will do in the event something goes wrong during your repair. What will you do if you break something? Will you be able to remedy the situation?

If it’s possible your attempt at a repair could create an even bigger problem, why risk it? If you are confident in your plumbing and troubleshooting abilities, then it might be worth taking a whack at it.

Do You Have the Necessary Tools?

Plumbing repairs require many specialty tools for specific types of pipes and joints. These tools are costly and not necessarily a good investment for someone not in the profession of plumbing.

If the repair you need to make would require you to spend a lot of money on tools, the cost of doing it yourself will probably exceed the cost of hiring a professional who already has the tools.

Always research what tools you will need before starting a project. You don’t want to find out part of the way through that you need a very specific and expensive tool to complete the project.

Which Will Cost More: Hiring a Plumber or Making a Plumbing Mistake?

Plumbers typically charge by the hour; however, the total cost of your plumbing repair will depend on the scope of the project. Compare that to the cost of doing a minor or major project on your own.

A minor project that requires just a few basic tools probably won’t cost as much as hiring a plumber. A complex project requiring specialized tools could easily cost more than hiring a plumber.

It is also important to consider how much it could cost if you were to make a mistake or break something during your DIY repair.

Chances are, even the best plumber isn’t going to cost you more in the first place than it would cost to fix your mistake.

When Should I Absolutely Find a Plumber Near Me?

If you are not confident in your ability to tackle a plumbing repair, it’s always in your best interest to hire a professional plumber. No matter your skill, there are certain plumbing repairs you should never attempt on your own.

These include repairing a broken pipe, clearing a major clog, or cutting the water flow to part of your home. You should also enlist the help of a plumber to handle any plumbing renovations required for a remodel.

Installing a new appliance, irrigation system, or water softener are all projects that a professional plumber should handle as well.

Benefits of Hiring a Plumbing Company

When you hire a plumbing company, you get the benefit of their expertise and the protection of their insurance. A plumber has the skills and knowledge to tackle any plumbing problem and won’t make it worse.

They have the tools to fix the issue at hand, but they will also determine any underlying causes of that issue. They can also spot warning signs of problems that will occur in the future.

Hiring a professional plumber can end up saving you money. They fix things properly the first time and also identify potential problems before they become major problems.

In addition, plumbers have insurance. So anything that goes wrong is covered. If you attempt a project yourself and make a mistake, you will pay out of pocket for that mistake.

If you want to avoid unforeseen costs and consequences, hire a plumber.

Is DIY Plumbing Worth It?

Is DIY plumbing worth it? It depends on your level of skill and the complexity of the project. Hiring a plumber can be expensive, but hiring a plumber to fix your mistakes is usually more expensive.

In most cases, the best choice is to call a plumber. If you’re simply swapping out an old faucet for a new one (and you have some skill), you may be able to handle it on your own.

When you need to hire a quality plumbing service, contact Living Water Plumbing.

250-300-7370
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