With so much information now available on the internet, it’s becoming easier and easier for people to do things that they normally would leave to more experienced individuals. It’s easy to see why DIY (do it yourself) is appealing, though; after all, if something you once thought was complicated can be explained in simple terms and broken down into easy-to-follow steps, wouldn’t you want to try it for yourself?
Then, of course, there’s the lure of savings. When you cook a meal instead of eating out, or handle simple car repairs yourself instead of taking your vehicle to a shop, you may end up spending less. However, if you’re not careful, you may end up spending more instead because you, say, insisted on trying to fix blocked drains Summer Hill issues instead of calling a plumber working in the area.
Wanting to go the DIY route is understandable; if you have the right tools and enough know-how, it’s a good idea to try tackling certain repairs yourself. But at the same time, you need to take care to avoid certain mistakes so you don’t end up wishing you’d called a professional. That said, here are the top plumbing glossary resource mistakes to avoid.
Overtightening Connections
Supply tubes, pipe fittings, toilet bolts and the like should be tight, but not overly so. Instead of forcing the pipe, coupling, or elbow to turn “just a bit more”, let it be; the fact that it doesn’t turn as easily means it’s already fastened securely. If you crank too hard or force it in any way, you risk cracking the fitting or fixture, and even the smallest crack can turn out to be the cause of a big problem later on.
Turning to Drain Cleaners First
Liquid drain cleaners should be a last resort, not the first. The easiest – and plumbing-friendly – way to get rid of clogs in the kitchen or bathroom sink is to snake it, or else remove the P-trap and dump the clog out.
Unfortunately, too many DIYers in Summer Hill tend to grab the drain cleaner first, and more often than not, they pour in more than the amount that’s recommended for use. Unfortunately, liquid drain cleaner can cause more problems than it solves, and that includes damaging your pipes so you’ll eventually need to replace them.
Not Having Enough Spare Parts
When you need to replace one part because it’s worn out, or close to it, chances are other parts are worn and need replacing, too. For example, if the cartridge or washer in your faucet is showing signs of wear and tear, it could mean that you have to replace the stem seal, O-rings, and gasket as well, or you may end up with a leaky faucet again.
In short, whenever you have to replace something in a plumbing fixture or when working with drain lines, think of the project as rebuilding the fixture or line instead of just replacing a part.
As you can see, these DIY plumbing mistakes are easy to overlook, but taking steps to avoid them in the first place can make that much of a difference in the results of your DIY repair project.
