While it may be tempting to perform your own plumbing repairs, mishandling plumbing facilities can lead to an even bigger plumbing problem than the one you started out with!
‘DIY plumbing’ is simply not feasible. Plumbers undergo years of rigorous, on-the-job training, as well as extensive testing, to become certified and to legally be able to perform plumbing work. This is no small task and proves the high level of understanding and skill needed to properly carry out plumbing repairs, maintenance, and even installation.
Here are 5 reasons to ALWAYS avoid DIY plumbing repairs.
5: DIY Plumbing Repairs can Release Asbestos Into the Air
Did you know that in some areas, older homes may contain materials containing asbestos? Older galvanized pipes, certain types of pipe joint compounds (which were used to seal joints in metal piping), and even joint tapes (used in plumbing repair) or calking materials (materials used to fill gaps when joints are not tight enough to prevent leakage) might all potentially contain asbestos fibers.
When these materials get disturbed during a home renovation or plumbing repair project, they become airborne and present an inhalation hazard if inhaled by people in the area or those passing through it. While workers using machinery which might disturb these materials are usually protected by suits with supplied air, doing plumbing repairs yourself holds no such safety measure.
4: DIY Plumbing Repairs Can Cause Damage to Valuable Home Ties (or Personal Belongings)
Do-it-yourselfers might be tempted to save money by using household materials for repairs, such as using a plunger, drain snake or hose instead of an auger or plumber’s cable and hand crank auger and even perhaps making use of vinegar and baking soda in the process.
Unfortunately, these methods can cause damage to sanitary sewer pipes which can lead to backups in your home, water pooling on the floor around fixtures, odors and potential mold growth. These also present an additional risk of rupturing existing sanitary sewer lines that may be hidden (behind walls, below floors or under concrete slabs) and that could lead to costly repairs.
3: DIY Plumbing Repairs can Lead to Serious Injury or Death
Professional plumbers are skilled with the use of both small tools like hoes and large equipment like hydraulic lifts, all of which comes in handy when they’re working on plumbing systems which are inaccessible by hand. The use of professional-grade equipment ensures accuracy as well as safety for both the plumber doing the work as well as those living or working nearby.
DIY plumbing can result in cuts, puncture wounds, burns from hot surfaces, electrical shock due to improper grounding of wiring, being jolted by electrical current from faulty wiring, and other injuries. Not to mention the high probability of making a mistake when attempting a plumbing repair for which you lack experience that could result in outright flooding inside the home or property damage.
2: DIY Plumbing Repairs can Lead to Widespread Damage
When repairs performed on plumbing facilities are done improperly, they not only affect the local area but can also have negative effects on water pressure, sewage capacity and even wastewater treatment systems. When these components are affected, a whole neighborhood – or sometimes a large metropolitan region – might be impacted by one poorly attempted DIY plumbing job!
Plus, if problems with these facilities occur outside business hours for your local plumber, it might take days before anyone comes to fix the problem, resulting in potential damage to your home or property.
1: DIY Plumbing Repairs can Lead to Illegal Sewer Use
Finally, once repairs are made it’s easy for homeowners to imagine that they have fixed the problem – which is unfortunately often not the case. This could lead to wild over use of fresh water that would otherwise need to be properly disposed of as sewage
Sewage contains wastewater from sinks and toilets along with other organic materials picked up from outside sources during rain events which means it should never EVER be used on plants or lawns near your home! Doing so could contaminate groundwater, lakes or waterways which may threaten public health or harm aquatic life.
Say Goodbye to DIY, and Hello to Synergy Trades Group
Synergy Trades Group provides professional, qualified plumbing services to business owners and residents across the Sunshine Coast. Their friendly, trained team can take the hassles of any plumbing issue off your hands and ensure that any required repairs or replacements is handled with the utmost professionalism and care.
Make DIY plumbing a thing of the past – contact Synergy Trade Group’s plumbers today!
