Top DIY Plumbing Mistakes That Will Cost You - Nixco Plumbing Inc.

It seems like we talk a lot on our blog about DIY plumbing being a bad thing. We should clear this up now: we?re not against DIY for small projects ? in fact, for certain things like minor faucet leaks or small drain clogs, we recommend it! Once you start getting into more complicated repairs and installations, however, it?s best to leave it to the pros. We can?t tell you how many times we?ve talked to people at their wits end who, after five trips to the hardware store, had to give up!

We see a number of common mistakes that people make frequently when taking on DIY plumbing jobs. If you?re planning on a little home improvement project this weekend, don?t let one of these happen to you!

1) The ?Just Enough? ? this is probably the most common DIY plumbing mistake we see. Whether someone?s been struggling with a task for a long time and finally got it to kind of work, or they almost finish and get lazy, it seems like the end of a lot of plumbing projects turns out pretty sloppy. But when it comes to unclogging a drain, repairing a toilet or installing a faucet, a sloppy project can quickly turn unforgiving, leaving you with a bigger problem that you started with! Using the wrong sized equipment or piping, or trying to jury-rig something into place because you think it will save you time can often lead to disaster ? if you don?t think you?ll be able to see a project through to the end, you?re better off calling a plumber!

2) Using mismatched materials ? do you know the difference between copper and galvanized steel piping? Between PEX and PVC? Knowing the material your pipes are made of, along with having a decent working knowledge of your piping system, is important if you?re planning on taking on some DIY pipe repair. And while there are ways of connecting pipes of different materials, it?s difficult to do and can quickly lead to dangerous corrosion if not done correctly.

3) Installing fixtures without proper tools ? there?s no surer way of guaranteeing something won?t work right than by trying to install it without the proper tools. We?re not saying it CAN?T happen ? after all, you can install a toilet that looks like it works well, but if you don?t bolt it down with the proper wrenches and use a level to make sure it sits properly, your bathroom is going to be under water in no time and you?ll be calling the plumber for toilet repair!

4) Odd designs in remodeling ? we?ve seen some pretty crazy configurations over the years ? bathrooms stuck in attics and basements seemingly at random, with no attention paid to the home?s plumbing structure. A lot of times, people move piping to areas where it won?t be seen in the main living areas, as opposed to routing the plumbing based on their home?s actual layout. This leads to leaks, spotty water pressure and a host of other problems ? don?t do it!

5) Racing through a project you?re not experienced with ? this one happens to everyone: it?s the day before Thanksgiving, you?ve got 20 people coming over tomorrow and the toilet on the main floor is totally messed up! Thinking you don?t have enough time to call a plumber, you hastily take the toilet apart, try to fix it and end up with a bunch of toilet components scattered on the floor and no time. Don?t let this happen to you! Most plumbing companies offer emergency toilet repair ? you?re much better off calling one of them, or waiting and taking on the project when you have more time.

If you know how to fix a problem with your plumbing system, go ahead with it ? you may save money, and you?ll get the satisfaction of a job well done. If you think you?ll end up with bigger problems than you started with, however, call your local plumber!

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This entry was posted on Sunday, January 20th, 2013 at 6:53 pm under DYI Mistakes. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.nixcoplumbing.com/2013/01/20/top-diy-plumbing-mistakes-that-will-cost-you/

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