The Dangers Of DIY Plumbing Repair

Home Water Damage

As a homeowner, it's important to know how to repair small leaks in your plumbing system, so you don't have to pay for expensive repairs down the road. But if you don't know what you're doing, fixing small leaks can lead to major flooding problems in your basement or other areas of your home. This is especially true if you're working on an older house with galvanized pipes and fittings. These types of pipes are more prone to corrosion and may leak because they weren't designed for today's water pressure levels (which are much higher than those used when these systems were first installed). A professional plumber will use their expertise to determine the cause of your leak and ensure that it's properly fixed so that it doesn't happen again.

Beneath the Toilet

Another common DIY plumbing repair mistake is failing to check beneath the toilet before attempting any toilet repair or replacement project. This is important because many pipes and wires are running beneath your toilet that can be damaged by improper installation or removal of the toilet from its base.

Around Drains

One of the most common DIY plumbing repairs is attempting to fix a clogged drain. While you may be able to clear the blockage yourself, you should never attempt to cut out the damaged section of the pipe and replace it yourself. If you do so, you can seriously damage your pipes and cause serious leaks.

Around Dishwasher Plumbing

Another common DIY plumbing repair is replacing the drain hose on your dishwasher. While this is an easy fix, it can cause other problems if done incorrectly because it involves working with hot water lines under pressure during operation.

If you notice that your dishwasher is leaking water onto the floor or has strange noises coming from it, contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing as soon as possible for emergency service in order to avoid further damage or injury from hot water exposure.

Hazards To Your Safety

If you're a do-it-yourselfer in plumbing, you likely save money and cut down on the time you spend waiting for a plumber in Mckeesport, PA. But all that saving comes at a cost: your safety.

Unfortunately, DIY plumbing repairs can lead to serious injury or property damage if not done correctly. That's because these projects involve working with water pressure and caustic chemicals, which can cause serious burns if they come in contact with your skin. Additionally, improperly installed fittings can leak or break, causing major flooding and electrical hazards.

For example, using a caustic cleaner on your pipes could cause burns or damage your skin. If the chemicals in the cleaner aren't properly mixed and they splash on you, it could cause serious chemical burns. Also, if the pipes are corroded or deteriorated, they could break while being worked on and injure someone.

Damaged Plumbing Components

If you try to do your own plumbing repair and don't know what you're doing, you could damage or even destroy your pipes and other plumbing components throughout your house. This means that not only will the project be more expensive than anticipated (because replacing damaged parts costs more), but it'll also take longer than expected to complete because you'll have to replace all those damaged pieces of equipment before repairing them again properly.

Improper Plumbing Repairs

Improper plumbing repairs can cause many problems, from water leaks to clogged drains. The most common mistake is over-tightening connections. This can cause the pipes to burst, resulting in water damage and costly repairs. Overtightening also causes the pipe threads to wear out faster than normal, so you’ll need to replace them more often.

Overtightening Connections

Overtightening connections can cause leaks and damage pipes over time. Pipes are made with a certain amount of flexibility to expand and contract as necessary without breaking. If you overtighten them, then this flexibility is lost, and it becomes more likely for them to leak or break over time.

Using Caustic Cleaners

Using harsh chemicals like drain cleaners may be tempting, but they can cause more harm than good. These products are designed to dissolve grease and other buildup in your pipes, but they can also corrode the metal, causing leaks or bursting your pipes. Using these chemicals frequently could lead to expensive repairs down the road when they begin to break down your pipes.

Forcing Stuck Valves

Valves are designed to open and close easily so that water flows freely through them when needed. If your valve is stuck or jammed shut, it needs professional help from an emergency plumber. Trying to force it open by banging on it with a hammer will only make things worse because you risk damaging the valve's operating mechanism or breaking off pieces of metal inside it.

Installing Improper Fittings

When you're trying to connect two pieces of PVC, CPVC, ABS, or other types of plastic pipe together, it's best to use fittings that match the type of pipe you're working with. If you use a PVC fitting on an ABS pipe and then try to use glue or tape to hold them together, for example, the connection will probably come apart pretty quickly.

Contact Mr. Rooter Plumbing

As you can see, there are many dangers associated with DIY plumbing repair. DIY repairs may put your home and family at risk of devastating water damage. Rather than taking these risks, leave your repairs to a professional plumber.