DIY vs. Professional Plumber: a recommended list of tasks to avoid

What should a homeowner NOT try to do themselves?

This is for all your DIYers out there! Listen, we feel for you. We’ve all been where you are, determined to figure out something you never tried before. We understand how accomplishing a goal while saving money and learning something new is a rush! But… we have to know our limits, and they usually center around safety.

We’ve been to many homes where either the owner tried to fix something themselves without proper knowledge or tools, or their neighbor popped over to help, or they hired a handy man, or some combination of the three. Then throw in some YouTube videos, and more often than not you got yourself a hot mess. And just for the record, we love YouTube videos too! You can find a whole lot of information on pretty much anything you want, but it can be hard to know what’s accurate and what’s a load of bullfeathers.

Here’s a list of the tasks we recommend you leave to the licensed and INSURED professionals, because the risk is greater than any possible savings.

• Sewer Main - Problems with the main sewer line can be complex and mathematical (seriously-there is a math formula to make sure you have proper pitch to the drain lines for the length of the house so that everything flows out!), and require specialized equipment and expertise to diagnose and repair. Trying to fix these issues without proper knowledge and tools can lead to further damage and costly repairs. Most people don’t want to deal with poo and go to great lengths to avoid it, but it is still important that homeowners leave this to a professional plumber instead of a handy man.
• Gas Line Repairs - Y’all, if you mess this up you can DIE, simple as that. Repairing gas lines is extremely dangerous and should only be done by licensed and insured professionals. Any mistakes can result in gas leaks, fires, or explosions. It’s crucial to leave this type of work to trained professionals who have the necessary skills, tools and safety equipment.
• Water Heater Installation/Repair - Most people don’t want to DIY their gas water heaters because of the safety concerns of potential carbon monoxide poisoning due to faulty venting, but we know lots of folks DIY their electric water heaters. Generally they slap them in with some quick connect lines, and don’t bring it up to code or install an expansion tank. Incorrect installation or repair of an electric water heater can lead to leaks and electrical hazards. When it comes down to risk versus reward, the risks are just too high.
• Broken/Frozen Pipes - Burst pipes can cause significant water damage to your home. If it happens, shut off your water supply immediately, and if you don’t know how or it’s after hours you can call your utility company to shut it off. People may think a burst is just one specific spot on a pipe, and you can make a spot repair. However, the splits/freeze often happen in a line along the length of the pipe, so you would need major replacement, if not an entire repipe. Often the pipes are too brittle to make a repair connection (when you cut it and it keeps crumbling or breaking), so you need an entire repipe. This is usually a complex and labor-intensive task, and if you don’t have every last fitting correctly installed you can flood your home in one big burst, or maybe leave a leaking fitting hiding in a wall somewhere to slowly drip and create an issue that won’t be discovered for six months. We feel it’s best left to a licensed and insured plumber.
• Slab leak repair - Slab leaks are when pipes beneath the concrete slab foundation of a house crack or break. This usually happens from wearing over time, often due to a lack of protection against the concrete. First, when this happens it is usually best to call out a leak detection company so they can pinpoint the break, since the alternative is just breaking up that slab til you find it. Repairing slab leaks often requires specialized equipment to break through the slab (jackhammers and concrete saws!), making it a job for insured professional.
• Water pressure regulator installation or adjustment - The water pressure coming off the meters at the street can get as high as 120psi, which can be very hard on your home since pipes, fixtures and appliances are meant to be kept at 60psi-80psi. Improperly adjusting water pressure can lead to leaks, burst pipes, or damage to appliances. In addition, if you try to rebuild this valve, there is a spring inside that is coiled at high intensity and can seriously hurt you if released.

Our goal with this list is to inform you of the potential risks so you can make the best decision for you and your home. If it comes down to cost savings, perhaps this would a good time to check out available financing options (for example, we offer third party financing through Service Finance, but maybe your personal credit card is offering a promotional APR, or your bank has a Home Equity Line of Credit option). In the end, it comes down to risk versus reward, and unless you have the tools and knowledge, please let the licensed and INSURED professionals take on these tasks, and the liability too. There are many, many things we can do in our homes, but safety is our priority for you and your family!