When the toilet bowl starts to overflow, or your pipes start dripping mysterious liquid, it might be tempting to try and tackle the problem yourself. But, will you be doing more harm than good? It’s a common question that every homeowner asks themselves before taking a crack at DIY plumbing.
While a quick call to your local Red Oak plumbing service can remedy the situation quickly, what can you reasonably fix without professional help? If you are ready to learn more about DIY plumbing, read on!
Ready to solve those stubborn plumbing issues quickly? The team at Dial One Plumbing, Heating & Cooling are on standby to provide quality plumbers at a fair price. Contact us today by calling 469-557-2703.
Why It’s Important to Hire a Licensed Plumber
Plumbing isn’t easy, and becoming a plumber takes years of hands-on experience and education. Not only should a plumber be well versed in a broad selection of common plumbing situations, but performing the job safely is paramount.
So to think you can handle all your plumbing problems yourself is a bit big-headed.
Often, poor plumbing choices don’t bite back for years. Everything will be fine until that shoddy pipework starts to buckle or those damaged supply lines start to leak. When this happens, you could be looking down the barrel of some seriously expensive repairs.
If you want the job done right the first time, using a licensed plumbing service is your best bet.
Know When to Call in Professional Help
It’s great to be able to handle common plumbing problems yourself. You can save on hourly labor costs and fix problems promptly. But, knowing when you’re in over your head is as important of a tool as anything else in your kit.
You can solve common problems like clogged toilets or backed-up sinks yourself with a little knowledge and the right tools. Other more serious problems, though, need the expert hand of a licensed plumber.
Small issues can turn into big headaches quickly if you don’t.
Finding the right plumber for the job isn’t as hard as you think, and having a relationship with your local Red Oak plumbing service can save you both time and money.
For the problems you can fix, knowing which tools you need to have is the first part of your DIY plumbing strategy.
Common Tools You Can Use for DIY Plumbing
A plumber relies heavily on a selection of specialty tools to get the job done. So to tackle your plumbing problems, you should probably be aware of some common tools to have at the ready, right?
If you’ve ever peeked in as your plumber seems to magically solve your issues, you’ve probably seen a few of these devices already. Thankfully, you can easily find most of them at your local hardware store or online.
While you might not be able to tackle more serious plumbing problems yourself, you can handle common repairs and emergency issues with a bit of know-how and the right tools. Just a reminder, knowing when an issue is in your wheelhouse and when to call in the professionals is half the battle.
Let’s explore some common household plumbing tools you should have on deck should a plumbing crisis crop up.
Closet Auger
A clogged toilet is by far the most common issue homeowners face when dialing up for emergency plumbing services. Tools like plungers can handle clogs effectively, but for larger blockages, you’ll need to bring in the big guns.
A closet auger, also known as a toilet auger, works by sending a retractable snake into the drain to remove the obstruction. They act in a similar way to a drain snake, but with one big difference.
Since your toilet bowl is a pretty porcelain white, even the slightest scratch can cause some unsightly scars. Closet augers have a protective plastic covering that limits contact between the bowl and the retractable snake.
They also sport a longer handle, meaning you won’t need to get so close and personal to the unsightly contents of your commode.
The truth is, if you dial up your plumber to tackle a stubborn toilet, they’ll most likely break out a closet auger. Beat them to the punch, and save on hourly labor, by having your own.
Sink Auger
A sink auger is the perfect tool for drain clogs as it winds its way through your pipes and makes quick work of the obstruction. Clogged drains are a part of life, and plenty of pesky sources make them fairly common.
Having a sink auger at the ready means you won’t need to call your local Red Oak plumbing service every time you face an overflowing sink or tub.
Sink augers are simple to use and are effective tools to handle clogged drains. A word of warning, though: you might not like what’s on the other side of the clog. Oftentimes what you pull out of your drain will make your stomach curdle.
Plungers
The trusty plunger is a stalwart toilet-side ally that is the first to heed the call of a clogged drain.
When it comes to DIY plumbing, understanding the different types of plungers can set you on the road to plumbing success. Here are the two main types of plungers you should be familiar to you:
- Flange plunger — These funny-looking plungers sport a flanged cup design that helps form an airtight seal on your toilet. This seal is essential to unclogging the pipes of a toilet.
- Cup plunger — Cup-style plungers are your everyday plungers. They are better suited for drain clogs in sinks and tubs.
Knowing which type of plunger to use is essential to effectively solve a clogged drain. Knowing how to minimize clogs in the first place is also invaluable and can save you loads of headaches down the road.
Common Mistakes You Should Avoid
Here are some common mistakes to avoid when tackling common household plumbing issues.
Clearing Clogs with Chemical Cleaners
You might think that a bottle of corrosive chemical cleaner will handle your clog with no problem. Unfortunately, you might be doing more harm than good. Chemicals are indiscriminate and can easily damage both metal and plastic pipes.
Additionally, dealing with nasty chemicals pose a significant health and safety risk. You’re much better off using a closet auger or sink auger to handle the clog.
Making Connection to Tight
You might try to overcompensate when installing fitting in an attempt to create a better seal. This, however, can do some serious damage.
The strain from an over-tightened connection can lead to cracks and ruptures in your fittings.
Forgetting the Water Shut-Off
If you want to do your own plumbing, you need to know the location of the main shut-off valve. This is step number one to any plumbing work.
If you fail or forget to turn off the water supply, prepare for a wet experience. When you go to remove your faucet or replace a connection, water will start gushing uncontrollably from the location.
This can be both embarrassing and expensive as a flooded room is not a cheap problem to handle. The worst part is that you’d be all alone since insurance claims usually don’t cover negligence.
Finding an Affordable Plumber in Red Oak, TX
You’ve got the clogs down, and if a small leak pops up, you can handle that too. But when a serious issue comes down the pipe, you need a trusted name in plumbing to have your back.
Dial One Plumbing, Heating & Cooling has the licensed professionals you need to tackle your next plumbing project. Reach out online to schedule an appointment today!
Author Bio:
Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock
Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating is now owned and operated by Sherrie Johnson-Hartsock, with his grandson, Daniel Johnson, a third-generation plumber who is also the Service Manager.