Soon after buying a house, homeowners learn that they’ll need to know a little bit about everything — plumbing, wiring, carpentry, landscaping — if they want to maintain their home without expert help. While it’s admirable to learn about essential home repair and maintenance, it’s not generally feasible to learn it all. Many amateur plumbers think they’ll save some money by learning how to fix a drain clog or a leaky faucet on their own, only to learn it’s much harder than they thought. In some cases, homeowners attempt plumbing fixes and end up causing damage that costs them big-time.
At Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating, we want homeowners to feel empowered to attempt plumbing fixes on their own. At the same time, our plumbers see a lot of cases where a homeowner ends up spending a ton of money just to undo problems that they caused. For this reason, it’s best to call a professional Red Oak plumber when you notice an issue. If you do decide to attempt a DIY fix, it’s important to know what common mistakes to avoid. Keep reading to learn about four plumbing mishaps that can end up costing you.
Home plumbing issues? Dial One Johnson is here to help. Whether you’re dealing with a leaky faucet or clogged drain, need pipes replaced or appliances installed, we’ve got you covered. Contact us online to schedule service today.
1. Using Chemical-Based Drain Cleaners
When a toilet won’t flush, most people’s go-to solution is the plunger. Using a plunger can clear superficial toilet clogs, and when used correctly, it’s totally safe for both the user and their toilet. When it comes to DIY plumbing, the trouble often starts when the plunger fails to fix the problem. In a frantic attempt to get the water to drain, some homeowners turn to chemical drain cleaners. This is a big mistake.
Pipe Corrosion and Damage
Before you empty a bottle of chemical drain cleaner or clog remover down your sink, tub or toilet, consider this: chemical drain cleaners contain strong acids designed to eat through hair, grease and more. If they can eat through a clog that your plunger couldn’t remove, what else can chemical drain cleaners eat through? Unfortunately, they can corrode or damage the very pipes they’re supposed to clear.
If you use chemical drain cleaners regularly, you’ve got a couple problems on your hands: 1) the root cause of your clogged drains or pipes is not being addressed and 2) you’re causing serious damage to your plumbing. Over time, chemical drain cleaners eat away at pipes, weakening them until they leak or break. When that happens, repairs won’t cut it — you’ll need professional pipe replacement. Although Dial One Johnson is happy to provide pipe replacement and installation services, we’re pretty sure you’d rather avoid it.
Health Hazards
Chemical drain cleaners aren’t just bad for your pipes and fixtures — they’re bad for human and environmental health. Many drain cleaners are essentially poison, and they are extremely dangerous when swallowed, inhaled or touched. For people concerned about the serious side effects of coming into contact with drain cleaner, the risks just aren’t worth it.
In addition to endangering human health, chemical drain cleaners can harm the environment. Wastewater doesn’t just disappear — it has to drain somewhere. In many cases, a home’s wastewater travels through a community sewer system and into a wastewater treatment facility. Treated wastewater is then released into local waterways where it’s used again for many purposes. Despite treatment, hazardous chemicals can end up in local waterways and drinking sources.
2. Keeping Water on in an Emergency
Believe it or not, keeping the water on during a plumbing emergency is a common mistake that many homeowners make. This can cause devastating damage. When water is overflowing, leaking or spraying, the very first thing you should do is turn off the water supply. Primary water sources like sinks and toilets will have a specific shut-off valve. If a pipe bursts, you’ll have to find your house’s main shut-off valve.
Too many homeowners make the mistake of leaving the water supply on while they attempt a quick fix, such as a valve or fixture replacement. They don’t realize that allowing water to run for even 30 minutes can result in extensive water damage and create the conditions for dangerous mold growth and pest infestations. That’s why the first thing you should do, even before calling an emergency plumber, is turn off the water supply.
3. Hiring a Plumbing Handyman
Your cousin Larry might be an excellent home repairman, but that doesn’t necessarily make him qualified to fix complex plumbing issues. Yet time and time again, we see plumbing disasters that were made so much worse because a homeowner opted for a handyman instead of a professional plumber.
We get it — cousin Larry’s rates are cheap, and you’re low on cash. Finances often play a critical role in whether someone calls a professional plumber. However, when you call Dial One Johnson, you don’t have to choose between quality service and affordable service. We want everyone in the Red Oak community, regardless of income, to get the quality plumbing services they deserve. That’s why we keep our prices low and offer multiple financing options that allow homeowners to get the repairs they need without paying a dime upfront.
4. Ignoring a Plumbing Issue
Among the worst mistakes that homeowners make is the decision to ignore the problem. For new homeowners, keeping up with home repairs can feel like constantly putting out fires. When a plumbing issue isn’t a full-blown problem, it may get put on the backburner. However, when you ignore a plumbing issue, it doesn’t go away or even stay the same size — it gets bigger.
At Dial One Johnson Plumbing, Cooling & Heating, we’re committed to providing the Red Oak community with the best plumbing services possible. That’s why we encourage our customers to schedule regular plumbing maintenance and repairs when they notice a problem. Whether you prefer to perform DIY plumbing fixes or to hire a professional, our plumbers are here when you need advice, an assessment, repairs and replacements. Contact us online to schedule service for all of your plumbing and HVAC needs.
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.