Plumbing Repairs You Should Never Attempt on Your Own | San Antonio, TX
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There may be YouTube videos and blogs out there that encourage you to take a DIY approach to your plumbing repair needs. These posts may make plumbing jobs seem straightforward and easy to tackle. Even if you’re brave enough to try to handle some projects yourself, there are certain plumbing repairs you should always leave to the professionals.
Gas Leak Repairs
If you suspect a gas leak, treat it as an emergency. Not only should you not try to resolve this plumbing repair yourself, but you should involve several experts. Evacuate the home, with all occupants including pets, immediately. Do not switch on any electrical devices or lights as you leave. Next, call your local plumber and tell them you suspect a gas leak. You should also call your gas company and inform them you suspect a gas leak.
Gas leaks are extremely dangerous. An explosion can occur and injure or kill people nearby. You will need to contact a certified plumber who has gas expertise and can identify and resolve the problem for you.
Frozen Pipes
Depending on what kind of climate you live in, frozen pipes may be a regular winter occurrence. Your instincts may tell you to simply pour hot water over the frozen pipes to allow the water to run through them again, but this is the last thing you should do.
Frozen pipes have a high risk of bursting due to the increased pressure build-up in the pipes. When a pipe bursts, it can cause significant damage to your home and piping system. If you have frozen pipes, you should turn off your water supply. Next, call a plumber for consultation. In some cases, the pipes will thaw naturally and be safe to use, but some cases will require plumbing repair.
Rerouting Pipes
So, you’ve started to remodel your kitchen or bathroom, and decide you want to move the sink. Rerouting pipes is a very complicated process and almost impossible to do successfully as a non-professional. Only a plumber can safely reroute your pipes. They also can securely seal off a plumbing line so that pipes don’t burst during the renovation process.
Clogged or Damaged Sewer Pipe
If you’re noticing some issues with your sewage system, do not try to make this a DIY plumbing repair project. The sewer pipe system for your home is quite complicated and plays a crucial role in the entire house. If you try to attempt these fixes on your own, you can likely end up doing more damage that has serious (and expensive) consequences.
Additionally, it’s incredibly difficult to access your sewer pipes. It usually requires some serious machinery to get to your sewer pipes.
If you try to unclog a sewer line and you accidentally cause a sewage backup, it can have devastating consequences. A sewage backup can result in biological waste or toxins in your drinking water or a buildup of noxious odors in the home, both of which are dangerous to your health.
Install a New Water Heater
The average cost of a water heater is $875 but can get as high as $2,000. Your water heater is an investment and can last as long as eight to 12 years if it’s installed correctly and maintained well. Do not risk your hefty investment by attempting to install it yourself. Need further convincing? Imagine boiling water splashing, or worse yet, exploding onto you as you attempt installation!
Water heater installation usually only takes a plumber between two to three hours. Leave it to the professionals to ensure your new, expensive appliance works as it should.
Extending Water Lines
If you purchase a new appliance that requires you to extend a water line, always call a professional. Extending water lines requires proper water pressure to be maintained throughout the entire installation process.
Additionally, you will want to make sure you’re adhering to plumbing codes. When you attempt DIY plumbing repairs, you’re risking your home insurance. If you need to file an insurance claim that is plumbing related, the insurance company may deny your claim if they find out that you didn’t hire a professional. It’s simply not worth the risk.
Low Water Pressure
Low water pressure sounds like a simple problem that you can tackle yourself. However, low water pressure can be a result of a multitude of underlying causes. And, you may have a plumbing emergency on your hands without realizing it. Calling in a plumber for your low water pressure allows them to accurately diagnose the cause and provide plumbing repair services if necessary. Don’t ignore the warning signs and call a plumber before your small problem turns into a catastrophe.
Why You Should Leave Plumbing Repair to the Professionals
Plumbers are certified and trained in their profession. It can take up to four or five years to complete the schooling and apprenticeship required to be a plumber. And, even after all this, it’s the hands-on experience that makes a plumber great at their job. Your YouTube video with step-by-step instructions simply can’t compete with the work of a professional. A DIY plumbing mistake can end up costing you up to four times the price of calling a plumber.
And, don’t forget that your home insurance may be void if you cannot provide receipts for professional services when filing a plumbing related claim.
Our advice is to skip the effort, frustrations, and mistakes, and go straight to the professionals.
bluefrog Plumbing + Drain in San Antonio, TX for all Your Plumbing Repairs
The bluefrog Plumbing + Drain of San Antonio, TX, has been providing high-quality plumbing services to its local communities for years. bluefrog Plumbing + Drain provides services in drain cleaning, water heater repairs and installations (including tankless water heaters), sewer and water line inspections, water softeners, emergency plumbing, sump pumps, and gas line repairs. Call today for a free diagnostic with paid repair!
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