Knowing how to conduct simple repairs in your own home can save you money while also giving you the satisfaction of caring for your home on your own. But it’s important to know what your limits are when it comes to home repairs. While some people might be able to handle many different types of repairs, other people might be a bit less handy. Regardless of your skill level, there are specific jobs the average homeowner shouldn’t attempt on their own. Here’s a list of 3 types of plumbing repairs that anyone can do themselves and three more that you should never try on your own.
Simple DIY Plumbing Repairs
A lot of simple plumbing issues can be fixed by even a novice DIYer. Here are three simple repairs most homeowners can handle:
- Leaky faucets – A deteriorated O ring most often causes this issue. You can find videos on how to do this repair in many places online.
- Leaks at pipe joints – simply tightening the fittings can usually repair a leak at the joint in your pipes.
- Running toilets – You can usually fix a toilet that stops running by replacing the flapper, adjusting the flush handle chain, or adjusting the fill height on the float.
Plumbing Repairs for Professionals Only
No matter how confident you might feel in your ability to repair a leaky faucet, there are many plumbing repairs that only a trained professional should do. Doing these jobs wrong can spell disaster, including burst pipes and severe water damage in your home. Here are three kinds of plumbing repairs that nobody but a trained plumber should handle:
- Clearing a clogged sewer line – Sure, you can remove a clogged drain or toilet, but a clogged sewer line is an entirely different beast. It will impact your entire plumbing system and can result in sewage backing up onto your property. It takes specialized equipment to clear these pipes, so keep that plumbing snake in the garage and call a professional.
- Handling burst pipes – If your pipes have already burst, the time for DIY repairs has passed. Shut off your water immediately and call an emergency plumber. It isn’t something you want to fiddle around with, so let a professional fix it as quickly as possible.
- Replacing the water heater – While some people might be comfortable with simple repairs on their water heaters, you shouldn’t try to replace them yourself. Water heaters not only rely on plumbing but either gas or electricity as well. These are components you don’t want to mess with, so let a pro do it.
If you have one of the problems above, look for a professional to handle your plumbing repair in Sacramento, and don’t attempt to do it yourself.