10 Plumbing Repairs You SHOULDN’T DIY

While it may be tempting to resolve your own plumbing issues, attempting to DIY can cause more harm than good if you aren’t sure about what you’re doing. 

Sure, you can watch YouTube videos and read Wiki How to guides to get started. But many plumbing issues can be more complex than you have ever imagined. 

Remember, changing a shower head is one thing, but dealing with pipes, heaters, and clogged drains requires next-level professionalism and expertise. 

Here’s a list of 10 plumbing issues you shouldn’t DIY or try to handle on your own:

1. Hydro Jetting

Hydro jetting is a technique that uses highly pressurized water to cut grease buildup inside pipes. Because this approach uses up to 4000 PSI of water pressure, it can clear away almost every obstruction you can think of. 

Wondering whether you can do hydro jetting on your own? Short answer – NO.

Only a professional plumber will know the exact amount of water pressure needed to dislodge grease and other obstructions without causing any damage to the pipe. Also, the process involves heavy and expensive machinery. 

So,  it is definitely better to search for “hydro jetting near me” in Google instead of giving this strenuous technique a try yourself. 

2. Gas leaks

Gas leaks do not happen too often.  But they’re dangerous and can cause explosions if not handled in time.  In case you smell the rotten egg smell inside your house, make sure to evacuate it immediately and call in a professional plumber to inspect the issue. 

Never try to fix such types of issues on your own. Always hire a professional plumber, preferably someone having extensive knowledge of dealing with natural gas or leakages.                                                                                                                                                                     

3. Pipe clogs

Clogged pipes are one of the most common plumbing issues. Almost every household experiences it at some point. 

Many occupants believe that they can easily get rid of this issue by pouring soda, salt, and hot water into their drains. Some even experiment with toxic store-bought commercial cleaners to unclog their drains.

But did you know some chemical-based cleaners can dissolve your pipes?  Even if you manage to resolve this issue temporarily, the problem will likely recur.

Professional and certified plumbers have the knowledge and tools to detect the origin of the issue and remove it safely (without causing any harm to your pipes).  

4. Water heater replacement or installation

Water heaters are a long-term and pricey investment. There are two types of water heaters available in the market – storage tank heaters and tankless heaters. 

The installation cost varies depending upon the type of water heater you choose for your needs. On average, a conventional water heater installation can cost you anywhere between $300 and $1000. 

Tankless water heaters, however, are expensive to install. In fact, a standard tankless water heater installation can cost you anywhere between $1000 and $7000.  

In an attempt to save installation costs, many people try to install their water heaters on their own. 

The result?

They not only will damage their appliance but also ruin their pipelines. You don’t want that. 

Calling in a professional plumber can be the safest option, especially when there’s a lot of money involved. 

5. Flooding

Flooding is usually the result of clogged pipes. This leads residents to think that they can resolve this issue on their own by simply removing the buildup. 

But the trouble is you never know how deep the clogging might be. If you try to reach it down the pipes, you may end up damaging your expensive pipelines. This may lead to more damage and repair expenses. 

Sometimes invading tree roots can also cause flooding. Dealing with such a situation is hard and usually beyond the control of inexperienced house occupants. 

6. Standing water issues

Standing water is another common issue faced by many households. It can be due to many possible reasons – leaky pipes, clogged sewer lines, and weak or cracky foundations are to name a few. 

Whenever you experience a flooding issue in your front or back yard or any other area of your home, don’t waste your time assuming it is because of the leaky pipes or build-up. 

Call your plumber immediately, as this is a serious issue and should be fixed as quickly as possible. 

7. Rerouting or extending water lines

Are you looking to make any changes to your plumbing system? Do you want to extend your water lines or reroute them? Then you’ll need to call a professional. 

A certified plumber will inspect your house and let you know whether such modifications are feasible. Also, they have the expertise to deem if the needed changes are possible and execute them the right way. 

8. Bad odor

Bad odor is often caused by bacteria buildup in your pipes. Whatever you flush down your drains stick to the edges of the pipes, resulting in a foul smell. 

Sometimes a bad smell is also an outcome of the failure of vents. 

Regardless of the reason, you’re likely to detach pipes to clean them thoroughly. This may sound like an easy deal, but it isn’t. You may need to call in a plumber to inspect this issue and clean pipes for you if need be. 

9. Any issue that involves internal piping

Any household plumbing tasks that involve internal pipes are better left for plumbers. You will most likely open up spaces and dig deeper to reach those pipelines, which isn’t possible unless you have specialized equipment and machinery. 

10. Thawing the pipes

People living in colder regions often face the trouble of frozen pipes. Usually, this issue is resolved on its own when summer arrives.  But sometimes you may have to take it upon yourself and use a heat source to thaw those frozen pipelines. 

If you find that frozen pipes are causing a lot of trouble, make a call to a professional and let him handle this issue for you.