Common plumbing mistakes
October 10th, 2022
If you’re a homeowner, you’ll face a plumbing problem at some point, whether it’s a clogged pipe or something more serious like a flood. To limit the damage as much as possible, it is necessary to know what to do and what to avoid. This article will give you information on the most common plumbing mistakes.
Repairs done too quickly
It is sometimes easy to think that everyone can improvise as a plumber. Jumping into a plumbing job in a hurry is never very safe. The most common error in the field is simple and may seem obvious, but it is forgetting to turn off the water. If you think you need to shut off the water, don’t take any chances. If you have the slightest doubt, as a precaution, it is always better to turn off the water. It can be the difference between a sudden deluge and a more peaceful repair. Too often, due to lack of experience, it still happens too often that a pipe is unscrewed without the water inlet being closed.
Forgetting to disconnect your pipes in winter
When it comes to destructive indoor flooding, many are caused by frozen pipes that have burst. It is therefore an item on your list to prepare your house for winter that should not be overlooked. It is essential to disconnect your garden hoses and, if you have a separate control, cut off the water supply from the outside taps. A frozen pipe has a high chance of bursting since water expands when it freezes, and the pipes are not designed to accommodate this pressure. This simple oversight can lead to water damage that could destroy the basement. This type of flooding severely alters floors, walls and equipment. In addition, if you are not at home when the pipe breaks and the leak is discovered much later, the bill could be very high. It is therefore a simple and quick gesture to save you a lot of hassle. It’s best to do this before the first big freeze, so check the weather in your area.
Use of chemicals to unclog pipes
Products designed to maintain and unclog drains often contain very harsh chemicals that are not to be taken lightly. Used improperly, they can do more harm than good. The pipes can be quite fragile, and the harsh chemicals can eat away at the pipe, whether it is made of metal or PVC. If the toilet or sink pipe clogs repeatedly, it is better to use a traditional unblocker or call a professional rather than pouring chemicals again which could damage your pipes.
Being overconfident about your skills
Too often, homeowners feel like they need to be able to fix anything and everything in their home. However, not all types of plumbing problems can be taken care of by do-it-yourselfers. So, take an honest look at your skills and if you believe the problem needs to be fixed by professionals, don’t hesitate to pick up the phone. It’s easy to think that fixing everything yourself will save you money. However, it is possible that due to lack of experience, the problem will worsen rather than be resolved and at that time the bill will be much higher. All interventions involving the disconnection of main pipes, or which require work on hidden pipes in the walls or floors, or the reorganization of the plumbing in your bathroom, require the expertise of a plumber experimented.
Never take chances and call in the professionals if you think you can’t fix a plumbing problem. They will be happy to come to your rescue.
