There are many do-it-yourself videos out there on the internet that encourage homeowners to attempt repairs themselves. Some of these repairs are very basic and easy to do but others are complicated and require training and experience to do successfully. These more complicated repairs should be done by a professional. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA would like to inform you of six plumbing repairs that you should not attempt yourself. These plumbing services can cause a lot of damages to your home if they are not done properly.
1. Flooding
There are a few reasons that cause your home to be flooded like a storm, a burst pipe, or a blocked drain. If your home floods due to a storm then you should rather contact water removal services to help you remove the excess water in your home. If the flooding is caused by a burst pipe or blocked drain then you should hire a professional to conduct plumbing services. People often think that a blockage can be removed by pouring drain cleaner down the drain but drain cleaner is made from harsh and harmful chemicals that can negatively influence the quality of your pipes. Sometimes the drain cleaner will be ineffective at removing the blockage because of where the clog is located. If the flooding is caused due to a burst pipe then you should contact a plumber immediately to repair the pipe. The longer you wait the more water will be lost and the higher your water bill will become. If you attempt to repair the burst pipe yourself then you run the risk of not sealing it properly which will cause it to leak.
2. Upgrading the Plumbing System
Your house needs certain upgrades after a few years to make sure that the house stays modern and up to date. One of these daunting upgrades can be upgrading your plumbing system. If your house and plumbing system are old then you need to hire a professional to upgrade the system for you. This is one plumbing service that you should never attempt yourself because if the right materials or methods are not used then your new plumbing system will develop problems in the near future. There are quite a few steps that go into upgrading your plumbing system. First, you need the layout of the current pipes and drains, then you have to design a new layout that is more effective than the old one. Once that is done, materials will be bought and the excavation can start. The new pipes will be installed and connected to each other as well as the water main. Then the system needs to be tested to see that there are no defects and that everything is in working condition. Once that happens, an inspector will come to make sure that the upgrades are in line with the safety codes. This is a lot of effort for a homeowner to go through thus it is best to hire a professional.
3. Gas Leaks
Gas leaks fall under the plumber’s domain when the gas line of a gas water heater is faulty. Gas leaks are dangerous and can cause health problems or fires. If you smell rotten eggs in your home and no one is cooking then that is a tell-tale sign that you have a gas leak. A gas leak is a plumbing service that should only be dealt with by professionals. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA suggests that you should evacuate your house once you smell rotten eggs. You should open windows to allow the gas to escape your house. You should call a plumber to repair the gas leak for you because they will have the required safety equipment and tools to repair the gas leak without putting anyone in danger.
4. Installations
The do-it-yourself videos on the internet make installing new plumbing features look easy but in reality, it is not that easy. You should never attempt to install a water heater yourself because a water heater needs to be connected to your water supply line as well as to your electrical system. If you are not sure about what you are doing then you can cause an electrical short or a leak. Electricity and water are also a deadly combination hence why you should always hire a professional to help you with plumbing services such as installations. This will save you a lot of money in the long run because you know things will be done properly from the start.
5. Standing Water
There are a few causes of standing water like leaky pipes, clogged drains, or damaged foundations. Sometimes it can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of standing water. Plumbers have equipment and knowledge that help them to determine what is the cause of the standing water as well as the location of the problem. If you hire a professional then you will not have to worry about researching various plumbing services to resolve the problem. You can contact a professional who will do all the hard work for you in half the time it would have taken you.
These are the five plumbing services that you should not attempt yourself. If you attempt these services then you might end up causing more damage than there originally was and in the end, you will have to hire a professional to fix all your mistakes. That is why Pilot Plumbing & Drain suggests hiring a professional from the start. Pilot Plumbing & Drain in Vancouver, WA has a wide range of plumbing services that will be able to resolve any problem you might encounter.
If you are in need of a professional plumber then contact Pilot Plumbing & Drain today for an appointment.
