Common DIY Plumbing Mistakes to Avoid

Whether it’s locating a burst pipe, unblocking a drain or a sealing a dripping tap, there are a few things you need to keep in mind to make sure you’re not causing more problems for yourself down the track. However, some jobs are simply best left to the professionals. Gas leaks, faulty hot water systems or a leaking roof can be downright dangerous to attempt alone.

Blocked drains

Blocked drains can be a nightmare, whether it’s your shower drain, external sewers or storm-water drains. DIY-ers often attempt to dislodge any blockages with mops or hoses, but this can lead to bigger problems if the mop head or hose fitting becomes stuck. Even worse, using hydro jet equipment to clear blocked drains is not only dangerous, but it can cause further damage to your pipes and drains. Power drain cleaning equipment should only be operated by a trained, qualified plumber who will understand the likely routing of your concealed underground drains.

If you’d like to tackle a blocked drain yourself, make sure to invest in the correct equipment; a pole-mounted plunger from a specialist plumbing supply store often does the trick. Even a small one can be worth having on hand for those minor blockages in the kitchen or bathroom sink. If the problem can’t be fixed with a plunger, call in a professional to take a look.

Leaking taps

Leaking taps or fixtures can not only be annoying, but they can lead to thousands of litres of precious water wasted. The biggest mistake made by DIY-ers when it comes to leaking taps is failing to remove all pieces of a disintegrated washer or jumper when removing the tap body. This small error can allow debris to be flushed further into the supply pipe, causing additional flow restrictions. Further, this debris could then get caught in the new washers, causing damage to the washers and leading the tap to leak all over again.

When repairing a leaking tap yourself, make sure you turn off all the water to the building before you begin, remove all pieces of disintegrated washer or jumper, and either replace or clean the “O” ring and clean the spindle worm drive with a wire brush and lubricate with silicone grease. If you need extra help, call in a professional plumber in Beverly Hills CA to take the lead.

Burst water pipes

Many burst water pipes involve old galvanised steel pipes that need to be taken out and replaced. It seems simple enough for a keen DIY-er; dig up the pipe, cut out the faulty section and insert a new short pipe connected with gland couplings. However, you need to take great care to prevent additional damage to the already weakened existing pipe while making the repairs. Any stress from fitting the new pipe into position can travel down the old pipe and cause concealed damage and further leaks along the underground piping.

If you’re looking to replace a pipe yourself, make sure you expose the pipe completely; over-dig if you need to allow for flooding of excess water, and try not to allow any floating debris or silt into the open cut piping system. If you’re ever in doubt, don’t hesitate to call in professional plumbing services in Beverly Hills to carry out the repair for you.