DIY, or do-it-yourself, is trending these days. There are countless blogs and YouTube videos offering instructional guides on what once was kept secret by many professionals.

Now with plumbing repair costs growing higher and higher, it comes as no surprise that homeowners are considering DIY plumbing in lieu of hiring a professional plumber.

While plumbing jobs may seem simple to an onlooker, some plumbing repair jobs are best handled by the pros. With that, we will dig into the advantages and disadvantages of DIY plumbing and when it’s best to seek a professional plumber.

Pros of DIY Plumbing Repair

Money-saving

Foremost among the reasons why homeowners choose to fix their plumbing issues themselves is because plumbing bills are escalating. Materials and tools are just a small percentage of the total charges when you pay for professional plumbing services.

Gain experience

Whenever you encounter a plumbing problem, you can go online for solutions and tutorials. Plumbing work kits are readily available at your local hardware store. Further, as you encounter new challenges in plumbing and are able to fix them, you become less dependent on professional plumbing services and become an expert yourself.

Emergency repairs made easy

Plumbing emergencies can be costly if you wait too long. As you gain knowledge and experience, you become more adept at making emergency repairs. You may need to call a plumber, but being able to handle a patch job can minimize the damage and bills you will need to pay.

Cons of DIY Plumbing Repair

Time-consuming

When you pay for a professional, you are also buying yourself some time — time for work, family, and your passions. If you choose the DIY route, you will need to devote hours of your own spare time to a plumbing job, from watching tutorials to buying materials and fixing the problem yourself.

Costly

While materials are readily available at local stores, you may accidentally buy the wrong materials or ill-fitting fixtures.
Sometimes you may need to start all over again because, let’s face it, it’s always trial and error when you’re acquiring a new skill. In addition to re-dos and having to spend more on materials and tools, DIY plumbing may result in bigger plumbing problems that will end up being much more expensive.

Accidents can happen

Professional plumbers go through training and testing to acquire the knowledge and expertise required for the job. On the other hand, you may cause bigger problems by going the DIY route. This includes floods, fires, bursting water pipes, and new plumbing problems.

You can get in trouble with the law

Professional plumbers have a firm understanding of building codes, and thus are authorized to handle plumbing problems of every kind. Depending on location, some plumbing jobs may require a building consent.

When to Hire a Pro

The following plumbing jobs are best left to the expertise of professional plumbers:

● External plumbing repairs (e.g. pipes connected to major, state-owned water pipes)
● Internal plumbing repairs (e.g. plumbing problems inside walls, floors, or ceilings)
● Major plumbing renovations (e.g. adding an extra bathroom or remodeling the bath or kitchen)
● Installation and repair of sprinkler systems
● Repair of broken and frozen pipes

ECM Service – The Premier Plumbing Repair Pros

ECM provides plumbing repair services within Palm Beach County, Broward County, Martin County, and St. Lucie County. If you are having plumbing issues, our on-call emergency repair specialists are here and ready to assist you.

So if you’re in need of plumbing repairs, don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule a FREE diagnostic service call (with repair)!

Our plumbing repair experts will diagnose your problem and inform you of the issue so that you can have the issue addressed and repaired on the spot! Call us at (561) 295-1763 or contact our plumbing repairs team online by clicking here.