You may be someone who has absolutely no understanding of anything related to plumbing. Or perhaps you know enough to make small fixes without having to call a plumber or watch a YouTube tutorial
Knowing which problems you can fix yourself and which ones require professional help is important. Let’s look at some DIY plumbing you can do with the tools you have at home, and what issues you should leave up to the professional plumber Brisbane has to offer.
What Plumbing Issues Can You Solve Yourself with DIY Repairs?
Lose Pipe Clamps
Lose pipe clamps are fairly simple to repair yourself. Most times you may have to go to your local hardware store and purchase the right clamp for the pipe you’re trying to fasten, which means you’ll need to take the old one along with you.
Once you have the right clamp, it’s a simple matter of fastening it to the pipe and tightening it. This will solve your low water pressure at that particular tap, and stop any leaks that may have been occurring
Minor Blockages
A blocked drain can show itself in your toilet, your sinks, or your shower. These are often not too serious and can be unblocked by you using a plunger. Simply grab a plunger or buy one from your nearest hardware store. Then use the plunger to unblock your drain
This only works in situations where there is a build-up of items in your drain that need to be unblocked. Once the obstructions have been removed, you can simply flush or run water and wash away the gunk
Loose Valves and Bolts
Valves and bolts keep your pipes and taps in place. Keeping these fastened is essential for using them properly and preventing wear and tear. These valves can be easily tightened using a plumbers’ wrench, a tool that can be purchased at most hardware stores. Some bolts and a select few valves can also be tightened using a regular spanner of the right size
What Plumbing Issues are Best Left to the Professionals?
Water Leaks
Water leaks often point to a much more serious problem in your overall plumbing network. A leaking toilet could mean a blocked drain, but it could also mean that the toilet is not functioning properly, or that a pipe is cracked or chipped somewhere. In fact, leaks can occur in all kinds of places in your home, and the causes vary depending on where the leak is and how severe it seems
This is one of those problems best left to a professional plumber. If left unchecked, these leaks often become worse over time. If you see a leak somewhere and can’t immediately see what the cause is, get your local plumber on the phone
Water Heaters
Water heaters and solar geysers are complicated apparatuses that require expert knowledge to repair and/or maintain. Don’t attempt to fiddle with your water heater unless you are highly familiar with how it works. It’s best to call a professional who understands these heaters if yours is acting up in some way
Pipe Noises
Noises in your ceiling like whistling or creaking could indicate a range of different problems. If you’re not experienced in professional plumbing, this is not a problem you should try to solve yourself. Creaking pipes or strange, loud whistling sounds are not problems to ignore either. Chat to a plumber and ask them to come out to inspect your plumbing network to identify where the problem lies
Severe Blockage
A common problem in Australia is tree root growth that extends into your drain and causes blockage that can’t be solved with a simple plunger. The problem with these roots is that they not only block your drain, but also trap items you may have flushed down your toilet or sink. This just makes the blockage worse. Specialised machine tools are used to remove these roots from your drain, and only plumbers own these tools
A long coil is fed down your drain and this coil is attached to a machine. The machine runs and compresses the coil, trapping as many roots as it can into itself. The professional plumber then force-pulls the coil out and removes the roots from the coil. These roots often contain a lot of sewerage and dirt along with all the items that didn’t flush down your toilet. Not exactly a job for a regular homeowner!
Final Thoughts
As you can see, some plumbing issues can be easily solved through DIY methods. Many of the tools you need are available in stores, allowing you to save money and solve these problems yourself
But many of the plumbing issues that occur in a home do require a professional touch. Find a plumber in your area that is fully licensed and insured, and one that offers a warranty on their work. Also choose a plumber that comes fully equipped with all the tools or machines they need to effectively solve your plumbing problem.