Should plumbing repairs ever be a Do-It-Yourself project? Well, it some cases it might be alright. For instance, perhaps you have a clog that is close to the surface of your sink drain and you can just relieve it on your own with nothing more than a sink plunger and a little bit of elbow grease.
So sure, we do encourage “DIYers” in some cases, but definitely not all. When it comes you’re your plumbing, it may be unsafe to try to handle things on your own, as you can wind up doing more harm than good to your plumbing system and possibly even leave yourself susceptible to more problems in the future. We advise that for trickier problems, you contact a professional Palatine, IL plumber.
Drain Clogs
Why shouldn’t you handle deep drain clogs on your own? After all, they’re easily resolved with some store-bought chemical drain cleaners, right? Well, that’s only part of the story. Yes, drain clogs can temporarily be relieved by that bottle of liquid drain cleaner you picked up from the store. But the chemicals used in these solutions do more than eat through a clog, they eat through your pipes eventually, too.
Additionally, they don’t effectively remove the clog, so you may find yourself facing the same exact problem a few months later to no avail. If your clog can’t be removed with a plunger or a homemade cleaning solution of baking soda and vinegar (also great for cleaning your garbage disposal!) then calling a professional for drain snaking or hydro-jetting is your next best step.
Water Pressure Decline
Low water pressure may have a simple solution, depending on what is causing it. Sometimes, is as simple as removing the aerator from the affected faucet or tap (a small screen at the end of the opening) and cleaning it out. But this is usually only an appropriate fix when the water pressure is only impacting one tap in your household.
If your whole home has had a sudden or gradual drop in water pressure, then something more sinister may be going on. Perhaps you have a clog or obstruction deep down in the sewer line that requires professional drain cleaning or repair. Or you could have a leak somewhere in your plumbing system, allowing water to escape behind a wall or beneath your property.
If you notice a drop in water pressure and it’s not resolved by cleaning out your aerators, then it’s time to give our pros a call.
When DIY Plumbing Goes Wrong
As we alluded to above, there are some simple repairs and plumbing jobs that an experienced DIYer can handle. Perhaps it’s tightening a nut when a sink is dripping or a drain is leaking form a joint. However, many DIY projects go wrong, and you can end up paying for your initial attempt at repairing the issue and a follow up visit from a pro to effectively resolve the issue.
Don’t wait too long to call in a pro once you feel the problem has gone beyond what your capabilities allow. There may be plenty of “how-to” videos on the internet, but without the right training and experience, there are a number of things that can go wrong.
For expert plumbing service, installations, or maintenance contact Reliance Plumbing Sewer & Drainage, Inc. Our knowledgeable plumbers serve the North Shore and Northwest Chicago suburbs. Rely on Reliance!