Mistake #1
Flushing the Wrong Things Down the Toilet

We often find that people flush things down the toilet, like feminine hygiene products or non-flushable baby wipes. Houses with children and teenagers tend to be most likely to have things down the toilet that will cause a blockage, especially when they try to flush toys. A bad enough clog could require removal of the entire toilet to reach the blockage.

Mistake #2
Overuse of Drain Cleaners

While drain cleaners are a quick and easy way to clean a clog, becoming too reliant on them can cause problems with pipes over time as the drain cleaners will begin eating through the pipes. A better alternative is a solution of baking soda and vinegar and then running hot water down the drain after. Or a plumber’s drain snake is a good choice too, especially for larger clogs.

Mistake #3
Over-Tightening Connections

In many situations outside of plumbing, tighter is better. But when it comes to your pipes and fittings, tighter is not better. Over-tightening pipes, couplings, or elbows can cause a crack in the fitting. This could potentially lead to leaks and maybe even flooding weeks later after the part has been tightened.

Mistake #4
Having the Wrong Tools for the Job

It’s very important to have the exact plumbing tool needed for whatever you are trying to fix. If you do have the tools, make sure you’re using the right one, such as a Phillips head screwdriver vs. a flathead screwdriver. That said, plumbers can spend thousands of dollars over the years acquiring specialized tools. If you don’t have the specialized tools for a job that a plumber has, it can often be cheaper to hire a plumber right away rather than attempting to fix it with the wrong tools.

Mistake #5
Failure to Turn Off the Water

Many homeowners either don’t know how to shut off the water, or start a project and forget, or some don’t know where their water shutoff is in the first place. Failure to shut off the water can potentially cause flooding for a lot of plumbing projects. Make sure you shut off the water for your DIY plumbing project.

Mistake #6
Forcing A Stuck Shut-Off Valve

Just like over-tightening can be damaging, so can forcing a stuck shut-off valve. When struggling with a stuck valve, you could break off the knob or snap the valve stem. This will cause even more problems.

To fix a stuck shut-off valve, you can try using an adjustable wrench that will allow you to loosen the stem nut just a small amount. That may help it unstick so you can turn the knob. Just retighten the stem nut when your plumbing project is over.

Mistake #7
Forgetting How to Put a Faucet Back Together

It’s very common for a homeowner to take a faucet apart and then forget how to put it back together. Parts start looking the same to those that are unfamiliar with plumbing projects. A good way to keep track of your parts is to take photos of the project in stages as you take it apart. This will help remind you how to put it back together again later.

Mistake #8
Not Following Local Building Codes

Many Do-It-Yourselfers don’t know their local building codes for plumbing and this can cause problems for a homeowner in the future when they decide to sell their home or update their homeowner’s insurance. This may cause a person to have to spend time and money re-doing their project later, or could cause dangerous conditions in the home.

Mistake #9
Not Knowing Your Limits

Sometimes it’s challenging to know when a project is beyond your skill level. Try asking yourself what exactly will be involved in finishing the project. Planning the project in detail, in advance may tell you whether this is something you can do yourself or if you need to call a professional. You may start doing research on a project and realize in the process of research that it’s outside of your skill level. In that case, call a plumbing professional.

Conclusion

If a mistake does happen, call the professional DFW plumbers at Jerry’s Plumbing and Heating. You’ll get no judgment from us. Mistakes happen and everyone wants to save money so folks will often try to fix things themselves. If a project does fall apart, call us right away and we’ll get you sorted out.