The good part of DIY plumbing work in the state of Arizona or Nevada is that you can save money and possibly even time in not having to hire a professional. The downside is that, unless you have experience in this area and have worked with plumbing before, the odds of making one of the more common DIY plumbing mistakes out there are pretty high.
Below, we offer some tips on how to avoid some of the more common DIY plumbing mistakes. However, if it’s too late and you have already made one of these mistakes, then it’s time to call a professional. Here at Ambient Edge, we’re available to help 24/7, in case you have an issue in the middle of the night that requires immediate assistance. Give us a call, and we’ll get you scheduled for service.
Forgetting to Turn Off the Water
Plumbing 101 is that you always turn off your water before attempting to work on any plumbing job. If you don’t turn the water off, you risk creating extensive water damage to the area you’re working on. If you’re working on a sink, then you may be able to shut off the water supply to the sink only by adjusting the sink’s shut-off valve.
However, if you cannot find a shut-off valve under your sink, or if you are working on another type of plumbing fixture, you should still always turn off the water to the entire house. You can typically find the main water supply valve in your basement or utility room.
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Using Duct Tape
Duct tape solves all your problems, right? Well, not when it comes to plumbing. Duct tape cannot hold water back the same way plumber’s tape can, and with all that water constantly running through a pipe, it wears away the glue of the duct tape, the duct tape comes undone, and you’re right back where you started – or worse.
Please, always use the correct plumbing materials for any project. Leave duct tape where it belongs – in the garage.
Incorrectly Using Drain Cleaner
There are two ways people most often misuse drain cleaner: they either use too much of it, or they use it in the wrong places. Too much drain cleaner can actually eat through your pipes, corroding both metal and PVC pipes. Plus, if you use drain cleaner and need to hire a professional anyway, and then forget to tell the professional you used drain cleaner, the plumber can suffer chemical burns from the drain cleaner.
As for the wrong places, many people use drain cleaner in the toilet or to clear up a washing machine clog. Most drain cleaners are safe to use on sinks, showers, and tubs. However, you don’t want to use drain cleaner in a toilet or in a washing machine pipe. This is because the chemicals are too strong and can actually damage the toilet and washing machine pipe. Go by the manufacturer’s labels to see which cleaners they recommend.
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Overtightening a Connection
You know that with plumbing, you need to secure your work or risk a potentially catastrophic flood. Unfortunately, this causes many a DIYer to overtighten his connections. Overtightening a connection, whether it’s a coupling, elbow, or tee, or even the bolts that hold the toilet to the floor, can cause the fittings or nuts to crack. The crack may not happen right away, so if you don’t hear a “crack,” you’re not necessarily in the clear. Over time, water pressure can create a serious flooding risk.
Be sure to tighten the connections, but not too tight. The rubber washers are there to provide a firm seal, so tighten it until you feel a secure connection, then let go.
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Intimidated By a Plumbing Issue? Ambient Edge Can Help!
It can be so tempting to try to fix a plumbing problem yourself. But, if you don’t do it right the first time, then you’re still going to need a professional, and you may end up spending even more money to fix what you broke. At Ambient Edge, no plumbing issue is too small. We’ll be glad to take a look if it gives our customers peace of mind.
If you have a plumbing issue with which you need assistance, fill out the contact form on our website, or give us a call. We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee on all our work and labor, and we pride ourselves on being prompt, so you don’t waste your whole day waiting for the plumber. So if you need help, don’t wait – call today!
