Plumbing systems are often simple in operation. This is why many people look at their plumbing issues and only see nothing more than a few pipes and faucets. Because of this, many homeowners think that they can merely buy a few tools, read up How-To articles, and fix the problem by themselves.

However, despite its rather simple-looking appearance, plumbing emergencies are best left for professionals who are trained to fix issues without causing more problems. Without proper training and tools, keep in mind that simple issues can quickly escalate to disasters.

In this article, we will share four reasons you should stop fixing plumbing issues by yourself and work with a professional plumber instead:

You Can Flood Your Home

One particularly common mistake made by homeowners is forgetting to turn off the main line before performing the plumbing repairs. Many people don’t realize it until they’ve removed a faucet or dislodged a pipe. The danger of flooding their home becomes real when homeowners realize that they don’t even know where the water shut-off is.
If you live in a separate house and lot, it’s relatively easy to locate your main water shut-off line. However, if you live in a shared building where multiple tenants depend on one line, it’s best to leave the repairs to your property owner or the respective emergency plumber.

You Can Break Your Pipes

While plumbing systems can look simple at first, keep in mind that they are actually under lots of pressure. Aside from supplying your home with clean water and getting rid of the waste, your pipes and faucets are also the only piece that’s keeping water from flooding your home.
For this reason, you should never try to dislodge or replace a pipe by yourself. This is especially true for older homes with worn-out pipes, which can be fragile after years of use. Attempting to fix a problem of this scale could easily turn a small issue into a plumbing emergency, which you will need a plumber for.

You Can Wrongly Use Harsh Chemicals

Even a simple problem like a clog can be exacerbated by trying to repair it yourself. Common home solutions, such as snakes or augers, can be ineffective and damaging when used by inexperienced hands. However, perhaps the most dangerous home remedy for clogged drains is chemical drain cleaners.
Most commercially-available chemical cleaners use a highly corrosive chemical called sodium hydroxide, which can cause skin and lung irritation if improperly handled. While these cleaners can be effective at dissolving particles, they can also damage pipes due to corrosion. Despite that, the biggest danger is to the environment because at high enough concentration in the water, sodium hydroxide can even harm aquatic life.

You Can Incur Additional Costs

Most homeowners often try to fix plumbing issues by themselves to save on costs. Unfortunately, any cost that you could have saved would easily be eaten up by added costs due to faulty repairs. Besides, know that handling plumbing issues correctly requires ample resources. Depending on the nature of your problem, the cost of acquiring professional plumbing tools can easily overshadow the cost of hiring an expert plumber.

Conclusion

Due to natural wear and tear, plumbing problems are inevitable over time. The only way to avoid them long-term is by having repairs done correctly in the first place without causing additional damage. Likewise, the only real way to do this is by hiring a professional plumber near you.
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24 Hour Plumbing and Heating caters to any plumbing emergency in Calgary, Alberta. With our 20 years of experience in this industry, we have a quality advantage over the competition that allows us to address any plumbing issues. Get in touch with us today to see how we can help!