When Should You DIY, and When Should You Call A Plumber?

Time to Call the Plumber

A can-do, hands-on DIY ethos has been a part of the American spirit since the beginning. But sometimes, that confidence means that we just don’t know when we’re in over our heads. Could you do more damage trying to fix it yourself? When should you DIY, and when should you call a plumber?

Plumbing Projects to DIY

With a good set of hand tools, most homeowners can fix a wide number of plumbing issues around the house. For example:

  1. Unclogging a stopped-up toilet
  2. Installing showerheads and faucets in bath and sinks
  3. Unclogging drains in your shower or sink
  4. Fixing a running toilet with a new flap
  5. Repairing a leaky faucet

In some cases, you won’t have any choice but to try your hand at a repair — such as that clogged toilet or sink drain.

Show Your Skills

Experienced home DIYers can even tackle more advanced tasks with the right tools:

  1. Replacing a toilet
  2. Installing a dishwasher or garbage disposal
  3. Replacing a toilet supply hose

Preventative Maintenance You Can DIY

There are also a number of task that most homeowners can complete to maintain the integrity of their plumbing systems. These DIY plumbing tasks are pretty basic:

  1. Insulating exterior hose bibbs to prevent freezing water lines
  2. Cleaning or replacing faucet aerators
  3. Replacing broken or worn-out toilet seats

Do You Know When to Call the Pros?

In non-emergency repairs, an honest assessment of your own skills and comfort level with DIY projects is the best way to determine when to call a pro.


Ask yourself:

Do you have any experience fixing this problem?

Will it require specialist tools?

Is there a risk to health, safety, or property if you can’t complete the repair successfully?

Time to Call the Plumber

For most major repairs and renovations, it’s a good idea to call a professional plumber regardless of your confidence levels. Your plumbing is an integral part of your home’s structure, and it’s far too easy to do serious damage. You can also cause expensive damage to other systems in your home, as well.

You may even discover that a DIY fix results in serious code violations.

In these cases, just call make the call:

  1. Replacing or rerouting water or waste pipes
  2. Installing or repairing a water heater
  3. Broken pipes that result in flooding
  4. No water supply throughout the house
  5. Broken sewer lines
  6. Main line backups
  7. Sump pump failures
  8. Home renovations that involve plumbing

Don’t Take Chances When You DIY

Once you’ve realized it’s time to call in the pros, you want someone you can trust to get the job done quickly. Whether you find a drain clog you can’t reach or are looking for a bathroom renovation, you want a licensed & insured drain cleaning professional in Nashville, TN.

Make an appointment today with the expert technicians at Benjamin Franklin Plumbing in Nashville before taking on your next DIY.

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