When You Shouldn't You Do Your Own Plumbing
Sweat equity is important when you are trying to complete home improvements on a tight budget. It is even more important now for people who owe more money on their mortgages than their homes are worth. However, as much as you don't want to spend the money, there are many situations where it is vital to invest in the services of a licensed plumber.
When You Need To Be Sure The Work Is Up to Code
While building codes exist to ensure that your home is safe to live in, there are only two times when your home will require an inspection -- when it is first built, and again when you sell it. For this reason, if you are interested in selling any time in the near future, it is vitally important to ensure the work will pass inspection. While it is possible to research and follow these codes doing your own work, a licensed plumber will already be familiar with the local regulations, as well as anything else the inspector might be looking for. Hiring a plumber to do the work in the first place will keep you from having to purchase materials, and then hiring a plumber to bring your work up to code.
Even if you aren't planning on selling your house soon, this reasoning should give you pause. You can't always predict how long it will be before you need to sell, and you don't want to get caught if you need to sell in a hurry. In addition, building codes aren't there just to make life difficult for you. They are there to ensure that your plumbing is safe and durable. Considering the high cost of repairing water damage, these are both qualities that your plumbing should have. Take this into account before you start working without consulting this code.
When Doing Your Own Work Would Not Be Safe
You've tried drain cleaner, with little result. Now you have to remove the clog with those caustic chemicals stuck in the pipe. Do you know how to do this safely? Chances are you don't. While a professional plumber might not be happy about dealing with the dangerous chemicals, they do have experience dealing with these sorts of situations safely. Any time harsh chemicals or sewage is involved, you should automatically pick up the phone to make an appointment instead of trying to deal with the problem yourself. No matter how much research you do, you cannot out-read the value of experience.
When Your Work Won't Be Easily Accessible
If you don't get a connection quite right underneath your kitchen sink, it will be a pain but not a disaster. It is easy to turn the water off to this area, and you can access the pipes to correct the problem. If you are replacing the drain lines in your bathroom, however, a mistake could be catastrophic. Once the water is off, you have to rip out either the wall or floor that the drain lines run in, just to reach the problem. Once there, you not only have to repair the leak, you have to deal with the damage inside your walls. Why take that risk? Any licensed plumber worth hiring will guarantee their work against this type of issue, paying for both the repair and the damage that their failure has caused. You will be less likely to have to pull up your new tile floor, and if you do, you won't have to pay for it.
Hiring a plumber does require a bigger budget, but it is certainly worth it. This is one case where a little extra money up front can save you a lot more in the long run.