Plumbing tips from A1 Choice Plumbers in Kelowna & West Kelowna

Everybody likes to do what they can to save money around the house. In some cases, this means attempting to fix an issue with the plumbing on your own. Listen, we actually encourage this practice. It is our belief that every homeowner should have a basic understanding of the major systems of their home.

When you’re attempting a DIY plumbing repair, be sure to avoid these common mistakes:

Using Fixtures as Furniture
You have no doubt seen the “shower caddy” systems that allow you to use the showerhead as a hangar for your soaps and shampoos. Using clamps to affix heavy objects to the bathroom fixtures is asking for trouble. If the showerhead starts to bend under the strain, DO NOT McGuyver a solution with duct tape and zip ties.

Forgetting How Things Go Back Together
Many is the time that we have gotten a call from a homeowner who has taken something apart and can’t remember how to put it back together. If you are disassembling something, lay the pieces out flat in the order they came apart. This doesn’t guarantee a fix to your problem, but it will help you if you need to pack everything up and head to the hardware store.

Not Turning Off the Water
There is no faster way to discover how much gunk gets caught in a sink trap than trying to repair something under that sink without turning off the water. Don’t feel too bad when this happens to you, it’s a mistake you generally only make once.

Using Chemicals to Drain Clogs
Some people swear by commercial drain preparations to remove clogs. We think that stuff is pretty scary, and it’s corrosive, which means it can eat away at plumbing components. Not to mention, if it doesn’t work, you’ve got toxic sludge to remove before repairs can be done. Stick to the conventional methods to unclog drains, even if that means calling in a professional.

Major DIY Fails:

While renovating a smaller bathroom the door is installed then opened to install the toilet. Neither the door, bathroom, or toilet size has been considered. You realized that the door cannot open or shut all the way without hitting the toilet. We have seen it even the opposite way where the bathroom door can’t open all the way without hitting the toilet seat.

Wanting to add a modern touch to the sink, you buy a new faucet/tap that looks the part and install it without thought. However, when the time comes to turn it on the tap isn’t hanging over the sink where it should be! We have even seen people trying to use kitchen faucets/taps in bathrooms. It’s a sore sight for one thing and an accident waiting to happen as this can lead to flooding.

Buying a new toilet for your bathroom renovation, you pick the modern, sleek, pretty one. You don’t measure it for the bathroom it will be living in and realize only after installing that you a) can’t move around in your new bathroom and b) can’t have the toilet paper on the roll and lift the seat. It really takes some thought when it comes to designing a bathroom, clearly whoever installed the urinals in the second picture wasn’t really paying attention…

Seriously, please don’t DIY these 3 things:

Hot Water Heaters

Hot water heaters are the most important appliance in your home. They heat the water you use for washing dishes, doing laundry, showering and cooking. Without your hot water heater, you are left with dirty dishes and no showering in sight. You may look at your hot water heater and think that this is a piece of cake, there are only a few connections and you can fix the old one or replace it quickly and easily. While fixing your hot water heater may look easy, it is not.

It is very important that you find a plumber to come and fix or replace your hot water heater for you as it is very easy to have an epic fail when you try to DIY. For instance, many older homes require an upgrade to the connections leading to the heater. If these connections are not replaced, then you will run into a fire hazard or the possibility of your new hot water heater not working at all.

Flooding

It happens, you come home from work and you have a flooded basement either from a busted pipe or rising ground water. You think that it’s easy to just suck out the standing water with a sump pump and call it a day but really, there is much more to the process. Whenever there is standing water, even if it is for a few minutes, mold can begin to grow. It is only with the help of a licensed plumber that the water gets cleaned up properly. A plumber can assess the damage to determine if flooring and/or walls should be replaced or cleaned with a bleach/water mixture to reduce the chances of mold growing in the flooded area. When you attempt a DIY in a flood, you are asking for trouble. The most epic fail comes when you have mold growing that you don’t know about until you try to sell the home or your family becomes ill.

Clogged Pipes

Drano and liquid plumber are the two main go-to tools for anyone who has a clogged drain. The problem is that these helpers do not always get the job done, leaving the homeowner attempting a DIY project to clear the clogged pipe.

There are times when there is just a small clog near the opening of the line, but most of the time there is a deeper problem when it comes to clogs that the DIY just won’t fix. Only your plumber can get the deep rooted clogs that will not come out with the liquid fixes. If you try to do it yourself, you could just be setting yourself up for a fail when the clog returns bigger than ever.

Moral of the story: Call a professional

In an attempt to save some money, many homeowners will opt to carry out the small fixes on their own instead of hiring a professional. However, any small mistake when carrying out a plumbing fix could lead to a bigger problem which can then only be fixed by an emergency plumber. Such an emergency situation could cost you more in terms of added fees and spoilt materials.

Plumbers are highly trained professionals who have education, experience and hands-on training in all things related to plumbing. They are leaders in their field who are there to help you, the homeowner, keep your pipes running clear and in one piece. While you may be able to fix a clogged drain with a shot of Drano, anything more serious should call for the help of a plumber as most DIY attempts fail miserably in the plumbing field.

When it comes to home improvement and maintenance projects, cheap isn’t necessarily better. Investing in your home by focusing on durability and safety will improve your home’s value and may save you from results like the epic failures pictured here! Contact A1 Choice Plumbing & Drain in Kelowna & West Kelowna for professional services.