Something went wrong, you called the plumber and they’re on their way. But while you’re waiting for their truck to arrive, it couldn’t hurt to do a little tinkering yourself, could it?
While we understand the impulse behind wanting to take a crack at repairs yourself, there are all sorts of ways that meddling with your plumbing can backfire, and actually make your plumber’s job harder – or more costly – when they get to your home.
Here are four frustrating things clients do that leave plumbers scratching their heads:
1.) Cranking on the Faucet Handle
The faucet won’t stop dripping. It’s probably just loose, right? Maybe with the right amount of pressure, I can fix it before the plumber gets here…
Remember, pushing or pulling hard on a faucet handle won’t miraculously cure a chronic drip or leak. In fact, pushing too hard can break your handle, leading to a new set of problems without ever solving the drip. You can, however, turn off the water underneath the sink using the shut-off valve.
2.) Connecting Different Metals
I’ve got two pipes… I’ll just join them together! It shouldn’t really matter that one is copper and the other is steel, should it?
When pipes aren’t coupled properly, they can corrode more quickly, which can close up or ruin your pipe system. Connecting two different metals is a task that should only be done by a plumber using a dielectric union, which separates the metals with rubber and plastic.
3.) Stripping Threads
I’ll just tighten all of my fittings! That should save the plumber some time, right?
Plumbing isn’t a test of brute strength – don’t spend your time and effort overtightening your plumbing components. In fact, overtightening can lead to stripping on chrome and plastic materials, actually causing your system to leak or break.
4.) Taking Things Apart – and Forgetting How They Go Back Together
Look, I know what the problem is! I’ll just take out the defective parts myself… Wait, where did that piece come from? I should put everything back together… Wait, where does this thing go?
It’s easy to take components apart. It can be a lot harder putting them back together, which can leave your kitchen or shower a mess of loose parts when your plumber arrives. If you are going to attempt a DIY disassembly, we strongly recommend you take pictures along the way to help give yourself a guide when it comes time to put everything back together.
Whether you’re looking for an expert hand to guide you through a DIY project or you need help dealing with a major plumbing emergency, Combat Plumbing is here to help! Drop us a line, day or night, for all of your kitchen, bath, , water leak, sewer and gas line needs.
