Should You or Should You Not DIY Common Plumbing Problems?

Common Plumbing Problems

Common plumbing problems are the reason why resort to the Internet instead of a professional. Why? Well, because they are common. Because it’s common, there are bound to be effective DIY solutions somewhere. Sometimes what seems like an easy repair can quickly transform into a larger job – one that you’re in no way qualified to handle. Just as you shouldn’t feel embarrassed about deferring to the experts for a small repair, you shouldn’t feel self-conscious about throwing in the towel and admitting defeat.  Don’t struggle through any more of the repair than you have to; the faster we can arrive and take over, the earlier your home can return to normal.

Whether a client considers themselves knowledgeable or clueless about their plumbing system, our plumbers are often answering calls about the same issues. The following are some of the most common plumbing problems that require a visit from one of our experts.

Leaking Tap

A leaking tap can drive anyone crazy. No matter how hard you twist the handle, your kitchen, bathroom, or laundry tub tap insists on dripping. The noise of the water hitting the basin isn’t the only frustrating part of any leak; those drips add up to a serious waste of water that’s both bad for the environment and your wallet. Often a dripping tap is caused by a damaged washer, which is a piece of rubber that normally creates a water-tight seal on your pipes when your taps are off. You need specialized tools in order to reach and replace these washers, which not all homeowners have. Alternatively, it could be a less common problem involving the o-rings or jumper valves.

Clogged Drains

A clogged drain doesn’t always appear as a sink that’s slow (or impossible) to empty. Sometimes the only clue you have a blockage is a strange gurgling sound coming from your sinks whenever you shower or flush the toilet. However your clog presents itself, it’s caused by an obstruction of soap scum, hair, grease, or foreign objects – or a combination of all 4.

The clog isn’t always near the drain itself, and it can run deep into your pipes. When that’s the case, you need a camera inspection of your pipes to locate the block and hydro flushing to break it up. (We’ve yet to find a homeowner who owns these two pieces of equipment). Sometimes, something more serious is causing the issue like a tree root penetrating a line or a misaligned pipe, which necessitates trench-less technology spot repair.

Running Toilet

Your toilet is made of several intricate moving parts that can be the cause behind a constantly running toilet. Adjusting the chain length doesn’t always fix this issue; sometimes a replacement of the chain, the stopper, or another piece is required; or another (hidden) issue altogether lies behind your running toilet, like a problem with your water supply line.

A Professional Versus DIY

With solutions to common plumbing problems across the world wide web, it’s unlikely that someone won’t go searching first.  From time to time homeowners and renters have been known to roll up their sleeves and apply a little elbow grease to their plumbing system in the hopes of saving a few dollars in repairs. We can appreciate trying to save some money, and it’s true that many individuals across the GTA have the skills and gumption to take on basic plumbing repairs. But some jobs are just better left to the professionals. The larger, more complex and invasive problems can surpass the limits of your expertise. Without the right tools, experience, or understanding of your plumbing system, a DIY approach isn’t always the best method.

The key is understanding when you’re out of your depth. When this happens is different for each of our clients. For the handy, proactive homeowners, you probably have a decent tool kit that can help you with minor, contained problems like a clogged toilet or a plugged drain. For others, these seemingly simple repairs are far too complex. Wherever you draw the line, there’s no shame in calling one of our expert plumbers to help you with these jobs.  No task is too large or too small for our trained, insured, and certified staff.

These common plumbing problems don’t always have an obvious solution. It doesn’t matter if you’re a novice or a pro, when you notice something isn’t quite right with your plumbing system – whether it’s one of these 3 or something completely different – don’t hesitate to call. One of our plumbers will be at your door ready to find the source of your problem and apply a quick and affordable repair that lasts.