Four most common DIY plumbing fails

Last updated on June 21st, 2017 at 11:33 am

Do you love a good DIY project to tackle? As a society we are constantly changing our home interiors with the latest trends and something I don’t see slowing down any time soon. People like change and the idea of things looking new and home improvements but they don’t often like to pay the price. Whether it’s pride, time or money saving that’s pushed you to go beyond the interior projects to the electrical and plumbing projects that stare back at you to fix them, you need to know what you are “really” getting yourself into. 

I grew up in a family of builders, my Dad build homes for a living and my Mom renovated every home we ever lived in from the day we would move in until the day we would move out. I learned as much as I could from them and my older brothers who knew a thing of two about homes too. In the time of owning my own home I have witnessed, and experienced my own DIY disasters along the way. 

Plumbing is always one of those things that needs fixing, and goes wrong numerous times in a home owners time. There are one too many of us that think we could handle the disaster ourselves before we call a professional out to help us. Most of the time our plumbing DIY projects turn into bigger, more expensive disasters than they started out as.  

When Diy plumbing fails

FOUR MOST COMMON DIY PLUMBING FAILS:

  1. While renovating a smaller bathroom the door is installed than 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. I have seen it even the opposite way where the bathroom door can’t open all the way without hitting the toilet seat. Tip: Measure everything before renovating and check design of bathroom layout first.
  2. Wanting to add a modern touch to the sink, you buy a new faucet/tap that looks the part and install it without thought. Only to come time to turn it on and the tap isn’t hanging over the sink where it should be. I have even seen people trying to use kitchen faucets/taps in bathrooms. It’s a sore sight for one thing and another accident waiting to create a flood. Tip: Use the appropriate faucet or tap for the size of the sink.
  3. There is a leaking pipe in the basement and it’s flooding everywhere. You think you can haphazardly fix it for the time being until the rain stops with a dustpan and a wide plastic container. Don’t even think about using tape either, the leak will eventually work its way out. Tip: Fix your plumbing leaks properly don’t jerry-rig them. 
  4. 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 B. can’t have the toilet paper on the roll and lift the seat..sorry guys. C. have your knees pressed up against said door in example one or wall or worse the sink. Tip: Buy appropriate size toilets/sinks/tubs for your bathroom layout is essential. 

If you think you are Mr. or Mrs. Fix It you probably are not. Stick to the DIY interiors or upcycling that new bookcase rather than the electrical and plumbing issues that may come your way as a home owner. If you do really want to do-it-yourself than research your project, know your house and it’s main shut off valves locations and entire plumbing system first. When you think you are ready, make sure you have all the appropriate tools, measurements, and safety wear ready before you start. Plumbing can go wrong in an instant even for the professionals when in doubt, make sure you always have a professional’s contact details at hand when it does fail. 

*collaboration, photo credit 1/2/3/4

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