Blocked drains, leaking pipes and flooding – these are just some of the common plumbing disasters that you might experience as a homeowner. Alternatively, you might cause these same problems when you’re trying to do your own DIY plumbing!

To find out how to avoid causing a major plumbing disaster, read on. Here are our top tips for a trouble-free experience at doing your own plumbing.

1. Know Where the Shut-Off Is

Before you make any changes to your plumbing, you need to find out where in your home the shut-off is located. There will be the main shut-off for the supply to your home, but there may also be others, for example for the heating or HVAC system.

Once you’ve located them, make sure that they still operate. The last thing you want is to find out that you can’t shut the water off after you’ve caused a flood. Try the shut-offs and lubricate them if you need to.

2. Understand Your Home

Before you start plumbing a house, you need to understand how plumbing works. That means in general, as well as how the system in your home may have been modified over the years.

If you know what pitch a waste pipe needs to be at, you can see at a glance if that’s the root cause of your problem and make sure that any pipes you install are at the right angle.

3. Have the Tools

Again, before you start a job, make sure that you have all the tools you’ll need to complete it. Not having the tool, and having to leave the job to go and buy it is one of the DIY plumbing problems that is easily avoided.

Most homes should keep a basic plumbing kit on hand for emergencies, but if any other tools will be needed then head out to the hardware store before you start.

4. Use Your Smartphone

Keeping a smartphone handy while plumbing your own house might not seem like the most obvious advice, but it’s a tool with multiple uses. You can use it as a flashlight to see difficult spaces. You can use it to view ‘how-to’ videos if you’re finding something tricky.

And you can use it to document what you’re taking apart. Snap pictures along the way, and you’re far less likely to run into a problem when you’re trying to put everything together again.

5. Know When to Call a Professional

Fixing a blocked drain or a small leak? You can try DIY. But anything bigger? Then you’re better off calling in a trained plumber. Yes, you can save money by doing things yourself, but not if you cause more damage than you fix. Know your limitations!

DIY plumbing Disaster Averted!

If you follow these tips, you should avoid the worst DIY plumbing problems. But before you go, don’t forget that old pipes might have a scrap metal value to help offset the costs even more.

And if you liked this article, then you might enjoy our other useful tips on subjects as diverse as hangover cures and writing essays. Check it out today!