You Can’t DIY These Plumbing Problems
That headline isn’t us trying to challenge you. Trying to DIY these plumbing problems is really against your best interest. Read on, and we’ll try to convince you.
Drain and Sewer Cleaning
We don’t recommend that you try unclogging your own drains (of course we know we can’t stop you, either). The problem, however, is that drain clogs are usually the sign of a bigger problem. The clog is merely the symptom of dirty pipes that need to be cleaned.
When drains become dirty with fats, oils, greases, and other sticky substances, they begin to collect gunk on their surfaces, and that’s what leads to a clog. In order to eliminate the problem, the walls of the pipe need to be rinsed clean.
And no, we don’t mean using chemical drain cleaners. Despite how they sound, these chemicals are not cure-all cleaners–they’re actually one of the worst things you can put into your drains. They might be able to handle a clog, but that comes at the price of degrading your pipes–and that can lead to a leak.
What you need is hydro jetting. A hydro jet is essentially a hose that shoots hot, highly-pressurized water into your plumbing system. Not only does this blow away any clogs you might have, but it cleans the interior of the pipes. It’s natural and non-damaging to your pipes, but hydro jets can only be used by professionals.
Slab Leaks
Leaks are leaks. They’re very straight-forward, and there’s not much to them. However, the location of the leak makes all the difference. When that leak occurs beneath the foundation of your home, you’ve got a slab leak, and that’s not a job you want to try handling on your own.
A leak under your home is going to affect everything above it. First, the soil around the leak will expand. That will push the ground up, causing the foundational concrete slabs to move. This can do anything from putting cracks in your tile floor or wall to warping your wood floors. It won’t be pretty, and neither would watching an amateur destroy their home trying to get to a slab leak.
It’s not just us who thinks so, by the way. Many home insurance policies forbid homeowners from DIYing a slab leak issue for this reason. Save yourself a lot of time and money and hire a plumbing company in Fort Worth, TX.
Gas Piping
Natural gas is a popular fuel choice across the nation. It can be cheaper than electricity, and there are very little risks of accidents. However, that risk would be greatly increased if you went and tried to install a gas line by yourself.
Gas lines must be installed according to local safety regulations and codes, and that means having it installed by a licensed plumber. Trying to cut some costs by DIYing your gas line is a huge risk to the safety of you and your family.
