Do It Yourself or not?
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Thanks,
Greg
DIY Plumbing Advice strives to provide you with plumbing and water information that is reliable, responsible, and free. The purpose of this site is to show YOU how to do it, not just to show an abbreviated video of how I did it.
- Get reliable, and accurate guidance for the homeowner and do-it-yourselfer in enough detail that you can actually perform the project to a successful completion. You may use this information to complete the project yourself, or to find out if it is more involved than you want to be.
- My goal is that you are fully informed before you start, and that you are not discovering unexpected aspects when your water is shut off, your plumbing is disassembled, the hardware store is closed, and you are missing parts or skills needed to complete the job.
- Find information on the responsible use of water, without involving politics, hysteria, allegations, half-truths, or the passion on either side of the "green" label.
Also be sure to check out the Frequently UNasked Questions section!
When NOT to do it yourself
Doing it yourself is great. But, starting a do-it-yourself project and discovering half way through that you shouldn't have started it on your own is not.
Need Help?
Click here for personal consulting assistance from me
or see my Hiring a Plumber page.
I suggest NOT doing it yourself when:
- You don't feel you completely understand the project first
- You don't have all the tools required for the job.
- You can't afford to be without water if the repair doesn't go as planned.
- The project involves fuel gas ( natural gas, propane, etc).
My Interview with the Inspection Certification Associates
I was recently interviewed by ICA School as part of their Expert Interview program. We talked about DIY plumbing, the most common mistakes made, what jobs can be tackled safely, and those to avoid. I also provide some resources for learning more about gaining skills so you can do your own DIY plumbing with confidence. Click here to read the interview and let me know what you think!
Five DIY plumbing Techniques to Avoid
You'd be mad if a professional did these, so don't be tempted to do these common, yet poor DIY plumbing techniques. Don't let the D in DIY stand for "Damage!"
Visit Five Techniques to Avoid.
Asbestos?
Many older homes may contain asbestos, often used for pipe insulation.
Review this page on the different types of asbestos and risks of asbestos exposure. Note the DIY House Renovation and Asbestos Exposure section. Though the page is Australian, most of the information applies anywhere.
My Difficulty Rating System
Easy: Can be done successfully on the fist attempt without special skills; generally with household tools.
Medium: May require some practice or skill to do successfully. May require tools beyond common household tools, but available at most hardware or home center stores.
Hard: requires skills/knowledge or more extensive practice to compete successfully. May require specialized plumbing tools that are not readily available at most hardware stores or home centers
Expert: Requires specialized skills or knowledge to complete successfully and safely. In some cases the difficulty of the task may not be high, but the possibility of property damage or injury for an improperly completed task will put the task in this Expert category.