Guest Blogger: How to Decide if you Should Fix a Plumbing Leak Yourself

 Guest Blogger #401, Entry #998, March 7, 2012

You stroll into the bathroom and discover water across the floor and say “oh no” to yourself. You look into the cabinet beneath the sink and find that one of the pipes has developed a leak. What should you do?

Well, there are two options to treat a leaking pipe. Fix it yourself, or get someone else to do the job for you. The point is; how would you know whether or not this problem is something you can and must fix yourself?

Should you hire a professional?

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Choosing The Best Option

If you are either experienced or familiar with plumbing work, perhaps, you will be in a better position to fix a leak yourself. However, if this is a task you have never done before, take a closer look at the problem at hand and then decide whether you can handle it, or need the services of an expert to get the job done.

Doing The Job Yourself

More often than not, if you have identified the problem, it will be easier to decide whether or not you can fix it yourself. For example, if a leak is merely caused by a cracked seal, applying plumber’s putty may be all that is needed to stop it.

On the other hand, if you are clueless as to why a pipe has developed a leak and sense it is part of a larger or more complex problem than a minor one, the smartest thing to do is to hire a professional plumber before the problem worsens.

Should you fix a plumbing leak yourself?

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Following Directions

Following directions is a crucial aspect insofar as plumbing installation, maintenance and repair. Unfortunately, some people dislike reading detailed instructions and therefore tend to wing problems. Failure to read instructions thoroughly often results in a bathroom floor strewn with plumbing parts, and utter confusion about how a leak can be fixed.

Of course, if you are a person who follows instructions meticulously regardless of the nature of the task, repairing things will be much easier. Moreover, adhering to instructions will also end in a job well done, and in a shorter period of time.

Consulting A Friend If at times you are unable to do a job yourself, consult a friend who may have the knowhow to do it for you. However, it is essential for such a friend to possess enough experience and knowledge in the field of plumbing in order to do justice to the job entrusted to him or her.

Alternatively, if you have no friend who is conversant with plumbing, then the smarter way to go is to hire a qualified plumber, especially when a particular job is beyond your level of competence.

Emma Cub is a specialist in interior design and home improvement. She writes for Liberty Bathrooms, who are an online retailer of bathroom suites, bathroom furniture and bathroom accessories including heated towel rails, vanity units and cheap bathroom suites.

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