It can be tempting to think ‘why pay someone to do work I could just do myself,’ especially when the upfront cost of hiring a professional can seem so steep. One pitfall a lot of homeowners fall victim to is overlooking the behind the scenes costs of their DIY plumbing projects.
Supplies
Oftentimes specific tools and supplies are required for plumbing projects. If you weren’t a handyman in a previous life, chances are you won’t have everything you’ll need readily available. What started off as a fix you thought would only require a $15 gizmo and 30 minutes of your time, can quickly turn into a multi-day project. After hundreds of dollars worth of specialty tools you’ll likely never use again, you will be adding the staff of the hardware store to your holiday card mailing list.
Time
After running to the hardware store more times than you can count and watching numerous how-to videos, you may be able to check the ‘done’ box on your DIY. But was it worth the price of your free time? Most people have a limited number of hours in their week that can be dedicated for rest, relaxation, and family time. Are you willing and able to sacrifice your free time in the name of saving a little money?
Expertise
While a professional plumber’s repair cost might induce some initial sticker shock, professionals are able to finish the job in less time, and with fewer setbacks, than someone unfamiliar with the plumbing situation they’re trying to tackle. What we can finish in an hour, may take you 10 hours spread out over an entire week, eating up your free time and leaving you with fixtures that are out of commission until you’re able to get things up and running again. Before you decide to take on that project yourself, ask yourself: ‘Am I feeling lucky enough to live with one less bathroom for a week?’
If you have what looks like yellowed PVC pipes in your home, those are CPVC pipes and we recommend calling us instead of trying your hand at a DIY project. CPVC pipes are notoriously difficult to work with due to how brittle they become over time. They’re incredibly easy to crack, leading to burst pipes and water damage- even if you manage to shut off your water relatively quickly. You don’t want this headache, trust us.
Water Damage
Water damage can pose a significant threat. If your DIY repair works temporarily but eventually results in a persistent yet unnoticed leak, it can silently erode the integrity of your home. Just as the mighty Colorado River carved the awe-inspiring Grand Canyon over a millennia, minor undetected leaks weaken structural elements, destroy personal belongings, foster mold, and increase utility bills. If leaks go undetected for long enough, they can result in tens of thousands of dollars worth of damage- making that initial repair bill way more affordable.
All that being said, we are not trying to discourage you from taking on plumbing projects around your house. We have no doubt that you’ll be able to tackle them. But before you start, it’s a good idea to make sure you have a complete picture of what the project will cost – in terms of money but also your time and sanity. If you decide not to DIY, or if your DIY project didn’t turn out quite as nice as you were expecting, give us a call at (864) 444-6570.
