Can You Do Plumbing Yourself? As more and more homeowners have caught the DIY, renovation, and building bug, questions such as “Can you do plumbing yourself?” are becoming more and more common.

The answer to this question is Yes. However, have you considered whether you have got the skills needed and the time to decipher exactly which part of your project you can do and which part is beyond you? Are you ready, willing and able to accept the consequences of any mistake you make?

Remember, plumbing is a licensed trade for many reasons. There are many stories of disasters that have been caused by unlicensed personal attempting to do plumbing themselves. Plumbers spend years learning their trade and understand exactly what it takes to safely conduct work that complies with all regulations.

They understand exactly how to install plumbing systems to keep you, your family, and your community safe. Here are the four major reasons not to do your plumbing yourself.

#1. A DIY plumbing job might void your insurance policy

Licensed plumbers are not only professionals, but they’re also insured for any work that they do. This cover is in place in the event mistakes are made. Unlicensed or DIY plumbers are not covered, and most times cannot legally carry out this work.

Not only will DIY plumbing potentially void your insurance policy for your building, you can also avoid any warranty for appliances you may be installing. For example, one of the most common mistakes that are made in DIY plumbing is the incorrect connection of different pipes or hoses.

If these houses haven’t been correctly tightened, they can cause major water damage if they blow out. So if you’re willing to risk your home its contents and the health and safety of everyone living there I need damage caused by your DIY plumbing job such as damage to furniture, floors, walls, etc.

#2 Selling your home might be more difficult

To legally sell your property, both a building inspector and a solicitor will need to sign off on the safety of the property. If this inspection reveals obvious illegal or DIY plumbing, the sale of your property can quickly fall through.

If you cannot supply legal proof that any changes to your property and its plumbing we’re done by a licensed professional, it will be extremely difficult for you to sell your property. New property owners will not want home insurance that may not cover that or may involve non-compliant plumbing.

#3. DIY appliance installation will void the products warranty

Although installing a dishwasher may seem straightforward, always contact a licensed plumber to do the job for you as they will follow the product’s warranty instructions and sign off on the job.

Reading the fine print of your appliance’s terms and conditions will quickly reveal unlicensed insulations will instantly void any warranty. This can apply to any ongoing maintenance as well for example if your dishwasher has a blown hose because of incorrect installation if you fix it yourself this DIY move could also void your warranty.

#4 Lack of expertise

The primary reason that you should avoid doing your plumbing yourself is that you lack the experience or train that all professional plumbers have. Average homeowners like the knowledge and skills needed to safely plumb their homes.

After years spent solving a wide variety of plumbing issues, they can swiftly resolve even the most complicated problems and create solutions that will last for years to come. Plumbers are also invested heavily in specialized tools, ones that are of a much higher standard than any you’ll find any standard hardware store.

They have the skills and equipment needed to install any pipes and connections to minimize issues and maximize flow.

Can You Do Plumbing Yourself? – Conclusion

Obviously the elephant in the room is the cost of hiring a professional plumber. Because there are regular shortages of reliable plumbers, it’s more expensive to find a trustworthy and licensed professional to complete your plumbing work. Because of this more people are considering DIY plumbing projects.

However, please remember before you consider skipping the cost of paying for a plumber, consider the potential cost of not hiring one.