When doing home repairs, when is it a good idea to save money and tackle the job yourself? When is it a better idea to save yourself the trouble and hire a professional to do the job right the first time? Read on to learn about 6 situations and how they stack up.
Changing a Washer in a Faucet
If you live in areas with high mineral content in your drinking water, then you know how quickly washers can wear down and develop a leak. This is a pretty simple task to do. Home improvement stores have some newer tools that make this faster than it used to be. Just be sure to turn off the water before you start!
Installing a Water Heater
Whether you need a 40-gallon water heater or want to try a tankless heater, you’re going to need some professional help on this. This involves plumbing, electrical services, and possibly a gas line. Don’t set yourself up; get professional technicians to do the work safely for you.
Unclogging a Pipe
If your bathtub or sink has clogged, you can probably solve this yourself. Try using a plunger or a drain cleaning brush before using chemical drain cleaners. Once you’ve committed to using chemicals, don’t use the plunger again as this can be dangerous. You might need outside help at this point.
Draining an Outside Spigot
If you live in colder regions, draining the outside spigot is important. Leaving water in there can lead to a burst pipe in the middle of the worst weather. Draining the pipe only takes a few minutes, but it can save you hundreds.
Replacing a Toilet
If you’re remodeling a bathroom, it’s usually best to have a professional replace the toilet. Getting the wax ring, holes, and the toilet lined up accurately takes a certain amount of experience. A professional will have all the tools available and can do the job quickly so that your project can be completed on time and well the first time.
Replacing a Bathtub
This is another task that requires a certain amount of training, experience, and tools. It takes a strong back and a grasp of plumbing, walls, tub lining, sealing and waterproofing things, and other areas of plumbing work. Save yourself the headache. Let the pros handle it.
Being self-reliant is a good goal. However, you might get in over your head. The professionals will be glad to help put things right. Sometimes being self-reliant means knowing when to get help.
