It goes without saying that DIY jobs around the house have been popular for quite some time! After all, it has the potential to save some money (assuming you’re fairly confident with the task at hand). It can be a good way to pick up new skills that you may be able to utilize on other home improvement endeavors. Plus, it can quickly become a fun project that you can tackle on the weekends or evenings. Long story short, it’s no surprise that so many people have fallen in love with various DIY activities.
With that being said, whenever you’re working on any type of remodeling/repair project in the kitchen or bathroom, there is going to be a solid possibility that plumbing will be intertwined in one way or another. And while there are certainly some plumbing jobs that can be completed as a DIY project, there are plenty others best left for a professional plumber. The last thing you want is for a minor repair to escalate into a major headache! Over the course of this week’s blog, we’ll discuss a few different projects that you probably want to avoid taking on by yourself!
Gas Line Repair/Replacement
As you can probably guess, gas leaks can be particularly dangerous. They can pose a health risk to yourself and also potentially lead to a house fire. Typically, the first thing people notice when there’s a gas leak is the rotten egg smell that accompanies it. In any case, there are tons of residential and commercial properties that still utilize natural gas, so it’s an important service provided by licensed plumbing professionals. Due to the potential ramifications of a faulty gas line repair or installation, it’s always important to leave this one up to an experienced plumber.
From personal experience, our technicians at Stine-Nichols Plumbing have worked with gas lines on numerous occasions. Running new lines for outdoor fire pits, installing new water heaters, you name it! To sum it up, unless you have experience hooking up gas lines, call a plumber for gas line work. Natural gas can serve a number of purposes, but can also be very dangerous at the same time.
Water Heater Installation
We’ve mentioned it more than a few times before, but we can all agree that a water heater is an important component of one’s household plumbing system. We all want hot water whenever we hop in the shower or turn on a faucet, right? Well, generally speaking, you can expect to get 10-12 years out of a storage tank water heater and 20-plus years out of a tankless water heater. Assuming you follow the correct maintenance strategies (such as an annual flush of the tank) and make any repairs in a timely manner, you’ll definitely be in good shape.
However, the original installation is going to be a major determining factor in just how many years you get out of the heater. Without having the experience of consistently installing water heaters, there is a solid possibility that you may forget a thing or two in the installation process. Whether that be in the form of important safety features, like the expansion tank or T&P valve discharge piping, making sure everything is up to code or something tied to the gas (or electrical) connection, water heater installations are usually a good project for experienced plumbers. Additionally, when you hire someone for the project, they should be able to take the old tank with them to dispose of, so that’s one less thing you need to worry about! Before we head on to the next section, I did want to mention that tankless water heaters usually have a slightly more complex installation. That’s part of the reason why they typically come at a higher price tag. With that in mind, we strongly recommend leaving those up to a professional too or at least have someone out to consult you on the proper installation practices.
Freestanding Bathtub Installation
It’s safe to say that freestanding bathtubs have quickly grown in popularity! It should come as no shock as to why this has been the case either! They’re capable of instantly serving as a statement piece in your master bathroom and will give your bathroom an aesthetic boost right away. There are so many different styles and designs to choose from nowadays, so you’ll have no trouble finding a tub that fits size-wise, as well as one that blends in with your other fixtures, tile and so on. In fact, we covered the various advantages provided by freestanding bathtubs in more detail in a prior blog post. Click HERE if you would like to check that one out!
Nonetheless, “freestanding bathtub installation” finds its way on this list because it can be a more complex project and turn into a money pit if it’s not installed correctly. For instance, you may have to re-route some plumbing pipes to ensure it can function properly. You’ll want to make sure you’re up-to-date on any local codes or regulations that may be in play here. Depending on the existing set-up, you may have to do a little demo at some point. And don’t forget you’re also going to need to make sure that everything is level once you’ve placed the tub. No one wants an uneven tub, right?!
All in all, freestanding bathtubs add a unique touch of elegance to any bathroom, but they can be a tough product to install in some situations. With that being the case, don’t hesitate to outsource this project to someone with more experience installing these types of tubs!
Sewer Line Repair/Replacement
While freestanding bathtubs can be considered more of a luxury item, a functioning sewer line would definitely be considered a necessity! For those that follow us on Facebook or Instagram, odds are you’ve seen sewer line projects a handful of times. Given the scope of work, sewer line replacements tend to be among the more expensive plumbing projects that a homeowner may face. Given the necessary safety precautions and making sure you’re following the local codes/guidelines/inspections/permitting are major reasons why we recommend this being a project for a professional. To add to it, since this type of replacement generally is a larger investment, you probably don’t want to have to make that investment twice because of an incorrect repair.
Before we wrap up this blog, while on the topic of sewer lines, another advantage professional plumbing companies have is the access to the correct tools and equipment. Believe us, this makes a huge difference! With sewer lines, inspection cameras have become an invaluable resource. It allows plumbers the ability to get an inside look at your sewer line and determine what exactly is going on inside the pipes. This not only ensures you’re not making any unnecessary repairs, but also gauge where in the line the problem resides. Again, another reason to not turn any sewer line repair or replacement into a DIY job!
Need a Plumber in Kansas City?
As we mentioned in the opening paragraphs, there are definitely projects out there that can be turned into DIY jobs. However, on the flip side, there are also many different ones that you might want to hire a professional for. That’s not to say you can’t knock them out as a weekend project, but the risk-reward might not necessarily be worth it. We’ve highlighted a few of these more complicated projects throughout this blog post.
If you live in or near the Kansas City area and are in need of some plumbing help, our team at Stine-Nichols Plumbing is always here to help. Located in North Kansas City, MO, we provide residential, commercial and new construction plumbing services. Whether that be water heater installation, running new gas lines, cleaning out drains, replacing sewer lines or anything else, we have you covered! To learn more and request a free estimate, feel free to click the link HERE or give us a call at (816) 348-3481. We look forward to hearing from you!