Help! I Need A Plumber

Do you know when it's time to call a plumber or when you can tackle the job yourself? There are plenty of plumbing jobs you can take on yourself but equally there are many you shouldn't attempt, which I found out the hard way! Do not go by your DIY book alone! those books can make any job look easy, especially with step by step photos. Unfortunately, nowhere in my book did it say "if you are a 100 pound, 5 foot woman do not under any circumstances attempt this job alone". No my DIY book made everything look so easy!

If you have no idea how to tackle DIY then my personal recommendation is:

Do not tackle any DIY plumbing job that requires anything more than a very small spanner! and if in doubt ask a plumber!

Below are some of the most common plumbing jobs that will occur in a household over the years, divided into three sections, those you should be able to do yourself, those you may be able to do yourself and those that if you do try yourself you will shortly be shouting "Help, I need a plumber"

note: this is not a guide on how to do any of these jobs, it is simply a guide to which jobs you can attempt and which jobs will need a plumber. I take no responsibility for ruined carpets, wooden floors or leaks!

These are the DIY plumbing jobs that you can do at home. Remember, do not attempt any plumbing job until you have turned off the water supply.

• Temporary repair of a hole in a pipe - so you were doing a little drilling and oops you drilled through a pipe. You need a quick fix. You can use a self tapping screw, a screwdriver and some PTFE tape. Always handy to keep these in the house, especially if you are prone (like me) to the occasional do it yourself disaster!
• Repair a burst pipe - once you have temporarily repaired a burst pipe you can attempt to fix it if you are feeling confident. It's not as complicated as it may seem.
• Fix an airlocked faucet - a quick and simple job that can be done easily.
• Clear a blocked sink - waste pipes in sinks can easily become blocked from lodged pieces of food, grease buildup and so on, closing off the overflow and using a plunger will usually clear the blockage, no plumber needed!
• Fix a dripping faucet - this is often caused by a worn washer, you must cut off the water supply or else you will have a very wet kitchen or bathroom.
• Repair a WC Cistern - this can be due to a faulty ballvalve or flap valve, both are easily fixed with the right plumbing equipment.
• Clearing a blocked WC - Another plunger job unless you have a cracked, leaking pan in which case it will need replacing. (not a simple job)
• Fix an airlock in a radiator - possibly the most common plumbing job carried out at home, if your radiator is cool at the top it has an air lock, if it is cool at the bottom it could be due to a sludge buildup. In that case you would need to remove and drain the radiator. (a may be job, see below.)

And here are the may be able DIY plumbing jobs, don't forget to turn the water off first!

• Remove and clean/replace a radiator - this job can be done by homeowners but there are some things you must do first. Turn off central heating and allow to cool (the last thing you want is scalding hot water leaking out of your radiator!) You will also need to drain the radiator before removing it.
• Draining down the water system - this is not an easy job for a novice but it can be attempted at home, there are many reasons why you may need to do this, for example if your radiators are not working and are not airlocked (a common cause of radiators not heating correctly)
• Replacing a WC pan - there is some work involved in this, but it can be done if you feel confident enough.
• Balance a Radiator Circuit - not too complicated but takes time and patience.

These are the jobs that I personally think you should not under any circumstances attempt, basically my motto is, if it involves both water and electricity then I am calling the plumber! Be warned!

• Installing an Electric Shower - get this wrong and you could either get electrocuted the first time you turn on your shower or find your bathroom flooded.
• Install a wet room - I know there are DIY kits but I know many people skilled at DIY jobs who will not attempt this job themselves.
• Replace an immersion heater - again, electrics meet water, call me a scaredy cat but I know my own abilities (or lack of!)
• Change a central heating pump - I don't need to say it again but unless you are an electrician I do not recommend you do this job either!
• Install your own central heating system - pretty obvious but this is a DIY no-no.

So now that you have read the lists I am sure there will be some debate over the above plumbing jobs. I categorized them according to my level of skill, what you are willing to attempt is totally up to you, but remember, when in doubt, ask a plumber!

Neither was I suggesting in any way that a woman can not attempt plumbing!