3 Important Reasons to Hire a Professional Plumber
The DIY industry has become tremendously popular in recent years, and it is easy to see why. Many people like the prospect of saving money by carrying out a repair themselves and some enjoy the feeling of accomplishment that accompanies using their hands to fix something. In no way is this a bad thing. Developing new skills and solving problems is part of what makes us human. That being said, there are times and circumstances where it would be prudent to hire a professional contractor. In this instance, we will discuss plumbing specifically and how hiring a professional could be a sensible idea.
The Capability Factor
When it comes to DIY projects, most homeowners agree that apart from electrical work, plumbing is the least attractive area. This is in part due to some of the specialized knowledge that is required to ascertain the extent of the problem and avoid the damage that can be caused if the repair goes wrong. Another factor is that many plumbing jobs require specialized and expensive tools that are useless in other projects and may require training and experience to use correctly. Before embarking on any plumbing project, it is important for the homeowner to know that they are capable of completing the work and that they have the correct tools and parts, or they could make the problem even worse.
Insurance is Extremely Important
A professional plumber will have adequate insurance that will be vital in the event of a problem occurring. When a leak has the potential to go undetected for months and cause thousands of dollars worth of damage, insurance becomes incredibly important. Many novice and unlicensed contractors are cheaper because they lack essential training and adequate insurance coverage. Needless to say, it may also be the case that any DIY plumbing work carried out by the homeowner is not covered either. This can lead to expensive repairs that will cost far more than hiring a professional plumber in the first case would have.
Staying Safe
As with many other trade crafts, accidents can and do occur in the plumbing profession. A skilled plumber will be aware of all the potential hazards, and they have received training on how to mitigate the risks. A poorly trained novice or an enthusiastic weekend DIY practitioner will be lacking this essential knowledge. Staying safe can involve the correct use of tools and awareness of the surroundings, dealing with extensive water leaks and other work hazards. Trying to complete a complicated job in a time sensitive fashion can add a lot of stress, which can cause untrained people to take unnecessary risks with their safety. If a homeowner is injured carrying out DIY plumbing they could lose income and end up losing far more money than they would have paid for the services of a professional plumber.
Bottom line, there are many good reasons to consider hiring an experienced professional plumbing specialist. Although this may not be necessary for minor jobs, such as changing a tap fitting or cleaning a drain, an experienced professional plumber has the knowhow to efficiently diagnose real plumbing problems and safely complete all tasks safely, with the minimum of fuss and, most of all, mess. This expertise and experience can save you a great deal of stress and frustration in the long run.
By Giovanni Longo
Giovanni Longo is a 3rd generation master plumber who has been practicing his craft and trade in the greater Los Angeles area for well over a decade and a half. A plumbing and hydraulics-engineering innovator, Giovanni’s particular world-class expertise focuses on dealing with challenging sewer system designs as well as resolving complex commercial and residential draining issues. As a certified Flood Mitigation expert, he is also well versed in a wide variety of water damage and remediation solutions.
