We rely on our sewer line to remove the waste material from our homes. When it doesn’t work as intended, there are a number of potential problems, from sewer line backups into the home to sewer collapses and more. Most homeowners tend to pick up some tips and tricks to fix minor problems in their homes over the years. Some people turn this into a DIY hobby, and they tackle a wide range of remodeling projects and repairs. But there are times when a DIY approach isn’t a good fit, and repairing a sewer line falls into this category.
Let’s take a look at four reasons why most DIY sewer repair attempts fail:
It takes a long time to train a professional licensed plumber, and most people don’t have the time or resources to learn everything that they need to know. But, beyond that training, there are years of on the job experience that you simply cannot gain with a DIY approach. This experience is invaluable when a problem needs to be identified and fixed quickly to prevent damage and reduce downtime.
Many DIY enthusiasts assemble an impressive array of tools and equipment as they delve deeper into the hobby. Some people may even establish and grow an entire workshop with expensive machines for specific tasks. But plumbing is extremely specialized, and most of us won’t have a sewer line camera or a hydro jet machine on-hand. It is true that you can assemble a basic plumbing toolkit to change taps and clear basic drain line clogs, and you can hire plumbing equipment. But, even if you do get your hands on these machines, they are not much good if you don’t know how to use them properly.
Even without the first two criteria shown above (experience and specialized tools), there are many potential problems if you tackle a sewer line repair project with a DIY approach. In many cases, professional licensed plumbers are called to a botched sewer line repair. What may have been a smaller issue that’s easy and inexpensive to fix can spìral out of control if you don’t know what you’re doing. There is a potential for extensive damage, and this can even affect your neighbors' homes, and you will be liable for that damage too.
It may seem more expensive to hire a local professional licensed plumber to identify and fix a sewer line problem. But, a DIY approach is likely to cost more because it will take longer, and there is more potential for damage and serious risks if you cut into a gas line. The most efficient way to deal with a sewer line problem is to hire a professional plumber. They have the skills, knowledge, expertise, and specialized tools that can save you money on the repairs and limit the downtime to get your home back to normal quickly.
If you need to schedule a sewer line camera inspection for your home, contact your local certified plumber today.