It’s good to be able to handle some repairs around the home by yourself. Understanding how to change a lightbulb, fix a fuse, or clean up a stain, for example, means that you don’t have to rely on anyone else, and you’re able to keep your home neat, tidy, and working in the way it’s meant to. 

However, not every issue that occurs in your home is something that should be a DIY job, and there are some that constitute emergencies and that you should always call in professionals to deal with for you. Plumbing is a perfect example of this. Although there are some plumbing jobs that you should learn how to do yourself (changing a washer in a faucet to stop it from dripping, for example, is a job that everyone should be able to do), there are others that you should never attempt – read on to find out what they are so you know when to call in residential plumbing to help you. 

Burst Pipes 

A burst pipe is going to need some expert work done not just to stop the problem but to repair the issue and ensure you have water in your home with no disruption. A lot of the time, burst pipes will happen when the water within them freezes and expands, causing the pipe itself to split. Eventually, this will cause flooding, and depending on which pipes have frozen, this can lead to a lot of damage. 

The one thing you’ll need to know how to do is to turn off your water. Make sure you locate the stopcock so that, should any pipes burst, you can stop the water flow as quickly as possible, minimizing the damage. Once that is done, a professional plumber will need to be called to fix the pipes, ensure no additional damage has been done, and make sure your water flows correctly when it’s turned back on. 

Blocked Drains 

Blocked drains are something you might think you can deal with yourself; after all, there are many different products on the market that suggest this is a DIY job that you can purchase specialist chemicals and equipment for and complete without any expert plumbing help. 

Perhaps a blocked shower drain or sink could be done by the homeowner or tenant; the chemicals and equipment on sale could work here. However, for larger, outside drains that could have many different problems associated with them, an expert has to be called. Remember that these drains are linked to sewers and can be hazardous to health, which is why professionals are needed who will have the right equipment and, importantly, the right PPE. As well as this, they will have more industrial tools that will be able to reach much further and determine what the issue really is. 

A blocked drain can’t be left and usually won’t go away on its own, so calling in an expert as soon as possible is your best option.