4 Common Bathroom Plumbing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Did you know that water damage is the second most common reason for home insurance claims? The majority of claims are due to common plumbing issues, like freezing or broken pipes. 

If you’re a handy person, you probably try to handle issues in your bathroom plumbing system on your own. We’re here to talk about a few bathroom plumbing mistakes that you might be making.

Read on to learn more.

1. Letting Small Leaks Go

This is one of the top mistakes that people make when it comes to maintaining their home plumbing. They see a small leak forming, or a faucet dripping, and choose to ignore it for the time being. It’s only a small issue, right?

While it’s true that a leaky pipe or a drippy sink won’t turn into an emergency overnight, you shouldn’t let the problem grow.

When it comes to leaks, they could be a sign that there’s something more serious going on that you can’t see. There could be something putting pressure on the pipes, something corroding, or worse. With leaky faucets, even if there are no serious problems, they’re costing you money and wasting water. 

Even though these are small common plumbing issues, take care of them right away. 

2. Letting Pipes Burst in Winter

We know the weather is warm right now, but this can be a huge catastrophe during the winter if you’re not careful.

When the weather gets cold, it’s possible for your pipes to freeze. This is more likely to happen if you spend significant time away (like on a vacation) and leave your heat off.

You’ll return home to a huge mess because the frozen water in the pipes has expanded and broken through the metal. 

You can insulate your pipes, keep your heat on (and your cabinet doors open), or turn your water off when you’re not going to be home for an extended period of time. 

3. Not Turning Off the Water Main Before a Project

Are you the kind of person who likes repairing bathroom plumbing on your own? Make sure that you don’t make this one simple mistake! You need to turn off the main water line if you want to avoid a plumbing disaster.

When you’re only doing a small project, you can turn off the local valve instead. You should be able to locate the valves near your sink and toilet, but if you’re unsure, contact a plumber instead of risking it. 

4. Trying to DIY Everything 

We get it: you’re handy. You know your way around basic plumbing issues. But what happens when you discover an unfamiliar problem?

Yes, you can Google your way through it, but is it worth the risk? The biggest mistake you can make is needing plumbing services but being too stubborn to hire a plumber.

At the very least, let them show you the right way to fix the problem so you can handle it on your own next time.

Avoid These Common Bathroom Plumbing Mistakes

These bathroom plumbing mistakes could turn your bathroom into an impromptu swimming pool if you’re not careful. When you’re DIY-ing it, make sure that you do everything by the book!

When in doubt, call a pro.

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