When you’re a do-it-yourself plumber or still a student learning the craft, you’re more susceptible to some common pitfalls. Fortunately, by learning more about these errors, you can avoid costly re-dos or future repairs. Here’s a guide to basic plumbing mistakes that DIY technicians tend to make. 

Typical DIY Plumbing Mistakes

1. Relying on Harsh Chemicals

It can be tempting to rely on chemical cleaners when there’s a stubborn clog in the pipe. While these products may eliminate the blockage, they have the unfortunate side effect of corroding galvanized plumbing. It’s a much better bet to rely on a plumber’s snake to reach in and break up the clog. You can also try some homemade cleaners. For example, a mixture of equal parts baking soda and vinegar followed by boiling water will effectively dissolve clogs.

2. Overlooking Permits

When you’re not as used to a professional plumbing workflow, it’s easy to forget a few higher level concerns. Chief among them is the need for permits for certain types of plumbing jobs, such as adding a new bathroom or changing a drain line. Check with your municipality before starting any big project to ensure it will be up to code and not subject to fines later on.  

3. Forgetting the Shower Floor Slope

Installing a new shower floor with tiles is a big job, and it can be easy to forget a crucial piece of engineering in the process. To get the water to flow toward the drain and avoid pooling, you need a slight slant (usually a 4% drop, or ½ inch for every 12 inches) in the grade of the floor. To determine how much slope you need, measure the distance from the drain to the farthest corner in the shower, then convert it to feet and divide by four.

To minimize mistakes and master the trade of plumbing, join an elite technical institute like Berk Trade and Business School in Long Island City, NY. Accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), you can expect outstanding instructors, small class sizes, a flexible schedule, and help finding a job upon graduation. You can find out more about their curriculum by calling (718) 729-0909 or by visiting the trade school’s website.