How to do plumbing yourself?

If you have had to call in a plumber to make an emergency repair or stop a leak, you will already be aware of the high costs involved. By learning some basic plumbing techniques, you may not learn how to be a plumber but you will be confident enough to stop any future leaks through your DIY plumbing. Read the guide below to learn how to do this for yourself.

Teach yourself plumbing

Buy a guide to plumbing Purchase an instructional book, complete with detailed pictures and diagrams teaching you the basic principles of plumbing. Most home DIY books will have a section on plumbing although a specialised publication on this subject would give you a more detailed subject to study and learn. Keep this book handy for any time you need to put these skills into practice. Videos Study videos of plumbers in action. There are several instructional videos for DIY plumbers and video can give you a more detailed idea of how to do something than a still picture can. Take a course Many community colleges offer courses in basic plumbing skills. These courses may teach you how to fix a leaking pipe or that sometimes a simple washer replacement is all that is required as a general fix-it solution. Unclogging blocked drains or fixing the flush system on a toilet are all skills best learnt through the hands-on experience that a course provides.

Hands-on experience

Hardware or DIY stores Some of the larger chain stores involved in the building industry offer self-help classes or instructional lessons in a variety of skills for the DIY enthusiast. In just a few hours, these mini courses will give you the necessary hands-on instruction in dealing with the basics of home plumbing. Check with your local store to see what courses they may have available. Purchase the specialist plumbing tools you may require. You could go to the store and buy all the plumbing tools that you may need but this would possibly cost you more than the cost of an emergency call out charge. The most economical way to build up your tools is to have a few of the essentials to stop a leak but then, only buy the specialist tools as and when you need them.