Thanks to the internet, it’s easy to find tips to fix common household plumbing problems. However, you can make these issues worse if you don’t know what you are doing (or read bad online advice). Here are some common mistakes you can make with “DIY plumbing solutions.”

FORGETTING TO TURN OFF WATER

Before starting plumbing projects, plumbers shut off the water. When making your own repairs, it can be easy to forget this initial step. If you proceed without shutting off the main water valve, you may cause a localized flood when water rushes into the pipes. This can cause major damage to flooring and other parts of your building. You will waste water and incur higher water bills. It can also cause injury if the water is hot enough to burn or scald.

USING DUCT TAPE

Duct tape sometimes looks like a convenient fix for many problems, but for fixing pipes, duct tape is not a long-lasting solution. When exposed to water, the adhesive weakens and will eventually degrade.

MISMATCHING YOUR PIPES

If you aren’t a trained plumber, you may not know which pipes are connected. After disassembling pipes, you might mismatch them, causing clogging and leaking due to poor connections. Another possible mistake is attaching a galvanized pipe to a copper one. Without a connecting material, these materials react badly to each other and will quickly corrode, causing more leaks.

USING DRAIN CLEANER

Most drain cleaners contain heavy-duty chemicals. If used too often, they can corrode pipes. These chemicals are also toxic and can cause severe burns. Even worse, they may not treat persistent clogging properly, leaving you with damaged pipes containing dangerous chemicals inside them. A professional disconnects the pipes and removes obstructions with tools instead of using drain cleaners.

OVERTIGHTENING

When reattaching pipes, it’s possible to overtighten the fittings, which can cause them to crack from the pressure. A trained plumber knows how to reattach pipes and prevent future problems.

IMPROPER TOOLS

Plumbers have specialized tools (like professional grade wrenches and hand augers). You may not have these tools on hand when fixing plumbing yourself, or you will not know how to use them. Lack of preparedness can create mistakes, compounding any plumbing issues you already have.