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You Shouldn't Try Doing These Plumbing Fixes Yourself
You Shouldn't Try Doing These Plumbing Fixes Yourself
4.8 RATING

You Shouldn't Try Doing These Plumbing Fixes Yourself

Many homeowners and property owners take on DIY plumbing jobs as a way to save some money and perhaps try something new.

October 12, 2026
You Shouldn't Try Doing These Plumbing Fixes Yourself

Many homeowners and property owners take on DIY plumbing jobs as a way to save some money and perhaps try something new. This is not a problem if you are changing a faucet or a showerhead, but there are some plumbing fixes that you should leave to the professionals. These are jobs that require specific technical knowledge as well as special equipment. We have put together a list of some plumbing fixes you should not try. You will be better off leaving these to the experienced plumbers like those at Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Jersey.

Replacing or Installing a Water Heater

If there is a little chance of mistakes when replacing a toilet, there is a lot more when replacing or installing a water heater. This is especially because electricity or gas are involved when it comes to a water heater installation. If the electricity is not properly shut down, you run the risk of being electrocuted. Similarly, improperly replacing the gas lines can cause a gas leak.

Fixing Leaking or Burst Pipes

Locating a leaking or burst pipe is challenging and can cause a whole lot of damage as you open up walls to access the pipes. A professional plumbing company such as Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Jersey, however, uses sophisticated technology to perform non-invasive leak detections.

Even if the pipe is visible, removing and replacing the pipe requires special techniques and equipment such as a torch to fuse the pipes together. Why risk water damage and a headache when you can just call Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Jersey for quick, reliable, and affordable service?

Our Customers Reviews

Chahib Chakrome

Summit, NJ

The service provided was great, nothing to say about the work of the plumber. 5 stars to him. But the company charges felt way too much for the work. We would have liked to have the same plumber take care of other things in the house, but every time he check how much extra the company will charge for the job, the price just got too much. The plumber did an amazing job he selected a beautiful faucet to replace our old one. He did his best. But the company prices have no room for negotiation.

Tiffany DeSande

Plainfield, NJ

A million stars!!!! Steve and Lucas were absolutely amazing. My parents pipes burst and within 4 hours of calling they came and fixed everything!!! Very nice guys and dealt with my panicking. I will always use them if needed in the future and you all should too!!! Thank god for people like this!!! Thank you so much guys!!!

Naomi Langer-Seltzer

New Brunswick, NJ

We got very quick service, I think the plumber actually arrived in less than an hour! After reviewing what was happening, he gave us our options and performed the option we selected. This happened in the late afternoon or early evening. It was already dark and there was a lot of snow on the ground.

Steve Smith

Mountainside, NJ

I needed immediate, same day service in the early evening at my home. I went to the internet and looked up plumbing services that offered "24-hour, 7-day a week" availability. The first 3 places I called said that they could not get to me until the following day. Then I called Mr. Rooter. They were courteous and promptly got a technician to my house within an hour and a half. The technician, Lucas Kaufmann, was exceptional. The job was not easy, but he figured the problem out and got me all fixed up within an hour's time. Moving forward, I…

Stephanie Brown

Cranford, NJ

Despite what was quite obviously a busy day (day after Thanksgiving at 10pm) TJ came out and did not leave until the job was done! There were several setbacks, which at the late hour might have prompted him to leave- but he chose to stay and continue until the job was complete! I only have one bathroom so I was really hoping he could make it work, and he really did a wonderful job! So thankful for all of his help! I highly recommend TJ!

Shaheen Dhanani

Union, NJ

This is my second time using Mr. Rooter and I have to say they are an excellent company of experienced professionals! The service techs were courteous, experienced and actually spent time trying to figure out the issue before proposing the solution. They were also patient and answered all my questions without rushing the work. I will be using them again.

Christie Murphy

Montgomery, NJ

TJ was amazing! 10/10 recommend this company. We were in an emergency state of panic with a burst pipe in the middle of a bad snowstorm. TJ came with knowledge, professionalism, kindness, and found the root of the problem within five minutes of being here. We will be using him again in the spring to fix an outdoor issue he found!

Alan Abraham

Clark, NJ

The technicians were friendly, professional and knowledgeable. The price was too high I believe, but the technicians had no control over that. The technicians took their time and did a great job. I would use them again and also recommend them.

Amy Swart

Berkeley Heights, NJ

Excellent service! Charles and Nicholas of Mr. Rooter arrived to my scheduled service a few minutes early, wore sanitary shoe coverings, and were extremely professional. They found the source of my leak quickly and fixed the issue. While they here, I requested an additional hydraulic heating inspection which they accommodated. They were very knowledgeable and provided helpful tips. I highly recommend this team and I will definitely call them for all future plumbing needs!!

JACKY Coppola

Wall Township, NJ

TJ came to my aid as the water pipe froze in my house. Although nothing could be done he gave me hints of what could be done my me which was very helpful. I found TJ very professional and caring about my situation. The best part of the very long night was the dogs adored him one wanted to accompany him to his next job. Thank you for employing such an amazing man. Plus today there is water running in the house. Thank you TJ and thank you Mr. Rooney plumbing for employing a man with helpful hints!!!!!

Frequently Clogged Drains

Unclogging a drain is easy enough. You just pour a chemical drain cleaner down the line and let it do its magic – right? Sure, but not really. These products marketed as quick solutions also have a list of ingredients that include harsh chemicals. These chemicals can deteriorate your pipes and do more harm than good.

The alteatives are household concoctions, plungers, and drain snakes. These can dislodge shallow clogs, but they can also just push the blockage deeper down the drain line. If you are experiencing frequently clogged drains, then it might be time to just clean the drain line. Professional plumbers use hydro jetting technology to thoroughly clean the inside of the drains for seamless flow.

Replacing a Toilet

If you were to read or watch a tutorial on how to replace a toilet, you would probably feel confident. The steps seem straightforward, but don’t be fooled. There is a lot of risk of mistakes and these mistakes can be costly considering your toilet is responsible for disposing of human waste.

At Mr. Rooter Plumbing of New Jersey, we have taken many calls to correct some of the mistakes caused by DIY plumbing fixes. One problem is not shutting off the water line properly or even damaging the water line. The good news is you will notice these mistakes quickly.

A more subtle mistake involves the seal. If the seal is not tight, then you can expect leaks into the flooring, eventually causing water damage and exposing you to harmful bacteria, pathogens, and microbes.

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