When Should You Call a Plumber? (And When Can You DIY?)

Plumbing has a wide DIY range. Here's an honest breakdown of what's safe to tackle yourself vs. what really needs a pro.

Safe to DIY

• Replace a toilet flapper or fill valve
• Clean a clogged aerator
• Plunge a clogged toilet
• Replace a faucet (if you have basic tools and time)
• Clean a P-trap under a sink
• Install or replace a showerhead
• Caulk a tub or sink
• Test your sump pump

Probably DIY, but know your limits

• Replace a garbage disposal (electrical involved)
• Snake a tub or sink drain (small clogs only)
• Replace supply lines under a sink

Call a plumber

• Any gas line work — even installing a new range
• Main sewer line backups
• Burst pipes or any significant leak
• Water heater repair or replacement
• Slab leaks or hidden leaks
• Repiping
• Anything inside a wall
• Anything where you'd need a permit
• Backflow preventer testing or repair
• If you tried the fix and it's not working — keep going often makes it worse

Why the line matters

Plumbing work that involves the inside of walls, gas, or main supply lines has consequences if done wrong — flooding, fire, contamination of the home's water supply. The cost of professional work is usually less than the cost of a botched DIY plus repair.