Home Maintenance – When is DIY the Right Choice
Construction projects vary depending on the area of the country where you live. For instance, doing a project in Florida would be quite different than doing the same project in central Ohio. This has everything to do with the physical aspects of the job, including house construction and preparation of the grounds, but it also includes dealing with local building departments. Considering the differences you might understand that installing septic systems or a hot water heater would be quite different than doing the same job in Fort Lauderdale, Florida or Phoenix, Arizona.
Some people who are really handy around the house might tackle the job of installing their own water heating system, whether in Ohio, Florida or Arizona. This is not the simplest of jobs, but if you follow the guidelines and instructions, you can have some success. However, if DIY or plumbing do not appeal to you, you will want to hire a professional to do the job for you. Sometimes getting recommendations from trusted neighbors is a good way to contract out the job. The one thing you do want to avoid however, is hiring someone who is not qualified. You will end up paying far more, even though you are trying to get away cheap. Before you tackle this job yourself, make sure that you check with the local building authorities so that you can follow the current guidelines since those may have been changed since the original unit was installed.
If you are privileged to live in a metropolitan area or in a smaller urban area, there is a good chance that your water waste is handled by a sewer line attached to your house. A sewer is a great thing for a homeowner because of the convenience it offers. Many times when there are problems with the sewer, the city utilities department will take care of it. Of course, if the problem is on your property, you may be liable for the cost of fixing the sewer line. For example, one of your trees has extended its roots into the sewer line and clogged it up. It is always a good idea to do preventive maintenance on things that you do not always think about, and cleaning out your sewer line is something you probably do not think about on a daily basis.
Another type of system for disposing of household waste involves a tank and a drain field. Folks who live in areas that do not have access to the public utilities of the city generally have this type of disposal system. These systems also need periodic maintenance. One of the things that you need to be aware of is that the water inside tank needs lots of bacteria in order to operate. Every six months or so, you can deposit some of this good bacteria into your system. Unfortunately, there are times when major maintenance is required. If your drain field backs up you will need to either build a new drain field or repair the one that is backed up. In Florida, this is something that a very energetic homeowner can do by simply using a shovel. But in central Ohio, you will need to call in the heavy equipment because of the density of the soil and rocks. While it is possible to do this as a DIY project, it is not for the faint of heart. A professional is definitely recommended.
With the recent popularity of YouTube, it is possible to find a video about how to do just about anything, whether it is installing plumbing, or any other project around the house. However, you need to keep in mind that your house is a very valuable asset, and attempting to do projects, especially those that affect the structure and operation of your utilities could create more of a problem than you had originally. Before you attempt any of these projects, count the costs. In the end, the cost of hiring a professional could be cheaper than doing it yourself or even hiring some fast talking unlicensed construction worker. Paying for the job wants is much better than paying for it twice.
Author Bio: Stewart Wrighter has often called on the expertise of a Dayton hot water heater specialist to fix plumbing issues in his large office building. He contacted a Dayton septic systemsexpert to fix his disposal system.
Category: Home Management
Keywords: Dayton Hot Water Heater,Dayton Septic Systems