If you’re planning on fixing a blocked toilet or repairing a leaking faucet, make sure you know what you’re doing. A bodged plumbing job could prove costly, so before you go about your plumbing repairs try calling your plumbing insurance company.

Here are 5 of the most common home plumbing mistakes:

1. Joining mismatched pipes

Many people attempt to join mismatched pipes without realising that the diameter of the two pipes needs to be exactly the same. If the two ends are not connected properly they’ll leak and cause problems down the line. What’s more, amateur plumbers often attach a copper pipe to a galvanized steel pipe creating a non-sustainable solution. Copper pipes usually corrode quicker and this can lead to leakages.

2. Buying low quality parts

When it comes to plumbing it’s essential to use quality, well-fitting parts. Many homeowners opt for low-quality fittings, but these can disintegrate or fall apart. Cheap brand faucets, for example, might seem appealing but they’re likely to make the problem worse. It’s better to spend a bit more money to start with and solve a problem for good.

3. Fixing a mistake too quickly

If you’ve a blocked bath or a slow-draining sink a quick fix can be tempting. Nevertheless, it’s important to fix a plumbing problem properly to stop it reoccurring.  Many homeowners carry out a half-hearted repair job and end up damaging their waterworks. If you’re attempting DIY for the first time you might want to consider drainage insurance – just in case.

4. Not turning off the water valve

Turning off the water valve is an essential part of home plumbing – but many people forget to do it. The stopcock restricts the flow of water through a pipe and when it’s left on, things can get messy. You really don’t want to be taking pipes apart when they’re full of water as you risk flooding your house.

5. Leaving threaded joints unsealed

Threaded joint connections on shower heads, sinks and water heaters need to be sealed with plumbing tape to prevent leakages. Many people forget to create a water tight seal and end up with water spraying everywhere. It’s not enough to simply screw a few parts together, so always make sure you do finish the job off properly.

So if you’re planning on doing your own plumbing work, keep these mistakes in mind.

For more information on DIY Plumbing repairs visit: DIY Newbie - Advice for Amateur Home Improvers