Ignite Plumbing & Heating
DIY Plumbing vs Professional — A Norfolk Homeowner's Guide
What can you safely do yourself? Where does DIY become dangerous? A frank guide from a Norfolk plumber.
What you can safely DIY
Bleeding radiators. Replacing toilet seats. Changing a tap aerator. Fitting a new showerhead. Replacing a shower head hose. Changing a radiator TRV (thermostatic valve head). Clearing a simple sink blockage with a plunger.
What needs a plumber but not necessarily an emergency
Replacing a tap washer or cartridge (most people don't have the right tools). Fitting a new toilet fill valve. Adding an outside tap. Replacing a radiator. Fixing a running toilet.
What must be done by a qualified engineer
Connecting to the mains water supply. Any notifiable electrical work (shower installation). Structural alterations involving load-bearing elements. Some of these also need Building Regulations notification.
The cost of DIY gone wrong
We regularly attend DIY repairs that have made things worse — push-fit fittings not fully inserted, olive compressions overtightened and cracked, gas connections not leak-tested. The original repair cost is now doubled by the need to fix the fix.
When to call us
If you're not sure, call us for advice — it's free. We'd rather spend 5 minutes on the phone advising a competent DIYer than attend a call-out for a problem that was made worse by hesitation.