Some home maintenance tasks seem appealing initially as a do-it-yourself opportunity but often later reveal themselves as a significant challenge. Faucet replacement is an excellent example. It seems simple enough for a DIY project but can cost more time and money than expected. Let’s explore the potential pitfalls of DIY faucet replacement.
Consumer Protection
Most faucets that you can purchase at retail come with a product warranty. That warranty protects you against manufacturing defects that may not appear until later. This coverage usually protects you for a full year from the date of purchase. What many consumers don’t read is the warranty fine print. It typically requires professional installation. Manufacturers can and often will deny a claim without proof of it, such as an installation invoice.
The other consideration is that plumbing companies often provide additional protection and convenience. If you purchase a fixture through them and there’s something wrong, they’ll manage the replacement and return. Many plumbers also stand behind their work with a labor warranty and a satisfaction guarantee. That gives you additional peace of mind and is notable because most warranties only cover parts, not labor.
Time Commitment
Your time is valuable. How much of it do you want to commit to replacing a faucet? The average professional kitchen faucet replacement takes an hour or less. The average professional bathroom faucet replacement takes two hours or less. You can at least double that time for an amateur DIY installation, and that’s if everything goes well. If there are problems and additional trips to the store, you can burn an entire Saturday or even your whole weekend.
Tools and Materials
One of the oft-overlooked challenges of installing a faucet is the tools and supplies you’ll need. Our plumber will have all the equipment and materials required in our truck. If you have to buy new tools, that will increase your costs considerably, at least in the short term. If you start the replacement and realize you’ve forgotten something, the total project cost will increase even more.
Compatibility and Conversion
When purchasing a faucet, you’ll generally want to ensure you buy a compatible product. Our plumber will ensure that you do. You may need a conversion if you live in an older home or have an unusual setup. That’s often too difficult for an amateur DIYer. Our plumbers have extensive experience facing unusual installs and developing unique and practical solutions.
Professional and Comprehensive Inspection
Another advantage of hiring a professional is that we’ll thoroughly inspect the plumbing to which the replacement faucet will be connected. We can do this before you choose a faucet and decide how to proceed. In doing so, we’ll reveal any hidden issues well before starting the job.
Thorough Testing
When you complete a DIY replacement, you can check over your work but may not have the experience to identify issues. A plumber will perform a thorough assessment of the work after you complete it, giving you peace of mind that an issue won’t arise later.
Safety Considerations
Replacing a faucet can be more taxing than it seems at first. You’ll often have to position yourself under the sink at unusual angles for extended periods. You’ll work with wrenches, screwdrivers, utility knives, and other tools. There’s always the risk of slipping and injuring yourself.
Damage
One of the biggest concerns is what happens if something goes wrong. The vast majority of professional installations finish without a hitch. That said, if something does go wrong, you’re covered. A plumbing company has insurance for that very reason. If you make a mistake during a DIY installation and something goes wrong, you’re on the hook for the damage.
Do You Need a Faucet Installed?
Gunthers Heating, Cooling, and Plumbing is a residential and commercial plumbing contractor that’s served American Fork and the surrounding areas for over 110 years. Our plumbers perform gas, water, sewer piping and repiping, drain cleaning, and leak repair. We also install and repair storage and instantaneous water heaters, garbage disposals, water softeners, toilets, faucets, and other fixtures. Our NATE-certified technicians perform new installations, replacements, conversions, maintenance, and repairs.
They specialize in central air conditioners, ductless mini-splits, furnaces, heat pumps, boilers, and radiant heating. Our team fabricates sheet metal and designs, installs, seals, cleans, and repairs ductwork. We also install and service programmable and smart thermostats, whole-house humidifiers, and electric and solar-powered attic fans. Contact us today to learn more about these services or to schedule an appointment.
