Not long ago a buddy called to ask me for the name of a good plumber. (Because of my job at HANDY, I get these calls a lot.) He wanted to replace the old mustard-yellow toilet that had been lurking in his master bathroom. “Replace a toilet, eh?” I responded, “I know just the guy. Go into the bathroom that has the old toilet; then look in the mirror and say hello to your plumber.”
A leaking pipe can do a lot of damage, so it’s with good reason that many people are intimidated by plumbing projects. Though it’s true that most homeowners aren’t qualified to replace a water heater, any DIYer can tackle many basic projects that don’t take too long or pose much risk.
In the PDF document (right sidebar), you’ll find a variety of plumbing upgrades that require no professional expertise and few tools. You — yes, you — can fearlessly replace an old toilet with a more efficient one, upgrade your kitchen faucet with a pullout-spout model, install a new tub or shower and more.