Do you love a bit of DIY?  It doesn't just save you a bit of cash, it gets you off the couch, fills you with empowerment and self-reliance and can be the perfect parent-child or partner-to-partner bonding experience.  And while all that is true, skipping the professional help can also be the source of a heck of a headache - particularly if you're going to dive into your own household plumbing.

Any experienced plumbers, will tell you they've rescued plenty of keen do-it-yourself-ers from their self-inducted bathroom plumbing nightmares.  Here are a few of our favourites, including a timely tip for each so that - with a bit of luck - you'll avoid the same headwinds:

1. A Blasted Drain

Who uses high pressure water jetters?  Plumbers, of course, but also plenty of other industries - including a guy who borrowed a water jetter from a mate who was in the industrial storage tank game.

When he tried to blast away a blockage from his shower drain, he didn't realise that the machine he was using would also blast away the actual PVC pipe itself.  Oops!

PRO TIP: Not all water jetters are suitable as drain blockage tools!  Some water jetters are so powerful they have the ability to cut through glass and even inches of metal, so always triple-check the machine in your hot little hands is fit for purpose.

2. More Than A Leaky Tap

Leaky tap?  No big deal for this do-it-yourself-er, who fancied pulling the tap apart to get to a broken washer.  Seems simple enough, except that he dislodged some fragments of the disintegrated washer and jumper which flushed down into the supply pipe.  The result?  A leaky tap became a blocked pipe.

PRO TIP: If you're going to change a broken washer, turn the mains supply off fully and ensure that every bit of the damaged parts are removed whilst thoroughly cleaning and lubricating the O-rings and spindles too.

3. One Breakage Became Two

When a plumbing pipe goes bang, most people reach for the number of their local plumber.  One do-it-yourself-er, however, reached for the shovel and their pipe hacksaw to fix the problem themself on the other side of the bathroom window.  They'd done it before - cut out the burst bit and connected a new pipe section.  Once they were done, however, BANG!  A lack of experience either when digging or cutting meant yet another part of the old and weakened pipe went bang as well.

PRO TIP: If you're going dig up a burst pipe, our best advice is to over-dig the area so that the entire surrounding section is visible whilst you work.

Don't Be Shy To Ask A Pro

DIY plumbing can seem like a brilliant idea - and then end up ankle deep in filthy water.  If you're going to have a go at basic plumbing jobs, make sure you're confident, have the correct tools, use a 'safety first' approach, and be super-dooper careful.  And if something starts to go wrong or that confidence dips to zero mid-job, don't be ashamed to sheepishly ask your local friendly plumber to save the day!