There’s a lot to be said for the can-do spirit of the amateur handyman, but, as any homeowner knows, there is a time and a place for attempting DIY repairs, and a time and a place for calling a professional. This is certainly true when it comes to plumbing. There are some plumbing issues you can address on your own; others, due to their sheer complexity, are better left to the professionals. Here are a few common plumbing projects for which you really ought to call a plumber:

Frozen or cracked pipes. Oftentimes, during the cold summer months, pipes can become frozen, and frozen pipes can become very easily damaged. Fixing a frozen or cracked pipe, however, is not the same as simply repairing a leak. This is a much tougher job, and one that’s best left to the pros.

Hot water heater issues. You can probably guess just how important the hot water heater is to the maintenance of comfort in your home; due to the extreme importance of this unit, and to how complex repairing or replacing it can be, this is a clear example of a plumbing problem that’s better handled by professionals.

Sewer backups. This doesn’t happen too often, but, if you see signs of sewage backup in your home, you should consider it a true plumbing emergency. These issues need to be resolved as promptly as possible, simply to avoid doing further damage. Call your local plumber and let him know what’s going on as soon as you are able!

Drainage backup issues. As with sewer backup problems, this issue should be counted as very serious, and too complex for the amateur plumber to handle. If this occurs in your home, call a professional plumber immediately!

Clearly, there are plenty of other, less complex and more common plumbing issues that you, as a homeowner, should know how to handle on your own. Tightening a leaky faucet is one. Dealing with a clogged toilet is another. Even something like making minor adjustments to the water heater’s temperature is well within the capacity of the homeowner. However, for any of the more complicated and severe issues cited above, enlisting a professional is highly recommended. Not only are these problems very difficult to handle, but failing to address them promptly and properly can actually do further damage to your home and your property!