09/07/2026
Worth doing yourself. Swapping a showerhead, replacing a toilet flapper, clearing a slow drain with a hand auger, insulating exposed pipe before winter.
Worth calling a licensed plumber. Anything soldered, anything gas, anything behind a wall, water heater work, and any repair where the shutoff will not hold.
The dividing line is not difficulty. It is what happens when it goes wrong. A flapper leaks. A water heater connection floods a house.
If you are not sure which side of that line you are on, ask before you start. We would rather answer a question than fix the result.