History Main / DoItYourselfPlumbingProject

* Being TheKlutz, this happens a lot to the title character of ''ArchieComics''. What starts as an annoying leak will often end with a flooded basement.

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* A running gag in ''WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes'' and its various SpiritualSuccessor series (such as ''TinyToonAdventures'') is the constant losing battle one fights against that nagging, dripping faucet.

* Parodied in ''TheSimpsons'' episode "Dumbbell Indemnity", where Homer tries to fix the water heater... by [[PercussiveMaintenance beating it with a wrench]] until it explodes.

* The entire premise of the ''RockosModernLife'' episode "Pipe Dreams", in which Rocko and Heffer try everything they can think of to unclog a toilet. [[spoiler:It turns out there's a giant goldfish living in the septic tank.]]

* Disney's ''The Rescuers''

* ''Eric's World'' had a clever subversion when Eric and C.J. had to deal with a leaky faucet. Rather than try to fix it themselves, C.J. suggests they call a plumber. When Eric protests that it's the middle of the night and they won't be able to get a plumber this late, C.J. uses his trusty "Plumber's Signal" (essentially a [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Bat Signal]] with the image of a pipe wrench, rather than a bat) to call a plumber, who arrives less than ten seconds later.

** Another HGTV show, ''DisasterDIY'', has contractor Bryan Baeumler come in to fix DIY projects gone wrong.

* One episode of ''FamilyMatters'' had Karl trying to install a second shower in the house. Before his wife finally convinced him to call a plumber, he had somehow gotten the bathroom set up so that you turn on the shower by turning off the sink (simply put, he placed the shower's faucet upstream from the tee that divided between sink and shower).
* ''HannahMontana'': When Jackson learned how much plumbers usually charge for their work, he convinced his Dad to hire him for a smaller (but still big enough to convince Jackson) amount. Jackson's Dad was furious at the results and called a professional plumber. Surprisingly, the plumber concluded Jackson actually prevented something ''worse'' from happening and said Jackson could be a professional plumber.

-> ''We repair what your husband fixed.''
-->-- Sign seen on a plumbing truck.

* The ''{{Popeye}}'' cartoon ''Plumbing is a Pipe'' has Popeye helping Olive fix her leaky plumbing when the plumber (Wimpy) takes too long to arrive. It goes as expected until Popeye eats his spinach and starts [[GoodOldFisticuffs punching]] the gushing pipes so hard that they seal themselves, then lifts the house off its foundation and tips it over to pur the water out a window. Shortly afterward, Wimpy finally arrives and all the pipes burst open again.

* ''PerfectStrangers'' had a memorable episode, entitled "Pipe Dreams", where Jennifer asks Larry to let the plumber in while she and Mary Ann are away on a flight, so he can replace the showerhead. Larry agrees but then immediately calls to cancel the plumber - against Balki's advice - saying he will do it himself, in order to impress Jennifer. After what Balki describes as "twenty-three hours of backbreaking labour" Balki and Larry turn on the new showerhead to test it: the showerhead flies off as a jet stream of water shoots out, the taps at the sink fly off the basin with their own water jets, the toilet erupts like OldFaithful and opening the cabinet results in a flood from the pipes. This episode was regarded by the cast, crew and fans as one of the funniest of the entire series.
* A whole episode of ''TheGoldenGirls'' was devoted to them trying to renovate their own bathroom. One result is the shower turning on when they turned the tap over the handbasin.
* In the first season of ''TheLucyShow'' Lucy and Vivian's attempts to install a shower have them filling up the entire stall with water and nearly drowning.

* ''TheFreshPrinceOfBelAir'': The family has a routine that involves precautions like a 3-minute shower limit for whenever Uncle Phil goes on one of these sprees, but eventually this time, Vivian has to resort to the LysistrataGambit to get him to call the plumber.
* In one of the later seasons of BoyMeetsWorld Corey and Topanga (now married) move into a tiny fleabag apartment with rusty pipes. This trope is averted as Corey is able to actually ''fix'' the pipes (even though he got [[HilarityEnsues hilariously]] wet and messy in the process.
* In the aptly-named ''[[Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' episode "Flooded," Buffy tightens a pipe with a wrench to stop a leak ... (pause for a moment) ... and then all the other pipes burst, effectively flooding the basement.
* In the ''Frasier'' episode "Seat of Power," Martin makes fun of Frasier and Niles' lack of practical skills, so in an attempt to prove him wrong they try to fix Frasier's toilet, with [[DoItYourselfPlumbingProject foreseeable results]]. Even more HilarityEnsues when they call in the plumbers, who turn out to be [[spoiler: the bullies who tormented them in grade school]].

* Subverted on ''That70sShow'' when Red and Eric try to fix the kitchen sink. Although they fail to fix the sink, they don't do any major damage and decide to just call a plumber to fix it.

* In ''The Sims'' series, a Sim can try to fix their broken plumbing themselves instead of calling a repairman or telling the landlord, much like they can with appliances. Plumbing is safer. A broken computer or TV set can electrocute a Sim whose skill isn't high enough, whereas fixing a toilet or sink will only make a Sim dirty and angry (read: decrease their Comfort and Fun) and the thing is now likely to break again immediately after.

'''Examples:'''

* In ''The Sims'' series, a Sim can try to fix their broken plumbing themselves instead of calling a repairman or telling the landlord, much like they can with appliances. Plumbing is safer. A broken computer or TV set can electrocute a Sim whose skill isn't high enough, whereas fixing a toilet or sink will only make a Sim dirty and angry (read: decrease their Comfort and Fun) and be likely to break again immediately after.

* ''CalvinAndHobbes'': Calvin has tried to fix the bathroom faucet on [[strike: one]] more than one occasion. It ended up flooding the house.

* {{Garfield}} - Jon has also occasionally tried to fix a leaking faucet, with the expected results.

* ''Eric's World'' had a clever subversion when Eric and C.J. had to deal with a leaky faucet. Rather than try to fix it themselves, C.J. suggests they call a plumber. When Eric protests that it's the middle of the night and they won't be able to get a plumber this late, C.J. uses his trusty "Plumber's Signal" (essentially a [[{{Batman}} Bat Signal]] with the image of a pipe wrench, rather than a bat) to call a plumber, who arrives less than ten seconds later.

* ''EdEddNEddy'' do this to Johnny 2x4's kitchen sink in "Rent-A-Ed", after Ed breaks it while looking for some dish soap.

[[quoteright:325:[[TheThreeStooges http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/the_three_stooges_a_plumbing_we_will_go_1_1047.jpg]]]]

* TheThreeStooges, in ''[[Recap/TheThreeStoogesAPlumbingWeWillGo A Plumbing We Will Go]]'' pose as plumbers to escape the police and end up destroying the house, getting water in the electrical system, digging up the lawn, etc.

->'''Calvin:''' "La dee da da dee dee da da/I think I'll get a buck-et.../ [[SuspiciouslySpecificDenial Nothing's wrong...]][[BlatantLies No need to panic]]/I just need a bucket to hold some...stuff...."
->'''Calvin's parents:''' (simultaneously) "'''Your''' turn."
-->--''CalvinAndHobbes''

* In the aptly-named ''[[BuffyTheVampireSlayer Buffy]]'' episode "Flooded," Buffy tightens a pipe with a wrench to stop a leak ... (pause for a moment) ... and then all the other pipes burst, effectively flooding the basement.

* One episode of ''FamilyMatters'' had Karl trying to install a second shower in the house. Before his wife got him to call a plumber, he had somehow gotten the bathroom set up so that you turn on the shower by turning off the sink.

* Disney's The Rescuers
* TheThreeStooges, in "[[Recap/TheThreeStoogesAPlumbingWeWillGo A Plumbing We Will Go]]" pose as plumbers to escape the police and end up destroying the house, getting water in the electrical system, digging up the lawn, etc.
* Film/{{Brazil}} has the maliciously incompetent Dowser and Spoor and the competent freelance maverick Harry Tuttle.

* PerfectStrangers had a memorable episode, entitled "Pipe Dreams", where Jennifer asks Larry to let the plumber in while she and Mary Ann are away on a flight, so he can replace the showerhead. Larry agrees but then immediately calls to cancel the plumber -against Balki's advice- saying he will it do it himself, in order to impress Jennifer. After what Balki describes as "twenty-three hours of backbreaking labour" Balki and Larry turn on the new showerhead to test it: the showerhead flies off as a jet stream of water shoots out, the taps at the sink fly off the basin with their own water jets, the toilet erupts like OldFaithful and opening the cabinet results in a flood from the pipes. This episode was regarded by the cast, crew and fans as one of the funniest of the entire series.

** Another HGTV show, DisasterDIY, has contractor Bryan Baeumler come in to fix DIY projects gone wrong.