Home Repairs You Should Never Do Yourself

With an influx of DIY television shows and online blogs, you may be thinking about cutting costs by doing some home repairs on your own. Some repairs are safe to tackle alone, while there are other home repairs you should never do yourself. Understanding the difference will benefit you and your wallet.

Plumbing

An improper understanding of the delicateness of piping inside your home could leave you with severe water damage. Plumbing may seem simple—turn the water off, watch a “how-to” video, and voila, you’re all set. The issue is that in an established home, you may not have the information on the age of your pipes. Applying too much pressure could cause cracks in the lines that will need replacing.

Mismatching the connected pipes will bring you to another potential flooding. Understanding specific measurements and properly sealing plumbing is vital. For example, a toilet that isn’t placed correctly is not only dangerous to sit on, but will leak sewage into your floor and the ceiling below. Leave plumbing to the professionals; it is not worth the consequences.

Electrical

Attempting to do electrical work yourself is extremely dangerous. Ensuring you’ve turned off the proper breaker is crucial. Poorly-wired electrical work can cause a fire in your walls. During the work, any misstep can result in serious shocking, electrocution, or even death. It’s best to not attempt this work on your own if you are unfamiliar or untrained in this field.

Water Heater

Water heaters are one thing in your home that you probably don’t think about often. These are extremely dangerous to work on and install yourself, if not trained to do so. Water heaters use combustible fuel to run, and if they’re not adequately maintained, they can explode. A massive water heater explosion will not only level your house but any other homes in the vicinity.

A water heater with its pilot light out can cause carbon monoxide poisoning. Most water heaters today use gas. Without proper ventilation, carbon monoxide builds. Understanding how water heaters work, what they need to be as safe as possible, and the importance of regular inspections is critical. This, for good reason, is one of the home repairs you should never do yourself. Using professionals to service your water heater could mean the difference between life and death.

Furnace Maintenance

Unless you’re a trained professional, it’s never a good idea to do your own furnace maintenance. Short of changing your filter, this work is best to be left to someone qualified. Improper servicing of the furnace could result in carbon monoxide poisoning, a fire, or many more extensive issues requiring an expert to fix.

There is plenty on your to-do list within your home to keep you busy. Don’t risk the health and safety of you and the people around you needlessly. Follow home safety guidelines to keep your most dangerous machinery in quality condition and contact a professional for help when necessary. There is no reason to put yourself in danger when you can have a certified contractor address an issue promptly and accurately. At the very least, they may be willing to give you some free advice over the phone.

Sincerely,