5 Home Repairs You Should Never DIY
Do-It-Yourself (DIY) projects are reasonable on some occasions and for several reasons. Sometimes it may not be possible to hire a professional for everything that needs repair around the house. Besides, the cost of repairs, when hiring a professional, can quickly add up and become overwhelming.
But while there are repairs that you can undertake on your own, some are better left to the professionals. These are some of the home repairs you should never DIY. They’re not only unsafe but may end up causing more damage to your property as well.
1. Plumbing Repairs
The plumbing system is complex and needs to be handled with precision and accuracy. A minor error in the system can raise havoc in the home, leading to property damage and loss. Ensure you have a reputable plumber like Plumber Sutherland Shire or another within your area to take care of your plumbing issues.
You can replace a showerhead or faucet, but you should leave anything beyond that to a professional. An error in plumbing work can make things worse quickly. What may have started as a simple leak can escalate to a fully flooded house. Some of the plumbing problems that you shouldn’t try to DIY include:
* Broken toilets
* Frozen pipes
* Clogged drains
* Water heater issues
* Any concealed pipes, whether in walls, ceilings, or underground
2. Electric Repairs
Electrical repairs are among the top repairs you should never attempt to tackle on your own. You can do some things such as installing a light fixture or replacing a fuse, but only if you know what you’re doing. You shouldn’t try anything beyond that yourself. You should only allow a licensed electrician to handle your electric repairs. Electric repairs wrongly done are a danger to you and your home.
Although an electrician may be expensive, they’re your best bet. They’ve spent years of training to handle and work with high voltage and electric currents that can be deadly if performed by untrained persons. The risk involved in a DIY electric repair isn’t worth it. Get a professional to do the job and to ensure that your electrical infrastructure is proper and safe. You’ll be saving yourself from potential property damage, injuries, and even death.
3. Gas Appliance Repairs
Like electrical repairs, gas repairs have a steep price to pay should anything go wrong. Your home uses several gas appliances such as the stove, oven, water heaters, and driers. If you experience problems with any appliance that uses gas, don’t be tempted to try DIY repairs. Even when you turn off the gas safely, just like plumbing, a small error can cause a dangerous leak.
Apart from being a health hazard, gas is a fire hazard as well. Whenever you experience any problems with the gas system or any appliance that uses gas, call a professional immediately. You better be safe than attempt something that could cause more harm to your family and home.
4. Roofing Repairs
Repairing the roof is best done by a professional because it’s a risky and complicated task to undertake. You have to know precisely what you’re doing to repair a roof successfully. Statistics show that one-third of all construction work fatalities come from falling off a roof. And if these accidents commonly happen to professionals, then it would more likely happen to non-professionals.
You can do simple tasks such as gutter repair and clearing debris from your gutters. But even then, you need assistance that can hold the ladder for you to climb and to call for help in case of anything. Other than that, call a professional for your roofing works and repairs. Aside from the risk of injuries, the process of climbing up and down for supplies and tools can be quite tiring.
5. Structural Repairs
You should never attempt to repair the structure of your home at all. While you may have watched enough DIY videos on structural repairs, what you do may cause major structural damage to your house. You risk collapsing your entire house, so it’s advisable to engage a professional to make any structural repairs you need to be done.
Avoid also trying to make room extensions or additions, or you could mess with the house structure. This also includes basement repairs. Don’t just assume you can dig deeper; you need to consult a professional and ask for their advice first. Otherwise, you’ll risk disturbing the foundation of your house.
Conclusion
DIY repairs and projects bring a certain level of satisfaction. But there are some home repairs you should just let the professionals deal with. Even if you’re just trying to save costs, you might end up making the situation worse than it was. Besides, you risk losing your life and your property in the process, especially when it comes to repairs that involve gas and electricity. So, always call an expert for the situations mentioned above.