Home Repairs You Should Never Do Yourself

Renovating your home can be a great way to improve your quality of life and the value of your home, and you can do many of these renovations by yourself to save your hard-earned money.

While you can learn how to do many repairs from YouTube videos, there are some repairs that are too dangerous or could end up costing even more money if you attempt them yourself.

Avoid asbestos, electrical, and plumbing repairs

If you have asbestos in your house, it’s best to call a professional, who has the proper equipment and knows how to safely remove the asbestos. Asbestos is incredibly toxic and is most dangerous when inhaled. It can cause scarring of the lungs, lung cancer, or even mesothelioma.

Many people are shocked to hear that one of the most dangerous home repairs is electrical repairs. Without the necessary knowledge, amateur electrical repairs may result in buried or improper wiring that can lead to electrocution or fires. If you’re experienced in home repair, installing a light fixture ought to be okay, but trickier electrical repairs require an electrician.

While snaking a drain or using Drano is an easy solution to clogged pipes, more in-depth plumbing problems require the help of a plumbing professional. Attempting to repair leaking pipes on your own can quickly get out of hand, resulting in less money for your other, more exciting home renovations.

Watch out for gas leaks and basement fixes

Attempting to repair a problem on your oven, furnace, or dryer on your own can cause gas leaks that can make you sick or even cause an explosion. While it can be tempting to try to save money repairing these costly appliances, it’s best to pay a professional who has done repairs like this thousands of times before. The upfront cost can be daunting, but it’s better to have lighter pockets than an explosion at home.

Basement renovations can be a tempting repair to tackle yourself, especially since few people will see the results of your handiwork. However, it’s not the visible parts of the basement that can hurt your wallet, but failing to add the proper safety features that prevent you from having to spend more money down the line. Fire-blocking, which helps stop a basement fire from spreading to other areas of the house, and vapor barriers, used to prevent the spread of moisture and mold to other areas of the house, are two important repairs that amateur renovators commonly forget.

Saving money on pricey home repairs by tackling them yourself can be tempting, but there’s a reason why the professionals charge so much – these repairs can be dangerous and require specialized knowledge and equipment to complete them safely. Besides, your wallet may thank you later for not having to spend even more money on repairing work you’ve already done. It’s always best to focus on the renovations that you know and enjoy doing, while leaving the dangerous projects to the professionals.