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Don’t DIY These Common Home Repairs

May 1, 2019

When you’re a homeowner, there are a lot of projects around the house that you can take on yourself. Whether you’re staining the kitchen cabinets or unclogging the toilet, DIY can be empowering. However, there are some tasks that should be left to the professionals. There are several types of repairs that may seem easy, but can go quite terribly if done wrong.

Plumbing

Sure, a capable DIYer can handle some small plumbing tasks. Chances are you could replace an existing shower head or unclog your kitchen sink. But if you’re trying to modify your plumbing system in any way, such as by extending hot water lines or rerouting your sewer pipes, it’s best to leave it to the professionals. Working with hot water means copper pipes, which means a blow torch is your tool of choice. Unless you are a professional welder, it’s best to call in your plumber for this project. While it isn’t necessarily as dangerous as some home improvement projects, a plumbing mistake can lead to thousands of dollars worth of damage.

Electrical Work

If your home repair requires electrical work, put down the plyers and back away slowly. Sure, there are some minor repairs you could DIY just like plumbing. Changing a light switch, for example, is relatively simple — as long as you make sure to turn the power off. It’s important to make sure there is no current when you take on these DIY projects; invest in a voltmeter to help you.

However, in most cases, it’s best to just hire a professional electrician. In many cases, you will need a permit to get work done, and therefore, will need a professional. If you don’t know what you’re doing, extending circuits can be incredibly dangerous. You run the risk of electrocuting yourself or burning your house down. There are also safety codes that you must follow, and even if you don’t care right now, they will be major issues if you ever try to sell your home.

Gas Appliances

You likely have several different appliances that run on gas; for example, you dryer, oven, and hot water heater. In some cases, people aren’t trying to repair these devices; they just need to move them. They may simply need to move the stove away from a wall to paint it, for example. This is often when accidents happen. Gas will find a way to leak, even if you were initially careful cutting off the gas supply. If it isn’t properly hooked back up, it could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning, which can be fatal.

Structural Work

If you have any major structural work you need done on your house, it’s time to call a professional. If you don’t know what you’re doing, it’s possible to undermine the integrity of your home. You could inadvertently tear out a load-bearing wall, for example, which could result in your home collapsing. This is why if you need to make structural changes to your home, it’s safer to get a professional involved.

Roofing and Gutters

If there is any project you should leave to the professionals, it’s anything to do with your roof. Without proper training, experience, and safety equipment, roofs are the least safe to do manual labor. Unless you are a roofer yourself, leave this work to professionals.

The same logic applies to gutter cleaning and repair. You’re still facing the same vertical challenge of fixing your roof, but now you’re on the very edge. Trust us: give your gutter professional a call, and save yourself the risk of serious danger.

At Sparks Roofing, we have years of experience providing Nashville with high-quality roofing services. Whether you’re looking for gutter repair or metal roof installation, we’ve got covered. Contact us today for a consultation!

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