Don’t Try This at Home – DIY Repairs You Should NEVER Attempt

Home Services — By Sofianna on July 13, 2012 11:24 am

Don’t fancy blowing up your house or flooding your bedroom? Here’s why you should leave some DIY fixes to the professionals. While DIY tasks may save you some money (at first) and be part of the “fun,” here are some home fix-its you should never attempt unless you’re a professional.

1. Gas Appliance Repairs

Some common household items that may need gas repairs are your dryer, oven, water heater and air-conditioning. You’ve probably heard of someone who’s attempted an air-con repair, which then led to leaking, which then led to many other costly problems such as mould in the walls. In some cases, it’s not the repair itself that is a safety issue but gas leaks. For example, the replacement of a water heater seems easy enough, but this is where fatal accidents can happen. This often occurs when inexperienced hands hook the appliances up. The end result of a simple fix could lead to accidental death through carbon monoxide poisoning. Saving a few dollars upfront is not worth your family’s well-being. This is not a myth.

2. Electrical Repairs

Common sense tells us that projects involving electricity should be approached with extreme caution. Like most DIY fans, you may be able to pull off minor repairs like changing a light switch or installing a ceiling fan as long as you stick to the rule of thumb of ensuring your power is turned off before you start. You can test the switch against the breaker be positive that there isn’t a current, or just turn off the master switch. This is true in some minor cases. However, if the repair goes beyond a simple fixture, like fixing electrical wiring, we recommend you call a professional electrician. In some instances, you have to have a permit to get the work done, so hiring a professional is your only option. Bear in mind that one wrong move could possibly burn your house down or induce a high-voltage shock leading to severe injury or death.

3. Plumbing Repairs

Like minor electrical repairs, you can probably manage some minor plumbing repairs, such as changing a shower head or replacing a leaky faucet. Bear in mind though that a small leak can lead to irreversible and expensive damage if it’s not repaired properly. Water is liquid, and if there’s a way in or out, water will find it. Admittedly, plumbing is not as dangerous as electric work, but more complicated repairs should be left in the expert hands of a plumber to avoid a flooded house.

4. Roof or Ceiling Repairs

Repairing a roof or high ceiling is not recommended mainly due to falls. It’s tiring work, because you need to make sure you have your proper tools up there with you, or else you will be climbing up and down the ladder incessantly. Working in this manner makes you more susceptible to slipping and falling. It does not take great heights for a fall to be dangerous. Depending on how you land, what you land on and anything you may hit on your way down, is the difference between a recoverable injury or paralysation. A missed step or quick slip is all it takes to turn your world upside-down.

5. Asbestos Removal

It seems far-fetched that asbestos may still be found in a home or business in this day and age, what with all the heightened awareness in regards to toxicity. However, asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral and has been used for years previously. So you never know when or where you may come across it in your daily life. It’s best to get professional asbestos abatement teams to check for and then remove this toxic material. It’s highly dangerous and has incurable long-term effects.

6. Window Cleaning

Okay, so this one is not a repair or fix-it situation, although windows can get broken. If you live in a single storey abode, then this is not a problem. However, if you live in an apartment or high-rise, we recommend that you do not attempt any of these for obvious safety reasons.

Maids fall to death while cleaning windows

The next time you’re tempted to put on your tool-belt and play Mr / Miss Fix-it, think about it twice. It may save you a few coins at first, but you never really know the hidden costs till it’s too late.

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