Do-it-yourself home improvement has risen significantly during the past decade, as is evidenced by the $43.7 billion dollar market value of the DIY industry in 2018. Although DIY is not a new concept, it’s caught on with many Americans who want to create something unique, work through stressful situations, or save a significant amount of money.
That said, the DIY route isn’t always an effective one. You might think you’re quite handy around the house, but that doesn’t mean you should play Mr. or Ms. Fix-It all the time. In addition to biting off more than you can chew, the DIY approach can also put you and your home at risk. There are certain home improvement tasks that you should always leave to the professionals to ensure both safety and cost-savings.
Plumbing repair
Household plumbing leaks and other issues are quite common, with the average American family wasting up to 180 gallons per week due to those unaddressed plumbing issues.
While fixing a dripping faucet or leaky toilet valve seal might not sound difficult, the source of the problem may go deeper than you think — and you could damage this equipment or purchase the wrong part if you aren’t familiar with this kind of work. Ultimately, you might end up making matters worse and spending more money in the long run than if you had contacted professional plumbing services.
Even minor household plumbing issues may require help from an expert. But you should always contact your plumber when dealing with frozen or burst pipes, pipe replacement or rerouting, drain cleaning, broken toilets, sewer issues, and other major plumbing problems. It’s simply not worth the risk to delve into DIY here.
Major appliance problems
You probably rely on your household appliances to accomplish tons of everyday tasks. If you plan on eating or having clean clothes in the average week, you need to be able to count on these appliances. And of course, they always break down right when we need them most.
According to a recent survey conducted by Consumer Reports, 36 percent of side-by-side refrigerators and freezers needed repairs within three to four years after their initial purchase. Approximately 25 percent of front-loading washing machines and 20 percent of dishwashers also broke down during that short period.
There could be a number of reasons for this trend, including pressure being put on manufacturers to release more new products during a shorter time frame and consumers deciding to buy cheaper products that aren’t built to last. But no matter why these problems happen, the important thing to remember is that you shouldn’t take on the repairs yourself.
DIY appliance repair can be extremely dangerous for amateurs, as these jobs come with high risks of electrical fires and electrocution. Nearly 51,000 home electrical fires occur every year and cause more than 1,400 injuries and 500 fatalities (not to mention more than a billion dollars in property damage) annually.
Even if a fire or electrocution does not occur, you could still sustain a serious injury attempting to repair a large appliance or make no headway in resolving the problem through your own efforts. That’s why professional appliance repair is always recommended. You can trust these experts to diagnose a problem correctly and fix it properly, alleviating disruption and safety concerns for your family.
HVAC and electrical issues
We use our home heating and cooling systems to ensure we’re comfortable year-round. Residential electricity also ensures that our houses are safe and inviting for all. In 2018, 29 percent of all residential energy consumption was attributed to space heating and cooling, while six percent was used for lighting. Not having access to these services can be an extreme inconvenience (and, in some cases, a safety hazard).
However, you should always resist the urge to attempt DIY electrical or HVAC repairs. Other than replacing your air filters on a monthly basis, all other HVAC tasks should be left to the professionals. Not only will you need specialized equipment and knowledge for these jobs, but these repairs typically require working with hazardous materials that could cause injury or death.
Even if you somehow manage overall safety, you could end up voiding your equipment warranty. If you need professional services in the future, your DIY attempts will ruin your eligibility for coverage. DIY electrical work comes with a lot of those same risks. You might hurt yourself or create a potential safety hazard that could harm someone in the future.
At best, you could lose power to your home; at worst, your handiwork could cause an electrical fire that wouldn’t be covered by insurance. In the end, those possible consequences aren’t worth it. Hence, you should make it a habit to hire a professional HVAC technician or electrician when your home needs work.
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