Everywhere that we turn, it seems as though we see articles espousing the virtues of do-it-yourself (DIY) projects and how amazing they can be. Of course, they mention nothing of the risks involved when we take on certain projects on our own. Instead, they simply offer links to products that the everyday consumer can buy to become a master repairman, all in their own home with no further education!
Now, if you cannot already tell from the tone of this article today, I would like to highlight those risks. There are plenty of projects that we really can do by ourselves, that are not endangering us and others. However, some things should simply be left to professionals. The line can be hard to draw at times, admittedly, so looking at guidelines like this one can be somewhat helpful in that regard.
Today, I would like to discuss this whole topic further. I will be offering a deep dive on what to avoid when it comes to what we can attempt on our lonesome versus what to call in extra help for. If that sounds like something you want guidance on, hopefully, you will keep reading!
Breaking Down Do-it-Yourself
First, let us break down the whole concept of “DIY.” At the start, I do think that it was a well-intentioned idea. After all, the ability for consumers to be able to create and repair things at little-to-no cost to themselves, simply with the items they had available at home, is a great thing. Unfortunately, over time the phrase has been misconstrued over and over again.
No longer is it limited to crafting projects or patching up a chair that lost its leg. Now, there are sites that seem to encourage people to do dangerous activities for the sake of saving a dollar or two. Needless to say, that sort of behavior is simply not worth it. What do I mean?
Well, you can see some of it on this page: https://marketbusinessnews.com/diy/. Briefly, let me cover some projects that there is no harm in doing on your own. Painting the walls of a home or even your porch or deck is certainly something that you can accomplish with relative ease. You are hardly taking a huge risk to your health by doing so.
Additionally, if you enjoy activities and hobbies such as woodworking, making your own shelves or other pieces of furniture (so long as you are confident in their structural integrity) is perfectly fine! Honestly, I encourage you to pursue things like that, as they can be quite enriching. Even making small repairs is usually fine, so long as you know what you are doing at least to some extent.
When Does it Get Dangerous?
So – now you know what DIY is and how it was initially intended to operate. Let us dive right into the projects that you should probably leave to the experts. This will help you avoid any unnecessary injuries or damage to your property.
1. Plumbing
One of the most important parts of a functional home is having working indoor plumbing. There is good reason that many people say it is the invention that they prize the most from the past few centuries! Having to go outside into an outhouse or using a chamber pot are simply not things that we want to be doing, especially when it’s freezing outside.
That means that when there is a serious problem with yours, it may be time to call in an HVAC plumbing contractor for a consultation and appointment. Some examples of this could be pipes that are leaking, clogged drains that refuse to clear with the normal cleaning products, or if the hot water is not turning on. All of these are probably not something that we can tackle on our own without considerable expertise.
If you do try, though, what are the risks involved? Unfortunately, there are many. Water damage is probably the biggest one. Surprisingly enough, it is one of the costliest types of damage to try to recover from in terms of structural soundness. You could even cause the entire room to flood, which can make for some serious trouble.
2. Electrical
Underestimating the power of electrical currents happens all too often, and more times than not it ends in tragedy. Why is that? Well, just two-hundred volts can be quite dangerous to people, as you can read about here in this article. Getting electrocuted is a serious risk if you decide to try your hand at repairing these problems yourself.
3. Roof
Having a leaky roof may not seem like a huge deal at first glance. Perhaps you think to yourself that it should be easy to fix, even if you are not overly experienced. I urge you not to attempt this, though, and there are a few motivations behind this.
While they are fairly common pieces of equipment, work that is done on ladders should be taken seriously and approached with the appropriate levels of caution. Many people die each year due to accidents involving ladders, even if they seem like something quite easy to utilize. A lot of those tragic occurrences involve roofing repairs.
4. Heating or HVAC Systems
If the job involves natural gas, then you should steer clear of it unless you have vast knowledge about the requirements. Untrained hands messing with gas systems like an HVAC unit could result in complete disaster. I am talking about explosions, burns, and even poisoning if too much carbon monoxide is breathed in.
Other
My final category of dangerous DIY products cannot really be contained under one title besides this one but stick with me. An example is chimney sweeping, which may seem like something that we can easily accomplish by ourselves. The reality is that chimney systems are quite complex, and if the job is done poorly, it could cause some serious trouble.
Breaking down walls is another one, which often comes as a surprise to people. We see homeowners taking sledgehammers to their walls all the time on TV, so why should we not do it? There are structural considerations that must be made, as well as the risk of having something in the wall (like rodents or even raccoons), or asbestos. So, it is usually better to be safe than sorry, even when it comes to tasks like the ones above.
When in Doubt? Bring in a Professional
Generally, unless you are fully confident that you can make a fix or a repair, it is better to call in a contractor who knows what they are doing. Sure, the initial expense might seem rather hefty. However, down the line, it is actually saving you some money. How does that work? Well, if your attempted fixes end up causing more damage, then you will end up having to pay far more to a contractor to clean up that mess. Injuries that occur in the United States are also costly, depending on your health insurance plan. Most of us would prefer to avoid that hospital stay and all the costs that come with it, though. Hiring someone else might seem like a pain, but at the end of the day, it is well worth it.
