Taking the DIY route when you need to do something at home can often work out well. You can do some basic plumbing, lay some parquet flooring, or do your own painting and produce some pretty good results. The more you DIY, the more you can build up your skills. Not to mention, you’ll save some money too. However, not everything is suitable for doing yourself. It’s important to remember that some home tasks are too dangerous to tackle on your own. You need to know when it’s essential to hire a contractor, or at least have some help from other people.
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Roofing
Anything that involves heights, including roofing, is most likely not appropriate for you to DIY. To work safely on a roof, you need to have the correct equipment, which ideally includes harnesses and other safety equipment. You should hire a roofing contractor for any roof repair needs, instead of attempting it yourself. The same is true for clearing out gutters (higher than the first floor) and cleaning high windows. You can safely use a ladder, if you have the right ladder, but it’s best not to do it alone. Anything higher up than a standard ladder likely requires a professional.
Heating Repairs
When your furnace or other heating appliance needs to be serviced or repaired, you should let a professional take care of it. Whenever you’re dealing with appliances that burn fuel, things can go very wrong if you don’t know what you’re doing. If the appliance isn’t working as it should, it could lead to a buildup or leak or carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. There are some minor repairs or servicing tasks that you might be able to do yourself, such as changing the filter. However, any major repairs should be carried out by a furnace repair professional.
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Electrical Work
Messing about with electrics when you don’t know what you’re doing can get you into big trouble. There could be some small tasks you’re capable of doing. Everyone can change a light bulb, and you might be able to install a new plug on an appliance. However, electrical work can be very dangerous if you’re not experienced. For most tasks, it’s much smarter to hire an electrician to get the job done for you. They can do all kinds of things, from installing new lighting fixtures and plug sockets to completely rewiring your home.
Tree Trimming/Removal
When a tree is causing a nuisance, it could be tempting to get out a hand saw or chainsaw and try to tackle it. However, even though you might think it will be easy, it’s really not a job that you want to do on your own. Using a chainsaw, in particular, can be very dangerous and you really shouldn’t do so without the correct training. On top of dangerous tools, you could always miscalculate and have a branch or a whole tree fall on you or someone/something else.
Window replacement
Over time your windows will become outdated, misshapen, and generally in need of replacing. However, much like roofing, heading up a ladder to work from a great height is very dangerous, especially if you don’t know what you’re doing. And, if you’ve got wood windows, there’s a chance you’ll have more trouble removing them due to misshapen wood.
Avoid doing these dangerous home tasks on your own. Hiring a professional is the best route for complete safety.
