5 Home Repairs That You Should Leave To The Professionals

Today's homeowner has a stronger tendency than ever to favor do-it-yourself repairs. After all, TV is filled with home improvement shows that do a complete overhaul in just 30 minutes, and there's no shortage of YouTube videos to teach you how to do the job just right. Right? Well, maybe.

The truth is that while there are plenty of skills that you can learn quickly (or even while you do them), there are also plenty of other home maintenance skills that require the services of a properly trained professional. Learning the difference will keep you from wasting time and money on an outcome that isn't what you expected. Here are five types of repairs that you should complete with a telephone instead of a tool.

HVAC Repair

Your home's heating and cooling system contain all the things that should steer you away from doing your own repairs. It has high voltage, sensitive electronics, pressurized gas, and a very large price tag. There are so many things that could go wrong that it's just not worth attempting the work yourself, especially when you can get an HVAC free estimate for the work.

Add to those factors the possible existence of a warranty. Any home system, not just HVAC, that is covered by a warranty should only be repaired by qualified technicians. Doing your own work could negate the warranty.

Plumbing and Wastewater

Plumbing seems simple enough. A water line comes into the house, branches off to your various fixtures, and that's that. Of course, it's not that straightforward. Leaking pipes can do thousands of dollars in damage before you even notice them.

If you attempt to repair a leak without the proper tools, materials, and training, your simple problem can become very large in a very short time.

If you're dealing with anything beyond the simplest plumbing repairs or installations, you'll probably be much better served to contact a qualified plumber and get an estimate on having them do the work. You'll get a better outcome and real peace of mind.

Hard Electrical

Some electrical jobs are pretty easy. Most homeowners can safely replace a light fixture or swap out a regular switch for a dimmer switch. Once you get into the heavy work, though, it's time to back off and let a qualified person take over.

A good rule of thumb is that if the work in question isn't visible in the living space, then it's probably too much for a homeowner to take on. That means anything inside the walls, within the service panel, or connected to other high-voltage components. Be safe and call a professional.

Roof Repair

Your roof is a key part of your home's protection against the weather. If you see an indication that there's a leak, you're absolutely right to pursue repairs. Just make sure you pursue a contractor instead of climbing up there to make the repairs yourself.

For starters, fixing a leaky roof is not as easy as it sounds. You might go up there and nail down shingles for hours without getting to the actual problem. Most importantly, though, is that it's very dangerous work. There are ladders to climb, power lines to avoid, and some very steep surfaces to stand on. Let a properly equipped contractor do the work.

Garage Door Work

Nothing seems more straightforward than pushing a button to raise or lower your garage door. When something goes wrong, you probably feel like there can't be much to it. There's just some track, a door, a motor, and a chain or belt, right? Wrong.

Garage doors use a heavy spring to assist the opener in raising and lowering the door. That's the huge coil you see running left to right above the door when it's closed. Those springs are under incredible tension, and if you attempt to work them yourself, you can suffer serious or fatal injuries. Use a contractor.

Wrapping Up

It's satisfying to do your own repairs. You feel self-sufficient, you save money, and you often get the job done faster. But, by knowing which jobs are best completed by yourself and which ones should be left for the pros, you can keep your repairs in the positive column for hassle, cost, and safety.