It’s an inevitable part of homeownership: Something is bound to need repairs, and likely at the most inconvenient time. If you’re handy, you may be tempted to save some money and attempt repairs yourself before calling in professionals. Where is the line between what you can handle yourself and what you should leave to the pros? We’ll talk about some common repairs you can encounter and whether they’re appropriate for DIY or need to be addressed by professionals.
Household Problems Suitable for DIY
Some problems that pop up are perfect for you to handle on your own, no pros required. We’ll outline DIY-appropriate fixes below.
Clogged Drains
A clog is an annoyance, but one that homeowners can almost certainly fix with some elbow grease and the right tools. Start with a chemical drain cleaning solution, since in most cases that will clear your clog up. If it doesn’t budge, a plunger or drain snake is your next step.
Painting Walls
If you want a quick refresh, painting your walls is one of the most effective ways to change up your space. Fortunately, this can easily be done on your own if you have a free day and easily acquired tools like painter’s tape and rollers. Just make sure all furniture is either out of the way or covered with dropcloths.
Fixing Minor Leaks
A faucet drip or a minor pipe leak is suitable for DIY repairs if you have the appropriate tools and a little research to back up what needs to be done. It may be as simple as tightening up a loose connection, but you may need to identify and replace washers or O-rings in faucets for a stubborn drip.
Hanging Shelves or Picture Frames
For most (but not all) decorating ventures around your home, it’s likely you won’t need a professional to step in. Use a level, hammer and nails to hang your shelf or frame evenly to ensure you won’t find your picture hanging crooked or, worse, knick-knacks tipped on the floor.
Household Repairs Best Left to Professionals
Some repairs require complex knowledge or dangerous tools that are best left to those with extensive knowledge and experience. In these situations, it’s always best to seek help from a professional rather than attempt a repair by yourself.
Window and Door Replacement
Properly replacing your home’s windows and doors often involves custom measurements and careful handling to ensure a tight seal and fixtures that hold up for decades. In addition to choosing high-quality products, hiring installation experts who install doors and windows day in and day out is your best bet for windows and doors that last. At Window World, our installers are factory-trained professionals with the experience and knowledge to make sure your windows and doors are installed well.
Electrical Work
Electrical work involves specific knowledge and can potentially cause harm if you have prior experience working with wiring, so leave any electrical repairs to a qualified electrician. It could also lead to property damage if you aren’t careful, since electrical wires can be delicate and one wrong move can create a larger problem that costs more to fix.
Complex Plumbing Issues
While something like a clog is easily solved on your own, more complex issues that involve accessing your plumbing or dismantling, repairing and reassembling anything including your water lines, you’re going to need a plumber. A small problem can become a large—and expensive—one quickly if you attempt a plumbing repair without the knowledge and equipment necessary to ensure success.
Structural Repairs
If it involves the integrity of your home’s architecture, you never want to risk making repairs yourself. For issues with your foundation or roof, it’s always best to call in the experts. Even if you just need a few shingles or your whole roof replaced, it’s well worth the money to let someone else do the work.
HVAC System Maintenance
HVAC systems are complex and may vary widely depending on the manufacturer. What you see online in videos on repair may not apply to your specific system. Finding a professional who knows the ins and outs of your machine’s make and model and can quickly identify and repair issues means getting your home back to comfortable temperatures as soon as possible.
How Do You Determine Whether to DIY or Hire a Professional?
When deciding whether it’s time to call in a professional for repairs, consider these factors before making your choice:
- Skill Level: While you may feel you’re pretty handy, some repairs simply require a level of expertise the average handy homeowner won’t have.
- Time and Resources: If your problem requires a great deal of time, patience and resources to solve effectively, it’s likely best to leave it to the pros.
- Safety Considerations: For matters involving plumbing or electrical wiring in particular, safety takes precedence over every other aspect.
- Cost Differences: If the fix is simple and something that you can address with a quick, inexpensive trip to your hardware store, it’s likely alright to handle it yourself. However, consider the above factors before making your final call.
Leave Exterior Replacement to the Pros
While you can handle painting a room or two or tightening a leaky faucet on your own, replacements like windows and doors that affect your comfort and energy bills are best installed by experts. If your home needs new windows or doors, our team will be happy to walk you through our process and give you a custom quote for products you’ll love for decades to come. Get in touch for your free estimate or give us a call today!