Top 5 home repairs you should never DIY

With the popularity of home improvement shows designed to entertain viewers with stunning renovations, it’s easy to get swept up in the do-it-yourself (DIY) craze. In the hopes of saving money, even not-so-handy homeowners may be tempted to pick up a hammer and give home repair a go. This may sound fun, but there are several home repairs you should never do yourself.

While some people can handle certain home repairs, taking on complex tasks can have costly consequences. There is such a thing as home repairs best left to professionals. A DIY mistake could end up costing more than hiring a professional in the first place. It could also leave your home out of code and increase the risk of serious injuries or even death.

Even if DIY is your life motto, there are certain cost-cutting measures you want to avoid when it comes to home maintenance. Here are some home repairs best left to the pros:

“Number one on my list of jobs for homeowners not to do themselves would be electrical. It’s just too dangerous,” says Frank Cohn, owner of a construction company and host of a home improvement radio show. “I’ve seen too many electrical jobs where people have done it themselves, or had a brother or an uncle do the wiring. A lot of these people are lucky they’re alive to tell their tale because I find all sorts of buried wires or things wired improperly. It’s so dangerous. I just can’t stress that enough.”

While installing a basic light fixture may be a suitable task for an experienced DIYer, anything more complicated is a home repair you should never DIY and should be handled by a licensed electrician. There’s a reason electricians can be expensive. They spend many painstaking years training to work with electrical currents that can be deadly when handled improperly.

Frequently DIYers will enthusiastically embrace doing their own basement renovations because it’s not a main part of the home and mistakes can be easier to hide. But it’s another on the list of home repairs you should never DIY, says licensed contractor Mark Clement. “Even if it seems simple, like studding out for basement walls, there are details for home safety that need to be added,” he says. “For example, details that can get overlooked in basement buildouts are fire-blocking and vapor barriers.”

Both Cohn and Clement suggest leaving basement remodels to the experts. Cohn says that underpinning (digging out the basement to make it lower) can be especially dangerous. “There’s been a few stories over the last couple of years where people have even been killed doing underpinning because walls or even the entire house has collapsed,” he says. Even if no one gets hurt, fixing a poorly done basement renovation can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Because the work affects your home’s structure, repairs are often extensive and expensive.

Many homeowners ignore a leaky faucet, hoping it will eventually stop instead of paying for a plumbing repair. Snaking a lightly clogged drain or replacing a worn faucet washer may be easy enough. But anything more than that falls into the category of home repairs you should never do yourself. Instead, be prepared to call a plumber.

Unlike electrical repairs, improper plumbing fixes are unlikely to put your life in danger, but they can take a serious toll on your finances. What starts off as an annoying leak can quickly escalate to a flood and can easily add up to thousands of dollars. Plumbing work, especially if it involves your sewage system or hot water pipes, is a home repair best left to professionals.

Cohn says the homeowner should generally not touch any sort of major structural work. Much like major basement repairs, structural renovations can undermine the integrity of your entire home if they’re done incorrectly. Without the right expertise, even a small mistake can lead to serious and costly damage. “These days, everybody’s ripping their homes apart,” Cohn says, regarding open concepts. “Sometimes people take out a wall not understanding it’s load-bearing. The next thing you know, the house collapses or the floor upstairs starts to sag.”

Clement likewise feels structural alterations are home repairs you should never do yourself. “Removing walls that carry weight from above is a pro job. Understanding the safest ways to support the weight during the demolition process and determining how to transfer the load are serious business,” he adds.

Similar to electrical repairs, gas appliances can exact a high price when things go wrong. Home repairs you should never DIY include fixes to items like:

• Gas furnaces
• Ovens
• Water heaters
• Dryers

These repairs should only ever be handled by qualified experts. Even when a homeowner is very careful to turn off the gas and carefully manage a repair, a leak could develop if the appliance is not reinstalled perfectly. A gas leak can result in severe health issues, or even a possible fire or explosion in your home.

Whether we like to admit it or not, there are home repairs best left to professionals—no matter how many home renovation shows we watch. 

Before you pick up a hammer, remember these key points:

• Know your limits. Complex repairs involving electricity, gas or your home’s structure are safest when handled by licensed professionals.
• Consider the true cost. A DIY mistake can lead to expensive repairs, property damage or even injuries that cost far more than hiring an expert from the start.
• Protect your home’s value. Poorly done repairs can leave your home out of code, create safety hazards and make future repairs more expensive.

Even when you hire a professional, the cost of an unexpected repair can still catch you off guard. That’s why it’s a good idea to set money aside before something goes wrong. To prepare for home repairs best left to professionals, consider building an emergency fund with an online savings account. That way, if a costly or unexpected repair comes up, you’ll have the funds to address it quickly and safely without adding financial stress. For larger projects, a home remodel loan may also be an option to consider.

You can give your emergency fund a boost with a competitive rate that helps every dollar go further. Capital One makes opening a 360 Performance Savings account simple and can be done in about five minutes, so you can get back to what matters.