Fancy yourself as a Blocker? You may consider that you are able to tackle most DIY jobs around your home – but know that there is a lot that can go wrong as far as home repairs are concerned.
Most jobs involving plumbing, electrical or gas are not only dangerous, but are against the law to tackle yourself.
So – even if you have some DIY experience, take note of the following jobs that should really be left to an expert.
Fire and electrocution risks are the reason that most electrical work can only be done by someone with a valid licence. Check Fair Trading and government websites to check on the rules that apply in your state, to see what you can do and what work requires that you hire a licenced tradesman.
Working with gas has similar risks and constraints to electrical work. Once again, a licenced gas fitter must be used for any work on a gas meter outlet, LPG cylinder valve, pipe work, flues and ducts.
Plumbing jobs need a licenced plumber for work from the water main and sewer main connection points at the property borders, up to and including the pipe-work in your home. You can work on a garden irrigation system, fix a tap and replace a washer, change a shower head, connect appliances, fix your toilet cistern, clear a blocked drain of less than 50mm in diameter and work on stormwater pipes with a diameter of less than 90mm.
Landscaping which involves large scale digging can be problematic unless you know exactly where all of the underground pipes are located – in these cases you should contact professional services for help.
If you own an older home, there may be asbestos in your walls or ceilings. You will need to call in professionals to first of all, verify whether asbestos is present, and secondly to remove the materials if it is. You do not want to risk releasing any asbestos fibres into the air – this will pose a serious health risk to anyone in your home.
If you are renting a home, you need to call your landlord and get them to hire a professional for any repairs. If you try to take on repairs yourself, you could see your lease terminated.
