A good home maintenance routine can enhance your living environment, avoid the need for costly repairs and even increase the value of your property, but that shouldn’t mean that you try to do everything yourself.
While there are plenty of jobs that homeowners and enthusiastic DIYers can take on, there are some tasks that really do require a professional touch. To find out which projects might be too much to undertake yourself, take a look at these six home maintenance tasks that are best left to the professionals.
Pest Control & Removal
The thought of an infestation might make your skin crawl, but most homeowners have to deal with pests at one time or another. However, to paraphrase one Guardian columnist; it’s easy to get angry with household pests and it’s possible to wish them great harm, however, most people would rather be as humane as possible when getting rid of invaders. Enter the pest controller.
Indeed, not only is removing pests not as easy as you’d hope, it’s a stomach-churning task that requires experience. Many of the humane products you can buy at a general store simply won’t cut it when it comes to getting rid of an infestation.
Moreover, the more lethal products are just that; lethal. Since rodents and insects play an important part in our ecosystem, it’s important that they are dealt with in the right way, and this is something that a pest controller can do.
When it comes to choosing a pest controller, the guys at Advance Pest Control Bristol advise to always using a pest controller who is local to the area you live in; “Being born and bred Bristolians, we have a deep and intimate knowledge of our great city and the unique pest problems associated within Bristol’s specific areas”, they say. Moreover, a good pest controller will provide advice and assistance to help prevent recurring infestations.
Electrical Repairs
No matter how good you are at DIY, dealing with electrics should always be left to a trained, certified, and insured electrician. There are simply too many things that can go wrong if you attempt to repair electrics yourself, which is why there are regulations regarding who can carry out this type of work.
If plug sockets only work intermittently, fuses trip regularly, or you notice a strange smell coming from an electrical appliance, contact an accredited electrician as quickly as possible and seek advice. While relatively minor issues may not seem serious at the time, a more dangerous issue could be lurking behind walls or beneath floorboards. By hiring a professional, you can ensure that repairs are carried out swiftly and that your home remains safe.
Plumbing Projects
Too many homeowners have tried to undertake plumbing projects themselves, only to end up with leaking pipes and flooded houses. If you want to avoid having an unplanned water feature in your home, find a plumber who has repaired similar water leakage problems and ideally offers hydro jetting, which is usually used for cleaning and unblocking a home’s plumbing system. This will ensure that the job is completed to the highest standard so that there are no further issues.
Upgrading a plumbing system can be an effective way to increase the value of your home, particularly if the current system is outdated, in need of repair, or has low pressure.
Again, don’t attempt to do this yourself unless you’re qualified to do so. When plumbing projects go wrong, it can cost more to get them resolved than it would have done to hire a pro from the start, so save your cash by hiring a reputable plumber and get the work professionally done.
Read: 10 IDEAL questions to ask when first viewing a house
Boiler Maintenance
The boiler acts as the control centre for heating and hot water, which makes it a critical part of your property. Even if your boiler seems to be working optimally, it’s important to make sure that it’s well-maintained and serviced on a regular basis.
If something goes wrong with a boiler, it could prevent you from having access to heat or hot water but, even more concerningly, it could mean that carbon monoxide leaks into your home. Although carbon monoxide doesn’t have an odour and can’t be seen, it’s highly dangerous and can cause serious illness or even fatalities.
Due to this, it’s vital to hire a trained professional to carry out boiler servicing. Similarly, if your heating or hot water systems aren’t working properly or you suspect there is a fault with your boiler, don’t try to investigate it yourself. Instead, call an experienced professional to identify and fix the problem safely.
Read: When does my boiler need servicing?
Gutter Cleaning
Cleaning out the gutters that are affixed to your property might seem like a fairly simple and straightforward task, but it’s the location of the gutters that typically causes a problem. To access them, you’ll need to climb up ladders and reach a significant height to carry out the work. Of course, this carries a fall risk and could put you at risk of a serious accident.
Unless you’re comfortable working at height and you have the right equipment to scale the side of your house safely, don’t attempt to do this yourself. Hiring professionals to clean your gutter is relatively low-cost but it will save you from having to undertake a tricky and potentially dangerous task.
Replacing Missing Roof Tiles
It’s not unusual for roof tiles to go AWOL, particularly after a storm or heavy rain. When only one or two roof tiles are missing, it might be tempting to try and replace them yourself, but this can be a recipe for disaster. Not only will you need to access the roof, but you may not notice potentially more serious problems that need to be addressed.
Furthermore, if roof tiles aren’t installed properly, rain could seep into your roof and cause damp and mould to grow in the attic space.
Once this happens, it doesn’t take long for other areas of your home to be affected, so don’t take a chance when it comes to roof repairs. Call a professional roofing company and you can ensure that missing tiles are replaced properly and, if damage has already occurred, a mould expert to ensure that any underlying issues are addressed.
The Bottom Line
Knowing when to tackle a task yourself and when to call in the professionals is one of the most important factors in keeping your home well-maintained. Whether it’s a pest controller, a local plumber, or a trained electrician, recognising the expertise and experience that the pros have will help you to determine when specialist assistance is needed. By combining your own skills with the work of professionals, you can ensure that your home is kept in tip-top condition and that your living space remains safe, comfortable, and inviting.