| afford manages Handyman Connection, a company | | | | know where the breaker switch is, you have no |
| dedicated to bringing Birmingham-area homeowners | | | | business trying to install your own ceiling fan. The |
| the best in handyman and home repair services. In this | | | | amount of electricity running through a socket is a |
| article, he outlines a few common home repair | | | | small force, I suggest not trifling with it unless you know |
| techniques that should only be attempted by those in | | | | what you’re doing. |
| the know. | | | | Gas Mains |
| In the last few decades, the handyman business has | | | | Stay away from your home’s gas line. It is a |
| changed a lot. Most Americans would call a handyman | | | | dangerous component of your house if not respected. |
| or contractor for nearly any kind of job in the past. But | | | | You can puncture a line and cause a slow leak or |
| the situation has changed considerably since I first | | | | worse. |
| started out in the handyman business. Chains like | | | | Nail Guns |
| Loew’s and the Home Depot tout phrases like | | | | Nail guns of all sorts are dangerous and not a great |
| You can do it; we can help and shows such as | | | | tool for beginners or amateurs. I am constantly hearing |
| This Old House and pros like Bob Villa are constantly | | | | stories of impaled fingers and flying nails nearly missing |
| showing you ways you can do it yourself to make | | | | a kid’s eye. I frequently come across deck and |
| changes or repairs to your home. All this is great, and I | | | | roofing jobs rife with hundreds of extra nails. This is no |
| applaud these shows and stores for giving people the | | | | more than damage to your home. Excess nails will |
| confidence to pick up a hammer or paint brush and | | | | cause fractures in wood and beams, and do a lot |
| get a little elbow grease going. | | | | more harm. |
| Unfortunately, there’s also a downside to all this | | | | Tree Work |
| newfound optimism. Sometimes you can’t do it | | | | Tree work is also one that a lot of people attempt |
| yourself. False handyman bravado leads a lot of | | | | themselves. If you are not trained or accustomed to |
| people to tackle jobs they’re just not qualified | | | | operating a chainsaw while suspended from a |
| for. The results can be catastrophic to their homes | | | | harness, I suggest you leave this job to the pros. |
| and often dangerous as well. So before you head out | | | | General Power Tools |
| to the hardware store, consider that a few tasks are | | | | A few safety precautions need to be learned when |
| still best left to the pros. Here are some examples of | | | | you operate any electric saw or power tools. Many |
| commonly botched home improvement techniques as | | | | people simply buy power tools, plug them in and |
| well as some DIY tips on what not to do. | | | | promptly lose fingers or worse. Emergency room |
| Blowtorches and Welding | | | | techs will concur with me that these are some most |
| Blowtorches have a lot of uses in construction and | | | | common household injuries. Take a shop class or a |
| repair. They are always pressurized, and their | | | | few basic lessons from a friend who knows more. |
| flame-throwing gas tanks can be extremely | | | | And always follow instruction manuals fully on any |
| dangerous when wielded improperly. | | | | new power tools you buy, because the manuals are |
| Electric Mains | | | | written by people who have tested these tools |
| Though these wires are often buried on your property, | | | | repeatedly and know the best ways to use them. |
| they technically belong to the electric company. Do | | | | Read the little books and do what they say as it could |
| yourself a favor and don’t dig them up. If your | | | | save you a lot of aggravation. |
| power goes wrong for some reasons you | | | | Here is only a small sampling of the common |
| can’t understand, call the power company or a | | | | techniques and jobs botched by the home repairman. |
| licensed electrician. | | | | My intention is not to scare you off from doing it |
| General Electrical Work | | | | yourself, but rather to keep you aware that many |
| Another common DIY foible is the belief that electric | | | | common home repair practices can be dangerous. |
| work is easy. In fact, the home electrician is often | | | | Keep it safe and you’ll be guaranteed many |
| electrocuted, shocked or causes a major blowout to | | | | satisfying home projects for years to come. |
| his home’s electrical system. If you don’t | | | | |