| Making your own repairs to your home saves you | | | | on any part of the circuit box in your home. Unless |
| time, worry and money, but you must not overlook | | | | electricity has been turned off to the circuit box from |
| some safety concerns when performing these repairs. | | | | outside the home, there is still electrical current running |
| Below, we list some simple safety tips for | | | | to the main circuit breaker. Even with the main turned |
| homeowners that will be making their own diy home | | | | off, there is still current running to the main switch. |
| repairs. | | | | Never work with electrical cords that are standing in |
| Heating and Cooling Repairs: | | | | water. The cord may have a break in the insulation |
| Always make sure that capacitors are discharged | | | | surrounding the wire and cause serious electrical |
| thoroughly when working on the electrical service box | | | | shock. |
| of an air conditioning or heating unit. Capacitors may still | | | | Plumbing Repairs: |
| hold an electrical charge with enough electricity to kill a | | | | When working on plumbing lines or plumbing fixtures in |
| person even with the power turned off. | | | | your home, make sure that the valve is closed to the |
| If you're working around gas lines, make sure not to | | | | line or fixture you'll be repairing. Some fixtures such as |
| damage them, as a gas leak make allow gas to build | | | | the bathroom toilet have their own cut-off valves, but |
| up and cause an explosion in your home. If you do | | | | even these are sometimes prone to failure. |
| damage a gas line, remove your family and yourself | | | | Water traps in plumbing waste lines are designed to |
| from the home immediately and call 911 to report the | | | | hold water that prevents sewer gases from entering |
| gas leak. A gas leak is definitely an emergency and | | | | the home. Sewer gases can build up quickly in a home |
| requires quick action. | | | | when repairing waste lines where the trap has been |
| Electrical Repairs: | | | | removed. Always cover any waste lines completely |
| Always turn off electricity to the circuit you're working | | | | where a trap has been removed temporarily. |
| on. Never attempt for a moment to make a repair with | | | | When using caustic drain cleaners, be very careful if |
| electricity running through the circuit or it may be the | | | | they do not unclog the drain. The drain cleaners will still |
| last repair you'll ever make. | | | | be in the water and use of a plunger or other tool may |
| Remove jewelry, such as watches and necklaces | | | | splash the drain cleaner into your eyes or on your skin |
| when working around electricity. Try to always keep | | | | causing serious harm. |
| the odds in your favor. A dangling piece of metal | | | | Repairing your home can be a fun and educational |
| touching a live circuit has the potential to draw | | | | experience. Follow the simple safety tips above and |
| electrical current right through your body. | | | | may all of your future home repairs be safe ones. |
| Unless you really know what you're doing, do not work | | | | |