Household repairs: what you can do yourself – and what you cannot

Whether a repair is suitable for a layperson depends mainly on how bad a mistake would be and whether it would be noticed. A crooked hook is spotted immediately and does little harm. A badly made gas connection, on the other hand, can let gas escape unnoticed, and a wrongly connected cable can slowly heat up and start a fire only days later.

On top of that, with gas, electricity, heating and flues the dangers are invisible. You cannot see electricity, and carbon monoxide from a faulty heater or a leaking flue pipe has no colour and no smell. Anyone working “just temporarily” here can put themselves and others in mortal danger without noticing.

That is why much of this work is legally reserved for qualified contractors in many countries. Exactly where the line runs differs by country and tenancy agreement – check local rules. The rule of thumb stays the same everywhere: with gas, electricity behind covers, pressurised heating and hot-water systems, chimneys and load-bearing parts, self-help means not repairing but making safe and getting help.

Typical layperson tasks include: clearing a drain with a plunger, tightening screws on furniture, handles and fittings, applying draught strip to draughty windows, changing bulbs (lamp off, mind the switch and circuit), catching a drip in a bucket, securing a tarp against water ingress – from the ground, not the roof.

A small toolbox is usually enough for this: screwdrivers, pliers, tape measure, hammer, tape, torch, work gloves and safety glasses. Add the phone numbers of the landlord, building management, utilities and emergency services in a place everyone knows.

Shutting things off is also part of self-help: closing the main water valve after a burst pipe, switching off a breaker if you are standing dry and can reach it safely, securing a damaged area with tape or furniture so nobody walks in. That is not repairing – but it often prevents most of the damage.

Gas: gas appliances, gas meters and gas pipes. If you smell gas, leave the building without operating any switches first and call the gas emergency service or the local emergency number (112 in the EU) from outside. Only the utility or a qualified professional turns gas back on once it has been shut off.

Electricity: sockets, switches, the inside of the breaker panel and any wiring. Damaged cables are not patched with tape and kept in use; the appliance is unplugged and replaced or checked. Boilers, water heaters, chimneys and flue pipes also belong in professional hands – and you do not open a faulty heater yourself.

Buildings: after earthquakes, storms, floods or fires, walls, ceilings and roofs can be weakened even if you cannot see it. Only enter damaged buildings once authorities or professionals have cleared them, and do not climb onto the roof after a storm without it being checked.

Even simple jobs carry risks. Ladders stand on firm, level ground; someone should be nearby, and you do not lean far out to the side. When drilling, sanding or hammering, safety glasses protect your eyes. Always cut away from your body with knives and box cutters.

In older buildings, building materials can contain harmful substances, such as asbestos in old boards, putties or floor coverings. Do not drill, sand or break such materials if you do not know for sure what they are made of – this can release dangerous dust. When in doubt, ask professionals.

After any job, watch for anything unusual: a smell of gas or melted plastic, a warm plug, a flickering light. Such signs are a reason to switch off or unplug the appliance and get help – not to carry on.

In a widespread crisis, tradespeople are scarce and the wait can take days. That is exactly when the temptation is greatest to “quickly rig something up” yourself. But in that very situation a fire or electrical accident would be especially bad, because the fire service and hospitals are also under heavy strain. Patience here is a safety measure.

What you can do instead: close off affected areas, have the supply to the affected part shut off or shut it off yourself where that is permitted and safe, catch water, cover windows temporarily, photograph the damage and inform the landlord, insurer and a contractor. The neighbourhood often helps too: perhaps someone knows a firm that still has appointments free.

An example: after a storm, a power line is hanging down or a branch is lying on it. Keep your distance, warn others and call the network operator or the fire service. A fallen line must always be treated as dangerous, even if it is lying still.