3 Home Repairs You Shouldn't Try to DIY

Sometimes, DIYing saves you money -- but sometimes, it's not worth the risk.

Home repairs can be expensive. As a result, it may be tempting to try fixes or upgrades yourself -- especially when there are tons of home improvement shows on TV and ample YouTube tutorials that can show you how to accomplish basic tasks.

While DIYing some jobs can make a lot of sense, there are certain home repair projects you should call in a professional for. Here are three of them.

1. Electrical work

If something is off with the electrical components of your house, it's time to call a licensed electrician ASAP. Messing with wiring or electrical devices is not something you should try at home without a lot of training and experience. There are a few reasons why.

First, dealing with electricity is dangerous. If you aren't 100% certain about what you're doing, you could electrocute yourself, or even cause a fire that destroys your home and puts the safety of your family and your neighbors in jeopardy.

There are also code requirements for electrical work -- many jobs need a permit. If you aren't familiar with getting a permit and fulfilling building code regulations, you could end up having to tear out and redo your work. This is even more expensive than just calling a professional in the first place.

Even if you don't get caught with unpermitted work right away, it can come back to bite you when you refinance your mortgage or sell your home and an inspector takes a close look at your property.

2. Plumbing

Plumbing work often needs a professional. If you don't have the necessary training, you could end up flooding your home and causing expensive water damage.

Problems can also develop behind the scenes -- things you aren't immediately aware of, such as pipes that leak inside the walls and cause major mold issues, which are a serious health hazard.

3. Foundation work

Damage to your home's foundation can impact its structural stability, making it a dangerous place to live. Small problems with the foundation can also turn into big ones if you don't fix them properly.

Poor foundations can allow moisture to enter your home, leading to bowed walls, cracks, excess humidity, gaps in doors and windows, sagging floors, and a long list of other issues. These can make your home less comfortable, raise utility costs, and adversely affect your property value. DIYing foundation work is simply not worth the short-term and long-term risk.

Instead of putting your health and home in jeopardy, get a professional in ASAP when something goes wrong in any of these three categories. While most of us aren't happy if we have to borrow for home repairs, you'll still end up better off in the long run than if you try to save money but damage your home.