Three TikTok home hacks to avoid
You may be surprised to hear that homeowners are frequently turning to social media platforms such as TikTok for DIY maintenance advice. Home maintenance searches have increased by 3,700% in the past year; however, experts warn that some of these viral hacks can cause more harm than good, invalidate your home insurance, and lead to expensive repairs.
1. The boiler pressure trick
Attempting to fix the pressure of your boiler is a popular TikTok trend, with many videos with hundreds of thousands of views showing quick fixes. Trying to deal with boiler issues on your own can lead to major consequences, which can include damage to your entire heating system and the invalidation of your home insurance policy. While it might seem like a simple fix, adjusting your boiler pressure without the right skills could result in extensive and expensive repairs.
Qualified plumbers such as https://www.hprservicesltd.com/gloucester-boilers/boiler-repair-gloucester/ offer boiler repair Gloucester and have the right skills and understanding to diagnose and resolve boiler issues safely.
2. The window repair challenge
Problems with window mechanisms are another area where TikTok ‘experts’ offer unqualified advice. Videos that show how to mend faulty window handles using makeshift tools get a lot of views; however, this approach can cause long-term damage to the mechanism and professionals advise that tampering with window mechanisms can affect home security and insurance coverage. A badly repaired window might not close properly and could become unsafe, so these issues outweigh any cost savings from TikTok DIY tips.
3. Burst pipes
When the weather gets cold, it can present homeowners with a different set of home maintenance challenges. Burst pipes are a common problem and TikTok is full of videos with millions of views that have repair advice; however, attempting to repair a burst pipe on your own could lead to disastrous consequences. If a pipe bursts in your home, you should immediately turn off the stopcock and call an emergency plumber, as DIY repairs could make the problem much worse. Water damage can cause major damage to a home and cost a lot of money to fix.
