Electric and water generally* pretty are easy. Don’t mess with the gas lines.
I’ve done all three in multiple houses now, and I’d say that water and gas are pretty easy. Electrical is where you can get yourself in real trouble.
If you screw up water or gas you’re going to know it. The tiniest gas leak smells noticeably even in larger spaces. Water leaks usually become evident once you turn the water on. If you inspect your work afterwards you’ll find it.
Electrical is another story. You can turn on the circuit and everything works and you think you’re good, but you’ve somehow switched the hot and neutral, which is dangerous. Or you used 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit, which will be fine until you put a huge AC unit on that circuit and start a fire inside your walls. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t do your own electrical, because once you know the basics you’re going to be fine, but as far as dangerous conditions go electrical is the one I worry most about.
+1. Honestly, any of the three can be a recipe for disaster, especially when messing with DVW.
Of all of them, gas is the one that can be explosive, although crossing electrical pairs is a big risk too. I bought my house from an electrician, and you probably would not be amazed at the number of 20A breakers on 14awg branches. There were at least 3 I’ve swapped back to 15A first time I cracked open my panel.
To every man his domain, I say. Myself, I grok electric and plumbing. I hate messing with gas.
Great comment, though I disagree with
I’ve done all three in multiple houses now, and I’d say that water and gas are pretty easy. Electrical is where you can get yourself in real trouble.
If you screw up water or gas you’re going to know it. The tiniest gas leak smells noticeably even in larger spaces. Water leaks usually become evident once you turn the water on. If you inspect your work afterwards you’ll find it.
Electrical is another story. You can turn on the circuit and everything works and you think you’re good, but you’ve somehow switched the hot and neutral, which is dangerous. Or you used 14 gauge wire on a 20 amp circuit, which will be fine until you put a huge AC unit on that circuit and start a fire inside your walls. I’m not suggesting you shouldn’t do your own electrical, because once you know the basics you’re going to be fine, but as far as dangerous conditions go electrical is the one I worry most about.
+1. Honestly, any of the three can be a recipe for disaster, especially when messing with DVW.
Of all of them, gas is the one that can be explosive, although crossing electrical pairs is a big risk too. I bought my house from an electrician, and you probably would not be amazed at the number of 20A breakers on 14awg branches. There were at least 3 I’ve swapped back to 15A first time I cracked open my panel.
To every man his domain, I say. Myself, I grok electric and plumbing. I hate messing with gas.