Know When to Call a Pro
Some projects are safe to plan, measure, and understand yourself. Other projects require qualified help. This page helps you know when to stop and call a professional.
Ask Uncle G is planning and awareness guidance only. It does not replace emergency services, licensed professionals, or qualified help. It does not provide medical, legal, tax, financial, insurance, permit, or code advice. It does not dispatch emergency services and does not store private information.
Call an Electrician When
- •Breakers keep tripping repeatedly.
- •You smell burning near outlets or panels.
- •Outlets spark when you plug something in.
- •Lights flicker severely throughout the home.
- •Wiring is exposed or damaged.
- •Water is near electrical equipment.
- •You need new circuits or panel work.
Call a Plumber When
- •Major leaks are happening.
- •You smell sewer inside the home.
- •Water pressure is low throughout the home.
- •Water heater is leaking or not working.
- •You suspect hidden wall or ceiling leaks.
- •Major drain backups are occurring.
Call a Gas Professional or Emergency Service When
- •You smell gas anywhere in your home.
- •A gas appliance is malfunctioning.
- •There is a pilot light or gas line issue.
- •Your carbon monoxide alarm goes off.
Call a Structural Professional / Contractor When
- •Walls are cracking significantly.
- •Floors are sagging or uneven.
- •A load-bearing wall may be involved.
- •Water damage is severe.
- •Foundation issues are suspected.
Call an HVAC Professional When
- •No heat in dangerously cold weather.
- •AC or heat system fails completely.
- •You smell burning from the system.
- •There is an electrical issue with the system.
- •Refrigerant concerns arise.
Older Home / Lead Paint Safety
- •Homes built before 1978 may contain lead-based paint.
- •Do NOT sand, scrape, or disturb old paint without first checking if it may contain lead.
- •Purchase a lead paint test kit from a hardware store before sanding or scraping old surfaces.
- •If lead paint is found, consult a certified lead abatement professional.
- •Never dry-sand or dry-scrape surfaces that may have lead paint.
- •Children and pregnant women should not be present in areas with disturbed lead paint.
- •Heavy peeling, water damage, mold, or unknown surface contamination also warrant professional inspection before work begins.
- •When in doubt — test before you touch it.
Password and Account Safety
- •Never share your password or one-time verification codes with anyone who contacts you unexpectedly.
- •A real company will never call and ask for a code that was just texted to you.
- •If someone asks for remote computer access and you did not initiate the request, say no and hang up.
- •If you believe an account was compromised, change the password immediately from the official website.
- •Your email account is the most important — protect it first with a strong, unique password.
- •Turn on two-step verification on your email if available.
- •If you feel pressured or frightened, stop, hang up, and call a trusted person.
Church Equipment Safety
- •Do not overload power strips — use rated power strips and avoid daisy-chaining extension cords.
- •Keep cables secured and covered in walkways to prevent trip and fall hazards.
- •Do not mount cameras, speakers, or projectors to walls or ceilings without professional assessment.
- •Always call a licensed electrician for any permanent wiring, new circuits, or electrical work.
- •Rigging, lifting, or mounting heavy equipment above people requires qualified professional help.
- •When a volunteer is asked to perform work beyond their training, they should stop and ask for guidance.
- •If you smell burning, see sparks, or hear unusual electrical sounds from equipment, stop using it and report it.
Tech Scam / Remote Access Safety
- •Do NOT call phone numbers that appear in computer pop-ups — these are almost always scams.
- •Do NOT give remote access to your computer to someone who contacted you first.
- •Do NOT share passwords, account codes, banking information, or Social Security numbers.
- •Do NOT pay with gift cards — legitimate tech support never asks for gift cards.
- •If a pop-up says your computer has a virus and gives a number to call, close the browser tab.
- •If something feels wrong, hang up or close the browser and contact the official company directly.
- •Contact your internet provider, phone manufacturer, or software company through their official website or the number on your bill.
Call Emergency Services When
- •Fire.
- •Gas smell that does not go away.
- •Electrical burning.
- •Flooding that creates danger.
- •Carbon monoxide alarm goes off.
- •Medical emergency.
- •Any immediate safety risk.
When Safety Is Uncertain, Stop.
It is better to ask for qualified help than to risk injury, damage, or danger. There is no shame in calling a professional. Knowing when to stop is a sign of wisdom, not weakness.