Where DIY stops

We do not publish do-it-yourself instructions for any of the following:

• Work inside the electrical service panel, meter, or anything upstream of it.
• Natural gas or propane lines, gas appliance conversions, and gas leak repair. If you smell gas, leave the building and call your utility's emergency line.
• Sealed refrigerant systems in air conditioners and heat pumps, which require EPA certification to service.
• Structural framing, load-bearing walls, foundations, and roof structure.
• Main sewer lateral and water service line repair, and anything requiring excavation.
• Suspected asbestos, lead paint disturbance, mold beyond a small surface area, or combustion byproducts such as carbon monoxide.
• Any work that requires a permit or inspection in your jurisdiction.

• State the shut-off first — breaker, valve, or fuel supply — before any step.
• Require verification, not assumption. Confirm a circuit is dead with a tester; confirm water is off at the fixture before opening it.
• Name the personal protective equipment the task actually needs.
• Say when a job is beyond the guide, and say it early rather than at the end.
• Tell readers to follow their own equipment's manual and local code where the two differ from a general guide.

TOOLA works from a photograph and the description you give it. It cannot smell gas, measure voltage, pressure-test a line, see inside a wall, or know your local code. A diagnosis is a well-informed starting point with a stated confidence level — not an inspection, and not a substitute for a licensed tradesperson's judgment on site.

When confidence is low, or when the symptoms overlap with a hazardous cause, TOOLA is designed to say so and route you to a professional rather than guess.

For fire, gas odor, carbon monoxide alarms, arcing or burning smells from wiring, or active flooding, call emergency services or your utility first. Do not photograph the problem and wait for an answer.

Content on this site and in the app is general information, not professional advice for your specific property. You are responsible for working within your ability, following manufacturer instructions and local code, and hiring a licensed professional where one is required. See our terms of use.

To report an unsafe instruction anywhere on this site, write to support@usetoola.com and we will review it immediately.