Being handy around your home is a great way to save money, but there are certain times when it's best to call a professional. If you don't call a professional when you need to, the damage could either get worse or become dangerous. But how can you tell whether it's an issue that you can resolve safely yourself or if it's an issue that requires the use of a professional service?

Water damage can cause anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars to fix, depending on the severity. A small pool in your kitchen is fine, but an inch of standing water that's spreading to your living room is not. If you have a steadily leaking dishwasher or washing machine, call a professional first. This is especially true if you can't find your water shut-off valve. Water causes more damage than people think, including warped structures and cracking grout.

If you get zapped when you touch an appliance, hear an ominous buzzing sound, or have the lights flickering in the room, your appliance likely has an electrical issue. Not only should you avoid touching the appliance, but you may even want to avoid entering the room.

Electrical problems aren't just dangerous; they're also often unpredictable. You may be able to trigger further electrical problems without realizing it, which could not only damage your electrical system, but potentially injure you.

Is there a strange burning smell coming from your washer? Have you seen smoke coming from your dryer? If there's any type of fire risk, call in a professional. Fire can spread extremely quickly and sometimes it can even go unnoticed — a small electrical fire in an appliance could be written off as nothing, leading to a larger fire later in the day or night.

Not only should you call a professional if you suspect a fire hazard, but you should call them as soon as possible, along with unplugging the device.

Sometimes you can easily see what's wrong with an appliance, such as a pump no longer functioning, or a circuit board being fried, but that still leaves you with the task of purchasing parts. You’ll be better off if you purchase a part through a professional.

Not only will they know exactly what part you need, but they can usually purchase these parts much cheaper — which means you may be able to get the part and the installation for the same amount that you'd pay for the part alone.

If something has gone wrong in a fairly new appliance, there may be something that's defective within the appliance itself. Older appliances normally need repairs more often, but newer appliances should be more reliable.

Newer appliances also may have more complex mechanisms, which could be damaged by DIY work. If your appliance is fairly new, you should look at the manufacturer's warranty, and if the warranty can't provide help, you should probably call a professional who is skilled in work with this type of machine.

If you've already tried to repair your appliance multiple times, you probably a professional service is needed. The real problem with your appliance may be something else entirely — or your appliance may simply be ready to go.

If your appliance’s problems are beyond your capabilities, call a skilled professional today to help you out. Appliance Repair Solutions can deal with the problem quickly and expertly. Contact Appliance Repair Solutions today to get a quote on your service.