DIY overconfidence fuels risks, say Gas Safe Register

Gas engineers, you won’t be surprised to hear that some DIY-ers believe they can do your job. New research for Gas Safety Week 2025 reveals one in 20 adults think they could install a gas boiler, and others even claim they could build a house just by watching online tutorials.

The staggering overconfidence of the nation was revealed in a study of 2,000 adults, carried out by Gas Safe Register. The findings show that people are attempting risky jobs for social media attention, to save money, or even to impress a romantic interest. While nearly a third say they could swap a car battery, 38% admit they’ve regretted tackling a task they weren’t qualified for.

This Gas Safety Week, DIY expert Nick Knowles warns that, “Having confidence is great, but in the right circumstance. Through my time presenting, I’ve seen many instances where that ‘do it yourself’ mentality has worked. But being overconfident with certain elements of home improvement – particularly when it comes to things like gas or electrical appliances – can be deadly, probably illegal, and should only be done by professionals.”

For engineers, it’s a reminder: overconfidence keeps demand strong for qualified skills. With over 130,000 Gas Safe registered engineers across the UK, the message is clear – leave the gas jobs to the experts.

A nationally representative survey of 2,000 UK adults was commissioned by Gas Safe Register and carried out by 72Point in August 2025.