Did you ever figure out how long that leak had been going on? Those sneaky hidden drips can quietly rack up some serious damage...makes me wonder how often we should really be checking behind walls.
I totally get your concern—these hidden leaks can really sneak up on you. When I bought my first house, I had no clue how often to check behind walls or cabinets. Turns out, it's nearly impossible to catch everything early, so don't be too hard on yourself if damage happens. Regular visual checks and paying attention to weird sounds or smells can help a lot. But honestly, sometimes it's just bad luck...owning a home is definitely a learning curve!
Had a few of those late-night plumbing disasters myself—never fun. Do you have shut-off valves installed at key points? Saved me more than once from major water damage...worth considering if you haven't already.
"Do you have shut-off valves installed at key points? Saved me more than once from major water damage..."
Yeah, shut-off valves are a lifesaver, but even then things can get messy fast. Ever had one of those valves fail on you at the worst possible moment? Happened to me last winter—thought I was prepared until the valve itself started leaking. Ended up scrambling around at 3 AM trying to find buckets and towels. Anyone else had a valve let them down when they needed it most?
"Ended up scrambling around at 3 AM trying to find buckets and towels."
Been there myself, unfortunately. A couple years back, I had a shut-off valve that looked perfectly fine—no rust, no leaks, nothing suspicious. Then one night, the pipe behind it decided to burst. I confidently reached for the valve, thinking I'd have it under control in seconds... but nope. The handle just spun freely without actually shutting anything off. Turns out the internal mechanism had corroded away completely, even though externally it looked pristine.
Ended up having to shut off water to the whole house from the main outside—in freezing rain, mind you—and spent the next day replacing valves and pipes. Now I make a habit of testing my shut-off valves every few months just to be safe. It's a hassle, but way better than another midnight plumbing adventure.
