You nailed it with the “old-school supply shops.” I’ve saved a ton by skipping the big box stores and going straight to the counter guys who’ve seen every oddball fitting under the sun.
—couldn’t agree more. Rushing to replace stuff just because it’s leaking is how you end up spending twice as much. I’ve learned that lesson the hard way. That inspection mirror trick is gold, too... never thought to use one for plumbing until I got tired of playing contortionist under the sink.“a little patience usually saves a lot of money”
That inspection mirror tip really does save your back, doesn’t it? I used to just grab my phone and try to use the camera, but half the time I’d end up with blurry photos and no clue what I was looking at. I’m curious—has anyone here had luck with those flexible cameras you can snake into tight spots? I’ve seen them online, but I’m not sure if they’re worth the investment for basic home repairs. Sometimes the old-school tools just work better...
I hear you on the blurry phone pics—been there more times than I can count. Those flexible snake cameras (borescopes) are actually pretty handy for certain jobs, especially if you’re dealing with a mystery leak behind a wall or under a sink. For basic fixes though, sometimes they’re overkill. If you’re mostly just poking around for visible leaks or blockages, the mirror and flashlight combo still wins in my book. But if you ever get into trickier repairs, having that camera in your toolkit isn’t a bad move... it’s saved me a ton of guesswork before.
If you’re mostly just poking around for visible leaks or blockages, the mirror and flashlight combo still wins in my book.
I totally get that—mirror and flashlight have saved me more than once. But I always wonder about safety with those cameras. Are they waterproof enough for real plumbing messes? I’d hate to short one out mid-job. Also, does anyone else worry about accidentally pushing debris further in with a borescope? Maybe I’m just overly cautious, but I stick to the basics unless I really can’t see what’s going on.
Are they waterproof enough for real plumbing messes? I’d hate to short one out mid-job.
Yeah, that’s my worry too. Some of those cheap cameras claim to be waterproof, but I’ve seen a couple die after just a little splash. Honestly, unless it’s a gnarly clog I can’t see, I stick with the mirror and flashlight. Less drama, less mess.