"Funny enough, I also discovered the hard way that hair and soap scum can form some kind of indestructible super-material..."
Haha, I feel your pain—recently bought my first house and faced the exact same issue. Those plastic drain sticks are lifesavers, gross factor aside. Regarding plunging regularly after enzyme treatments, I've been doing it monthly for about six months now, and honestly, it seems to help keep things flowing smoothly. Might be a bit overkill, but better safe than sorry when it comes to plumbing...
"Those plastic drain sticks are lifesavers, gross factor aside."
Yeah, those drain sticks definitely do the trick, but honestly, I find them kinda flimsy. Last time I had a clog from that hair-soap combo nightmare, I ended up using one of those metal snake augers instead. It was messy and awkward, but it got the job done way faster. Anyone tried that new plumbing app yet? Curious if it's actually useful or just another gimmick...
I've tried those plastic sticks too, and yeah, they're handy for minor stuff but snap way too easily. Metal augers are my go-to—messy, sure, but they save me from calling a plumber every other week.
"Anyone tried that new plumbing app yet? Curious if it's actually useful or just another gimmick..."
Downloaded it last month when a tenant had an emergency leak. Honestly, wasn't impressed. It mostly just lists local plumbers and basic troubleshooting tips you can find anywhere online. Not terrible, but nothing groundbreaking either...
I gave the app a shot last week when my kitchen sink backed up (again...). Honestly, I had pretty low expectations going in, but figured it couldn't hurt. Like you mentioned:
"It mostly just lists local plumbers and basic troubleshooting tips you can find anywhere online."
That's pretty much spot-on. The troubleshooting section was decent enough—clear instructions, step-by-step photos—but nothing you can't already find on YouTube or DIY forums. I did appreciate the quick reference diagrams for common plumbing setups, though. Saved me from having to dig through a bunch of random Google images.
One thing that bugged me was the "emergency plumber" feature. It basically just redirects you to a list of local plumbers with ratings, but half the listings were outdated or had disconnected numbers. Not exactly helpful when water's pooling under your sink at midnight...
Personally, I still prefer keeping a basic plumbing toolkit handy—metal auger, adjustable wrench, plumber's tape, and a decent plunger. Apps are nice in theory, but when you're elbow-deep in dirty water, the last thing you want is to scroll through your phone trying to find a solution.
If you're looking for something genuinely useful, I'd recommend bookmarking a couple of reliable DIY plumbing channels or forums instead. There's a ton of good info out there, and it's usually quicker to find exactly what you need that way.
Had a similar experience last month when my bathroom faucet started leaking at 11pm. The app was okay-ish, but honestly, nothing beats having a solid wrench and some plumber's tape handy... especially when you're half-asleep and water's dripping everywhere.
