"Usually it's just a matter of adjusting the float or flapper properly, but still, it can be frustrating if you're not expecting it."
Haha, exactly. I just installed one of those dual-flush toilets last weekend thinking it'd be a quick afternoon project... nope. Spent an hour fiddling with the float because it kept running. Turns out the instructions had a tiny note about adjusting it that I totally missed. Lesson learned: instructions aren't just packing material after all.
Haha, I feel your pain on that one. When I moved into my first house last year, I thought I'd get ambitious and swap out all the faucets for those low-flow models. Seemed simple enough—just unscrew the old ones, screw in the new ones, right? Nope. Turns out half the plumbing under the sink was ancient and corroded. Ended up spending two days replacing pipes and valves that I didn't even know existed. By the end of it, I was covered in plumber's tape and frustration.
"Lesson learned: instructions aren't just packing material after all."
Yeah, and neither is YouTube apparently. I swear, half my plumbing knowledge now comes from some random guy named "PlumberJoe" who films DIY videos in his garage. But hey, at least the water bill dropped noticeably after switching to the new faucets, so I guess the hassle was worth it.
Now I'm eyeing one of those tankless water heaters—supposedly more energy-efficient and eco-friendly—but after the faucet fiasco, I'm a bit hesitant. Has anyone here tackled installing one of those themselves? Curious if it's another "easy" project that's secretly a weekend killer...
Haha, I totally relate to the YouTube plumbing rabbit hole. PlumberJoe saved my sanity more than once. I haven't tackled a tankless heater myself, but my brother-in-law did last summer. He said the install itself wasn't too bad—just a lot of prep work and double-checking gas lines and venting requirements. Apparently, the hardest part was figuring out the right size and placement because they're pretty picky about airflow and clearance.
He did mention it's been worth it though—hot water on demand and lower bills. I'm tempted myself, but after my "easy" showerhead swap turned into a full bathroom remodel (don't ask), I'm giving myself a DIY timeout for now...
I feel your pain on the DIY timeout—been there myself after a "quick" faucet fix turned into an all-weekend adventure. I've been eyeing those tankless heaters too, but ended up starting smaller with low-flow fixtures and insulating pipes. Easy wins, noticeable savings, and way less stress...for now anyway.
Tankless heaters can be great, but honestly, I've seen mixed results. Had a client who swore by theirs, but another spent a fortune on installation only to find their savings were minimal at best. Maybe it depends on household size or usage patterns...anyone notice a difference there?
