Haha, been there. I kept mine super basic—mostly reused fittings and a simple diverter valve. Saved money, fewer headaches...and no submarine vibes under my sink. Less is definitely more with DIY plumbing, imo.
"Less is definitely more with DIY plumbing, imo."
Haha, fair point...but gotta say, sometimes taking it up a notch can really pay off. I once swapped out my old-school diverter for a thermostatic mixing valve—sounds fancy but it's basically just a smarter valve that controls temp better. Sure, it cost a bit more upfront and had me scratching my head at first (YouTube tutorials FTW), but now showers are consistent and I'm wasting way less water fiddling with the taps.
Not saying your "reuse and simplify" approach isn't solid—definitely saves headaches—but sustainable upgrades don't always have to mean submarine-level complexity. A few strategic upgrades can make life easier and greener without sinking your sanity.
Yeah, totally get what you're saying about strategic upgrades. I swapped out a couple toilets in my rentals for dual-flush models last year—wasn't exactly rocket science, but it made a noticeable dent in the water bill. Still, gotta admit, I've seen tenants struggle with overly fancy fixtures...sometimes simpler really is better. Guess it's all about finding that sweet spot between efficiency and ease of use.
I hear ya on the fancy fixtures, but honestly, I've found that tenants adapt pretty quickly if you give them a clear heads-up. When I installed low-flow showerheads, I stuck a funny little laminated card in each bathroom with step-by-step instructions and a silly cartoon—worked like a charm, no confusion at all. Sometimes it's not about simpler fixtures, just simpler explanations...and maybe a bit of humor doesn't hurt either.
Fair point, but honestly, if a fixture needs a cartoon to explain it clearly, maybe it's not intuitive enough? I've found tenants appreciate straightforward designs—less hassle for everyone. Humor helps, sure, but simpler fixtures usually mean fewer headaches down the line...