Plumber on speed dial vs. plumbing apps—what's your go-to?
I hear you on the “quick fixes” lurking in the walls—sometimes I feel like every old house has a secret plumbing time capsule just waiting to spring a leak at 3am. I’ll admit, I’ve used apps and YouTube for the basics: swapping out a faucet, tightening a loose valve, figuring out why the toilet won’t stop running. That stuff’s pretty straightforward if you’re patient and don’t mind getting your hands dirty.
But once you get into those ancient pipes—galvanized, corroded, patched together with who-knows-what—I’m with you, things get unpredictable real fast. I tried to track down a slow leak in a 1950s duplex last year using one of those “find your leak” app guides. The app said it was probably just a worn washer. Turns out, it was a cracked pipe buried behind three layers of drywall and someone’s old newspaper insulation. Ended up calling my plumber anyway, and he just laughed when he saw what I’d tried.
I guess for me it comes down to risk tolerance. If it’s low stakes—like a leaky faucet or clogged drain—I’ll give the DIY route a shot. Worst case, I waste an hour and learn something new. But if water’s pouring out somewhere it shouldn’t be or the fix isn’t obvious after 15 minutes of poking around, I’m not risking water damage or mold just to save a few bucks.
Do I trust YouTube over a pro? Not when it comes to anything that could turn into a disaster overnight. But those apps can be handy for identifying problems before you call someone in—at least you’re not totally in the dark when the plumber starts rattling off jargon.
Ever found anything truly bizarre behind your walls? I once found an actual glass Coke bottle wedged inside a bathroom wall—no idea what that was supposed to fix...
I once found a petrified mouse and a golf ball inside a wall cavity—can’t even imagine the story there. I’m all for a good YouTube tutorial, but after flooding the laundry room trying to “fix” a washer hose, I keep my plumber’s number handy. Apps are cool for diagnosing, but my confidence tanks once power tools or torching pipes get involved.
I get the hesitation with power tools and torches—definitely not everyone’s comfort zone. But I’ve found that a lot of basic plumbing fixes don’t need much more than a wrench and some patience. I’m curious, have you tried any of the leak detection apps? Some are surprisingly good at spotting small issues before they become disasters. I do wonder, though, if relying on a plumber for every little thing is the most sustainable approach... sometimes it feels like overkill for a leaky faucet.
I get what you mean about not needing a full toolkit for every plumbing issue. I’ve only just started tackling small fixes myself—tightened a leaky supply line the other day, and it was way less intimidating than I expected. Haven’t tried any leak detection apps yet, though. Do they actually work well for older homes with weird plumbing layouts? I sometimes worry tech won’t catch stuff behind walls or under floors...
I’ve only just started tackling small fixes myself—tightened a leaky supply line the other day, and it was way less intimidating than I expected.
That’s awesome! Honestly, half the battle is just giving it a shot. I get what you mean about leak detection apps—some of ‘em are decent for obvious stuff, but yeah, older houses with wild plumbing can definitely throw them off. Sometimes you just gotta trust your gut (and maybe your ears) more than the tech.
