You’re spot on about not messing with water behind walls or under floors. I’ve tried the DIY route for small stuff, but anything that soaks insulation or subfloor? I call in the pros every time. It stings to pay, but I’ve seen what mold can do—trust me, it’s not worth the risk. You’re making the right call.
I call in the pros every time. It stings to pay, but I’ve seen what mold can do—trust me, it’s not worth the risk.
I hear you on the mold—had a run-in with it once and my basement smelled like a swamp for weeks. But honestly, sometimes the pros charge more than my first car cost. Last year, I tackled a small leak under the bathroom floor myself (YouTube is both a blessing and a curse). Took me all weekend, a lot of cursing, but it worked out fine. Not saying I'd mess with anything major, but for smaller jobs... sometimes DIY isn’t as scary as it sounds. Just gotta know your limits (and where your shutoff valve is).
Yeah, I get the hesitation on calling in the pros for every little thing. Some of those quotes are wild—once got an estimate that was nearly double what I expected. For minor stuff, like tightening a compression fitting or replacing a bit of drywall, I’ll give it a go myself. The key for me is moisture meters and a good dehumidifier—if you can dry things out fast and check for hidden damp spots, you can avoid most mold issues. But as soon as there’s insulation or wiring involved, I’m out. Not worth risking a bigger mess.
I hear you on those wild estimates—sometimes I wonder if the contractors are quoting me for a burst pipe or a new swimming pool. Moisture meters and dehumidifiers are definitely clutch, but you nailed it: once you’ve got insulation or wires in the mix, things get dicey fast. I’ve seen folks try to patch up around electrical without realizing there’s still moisture lurking, and then surprise... lights start flickering or breakers trip. Not a fun time.
Curious if you’ve ever tried cutting out just a small section of drywall to peek at the insulation? Sometimes it looks dry on the surface but is a soggy mess inside. It’s always a gamble—do you open up more wall and risk making it worse, or leave it and hope for the best? Personally, I’d rather patch extra drywall than deal with hidden mold later. How far do you usually go before calling someone in?
I get wanting to open up more drywall to be sure, but honestly, I’m not always convinced that’s the best move right away. Sometimes you can use a pin-type moisture meter to check behind the drywall without making a huge mess. If readings are high, then yeah, cut it out. But if you start opening up everything just in case, you might end up with way more patchwork than needed. I’ve seen folks rip out half a wall when the issue was isolated to a small spot. It’s a balance—too much demo can make things worse, especially if you’re not sure what’s behind there (pipes, wires, etc).
