Permits can seem like overkill, but I've seen enough DIY disasters to know they're not always pointless. Had a client once who thought swapping out their kitchen sink was simple enough—no permit, no inspection. A few months later, they called me in because the cabinet underneath was warped and smelled musty. Turns out they'd missed sealing one of the connections properly, and water had been dripping slowly behind the cabinet wall for weeks. Ended up costing them way more than if they'd just gotten the permit and had it checked out properly from the start.
I get it though, permits can feel like unnecessary red tape for small jobs. But honestly, sometimes those "minor" plumbing tasks aren't as minor as they seem...
I recently replaced mine and debated the permit thing too. Ended up going with a licensed plumber just to be safe, and I'm glad I did. Cost me around $400 total—sink, labor, and permit included. Yeah, permits seem annoying, but water damage is no joke... especially if you're new to homeownership like me and still figuring out what's worth the risk.
"Yeah, permits seem annoying, but water damage is no joke..."
Totally agree with this. I once tried to DIY my kitchen faucet thinking it'd be easy money saved... ended up flooding half the cabinet underneath. Lesson learned the soggy way—sometimes it's worth paying a pro.
I get the caution, but honestly, permits for a faucet swap seem a bit excessive to me. Usually, it's straightforward if you prep right and double-check connections. Curious though, anyone run into insurance issues after DIY plumbing went sideways?
Permits for faucets? Man, if I had to pull a permit every time I swapped out a faucet, I'd be on a first-name basis with city hall by now. 😂 But seriously, insurance-wise, I've seen some DIY plumbing disasters—mostly flooded kitchens and soggy drywall. Usually insurance covers it unless they sniff out some seriously sketchy work. Just don't go full MacGyver with duct tape and chewing gum, and you'll probably be fine...probably.
