"have a bucket handy when you're disconnecting pipes under the sink"
Haha, this is golden advice—wish more folks would follow it. Seen way too many cabinets warped from sneaky leaks. DIY's great, but knowing when to call in backup saves headaches later...trust me.
Another handy tip—before you even grab that bucket, shut off the water valves under the sink and test the faucet to make sure they're actually off. Learned that one the hard way after a mini flood in a rental unit. DIY plumbing can be pretty straightforward, but sometimes those old pipes or stubborn fittings can turn a quick fix into an all-day headache... ever run into one of those "simple" repairs that spiraled outta control?
"DIY plumbing can be pretty straightforward, but sometimes those old pipes or stubborn fittings can turn a quick fix into an all-day headache..."
Couldn't agree more. Had a similar "easy fix" escalate into a weekend nightmare a couple years back—thought swapping out a leaky faucet would take an hour tops. Turns out the previous owner had cross-threaded the fitting onto ancient galvanized pipes. Ended up replacing half the plumbing under the sink. Sometimes it's worth spending the money on a pro just to avoid the stress and lost time...
I've tackled plenty of plumbing jobs myself, and honestly, even the tricky ones usually come down to having the right tools and prep. Spend 10 mins spraying penetrating oil on those old fittings first, saves hours of frustration later...usually.
You've got a good point about prep and tools, but honestly, plumbing can sometimes throw curveballs no matter how much you prepare. I've had fittings that laughed in the face of penetrating oil—rusted solid after decades under the sink. Last year, I spent a whole Saturday fighting with an old pipe connection; sprayed it multiple times, waited patiently...still ended up stripping the fitting and had to call a plumber anyway. Sometimes it's not just about having the right tools or prep, but also knowing when you're in over your head. If it's straightforward, sure, DIY is great. But if things start looking sketchy or you're dealing with ancient plumbing that's practically fossilized, calling a pro can save your weekend (and sanity).
