Good points here, especially about overtightening. I've seen more leaks caused by people cranking down fittings than leaving them slightly loose. Had a similar issue myself once—thought I'd snug it up good and tight to prevent drips, but ended up cracking the brass fitting inside the wall. Not only did I have to replace that part, but patching drywall afterward wasn't exactly my idea of a relaxing weekend.
One thing I'd add is that sometimes it's not just washers or fittings; corrosion can sneak up on you. If your plumbing's older, even minor DIY jobs can quickly escalate into bigger headaches. Learned that the hard way after trying to replace a faucet on some ancient galvanized pipes...ended up calling in a pro anyway. So yeah, DIY is great for simple stuff, but knowing when to step back is key.
Totally agree with you on corrosion—had a similar issue myself. Thought replacing a simple shut-off valve under my kitchen sink would be quick and painless... nope. The pipe was corroded and brittle, snapped right off in my hand. Ended up spending half a day dealing with water everywhere and another day waiting for the plumber. I’m usually all for DIY, especially to avoid wasteful practices, but sometimes older plumbing just isn’t worth the headache (or the water damage).
Had a similar run-in myself last year. Figured swapping out the faucet would be straightforward, but the fittings were ancient and seized up tight. Ended up breaking one of the old copper lines trying to loosen it—water everywhere, buckets and towels all over the kitchen floor. Lesson learned: older plumbing can be deceptive. Even if it looks simple, corrosion and brittle pipes can quickly turn a 20-minute job into an all-day disaster. DIY is great when things go smoothly, but sometimes calling in someone who deals with this stuff daily saves time (and sanity).
Yeah, older plumbing can be sneaky like that. I've seen fittings practically welded shut from corrosion—no amount of WD-40 helps. Sometimes it's just better to bite the bullet and replace more than you planned... saves headaches down the road.
Had a similar nightmare when I tackled my bathroom sink last year. Thought I'd just swap out the faucet, but ended up pulling out half the plumbing because of rusted fittings and brittle pipes. Honestly, sometimes DIY just spirals into more trouble than it's worth. Curious—has anyone tried those specialty penetrating oils? I've heard they're a step up from WD-40, but haven't tested myself yet...
