Ever had a valve snap right off in your hand? Happened to me once, and I swear I aged five years in that moment.
Honestly, I get the panic—been there myself. But I’d actually argue it’s not always worth keeping a bunch of spare valves around. Unless you’re doing plumbing repairs regularly, they just end up gathering dust or getting misplaced. Instead, I focus on checking the condition of existing valves every so often. If one looks sketchy, I’ll replace it before it fails. Less clutter, less stress... though yeah, nothing prepares you for that sudden snap when you least expect it.
Instead, I focus on checking the condition of existing valves every so often. If one looks sketchy, I’ll replace it before it fails. Less clutter, less stress...
That’s a fair point, but I’ve got to wonder—how many people actually remember to check their valves before disaster strikes? I get the logic, but in my experience, most folks only notice a valve when it’s already leaking or, worse, when it snaps mid-repair. Happened to me under a bathroom sink once: thought I’d just tighten things up and suddenly I had a geyser and a ruined afternoon.
I’m not convinced keeping spares is such a waste. Sure, they might collect dust, but is that really worse than scrambling to the hardware store mid-flood? Maybe it comes down to how comfortable you are with chaos. Do you trust your “sketchy valve” radar, or do you hedge your bets with a backup or two in the toolbox? I’m not saying hoard parts, but I’d rather have one too many than none when things go sideways.
I’m not convinced keeping spares is such a waste. Sure, they might collect dust, but is that really worse than scrambling to the hardware store mid-flood?
Honestly, you’re not wrong—nothing like a surprise indoor fountain to make you wish you had a spare valve on hand. I’ve seen more “quick fixes” turn into aquatic disasters than I care to admit. Still, checking valves now and then does help dodge some drama. If you’re the type who forgets till it’s too late (most of us), having a backup or two isn’t overkill. Better safe and a little dusty than soaked and panicked.
I get the logic behind keeping spares, but sometimes it just leads to a drawer full of random parts you never use. I’ve seen people buy every fitting “just in case” and then forget what’s what when something actually breaks. Personally, I’d rather check things regularly and only keep the basics—like a washer or two, maybe a supply line. Otherwise, it’s easy to end up with clutter and still not have the part you need when things go sideways. Just my two cents...
I get where you’re coming from about the spare parts drawer turning into a junkyard. I’ve been called out to more than a few houses where folks have every oddball fitting under the sun, but when their kitchen sink starts leaking, they can’t find a single 1/2" washer. It’s kind of funny, but also a bit of a headache for everyone involved.
What I usually tell people is to keep it simple: have a couple of washers, maybe a spare P-trap gasket, and one supply line if you’ve got the space. Anything more and you’re just making it harder on yourself when something actually goes wrong. I’ve seen people try to MacGyver a fix with the wrong part just because it was “close enough,” and that usually ends up making things worse.
Regular checks are smart—catching a slow drip before it turns into a full-blown disaster saves way more time (and money) than digging through a mountain of random bits. Less is more, at least in my experience.
