Fair point, but tutorials can make things look deceptively easy. I once confidently replaced a faucet after watching a 5-minute video...ended up spending the weekend chasing leaks. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the plumber's fee.
"Sometimes peace of mind is worth the plumber's fee."
True, but sometimes the budget doesn't leave much room for peace of mind. I've tackled a few plumbing fixes myself—mostly minor stuff like clogged drains or replacing washers—and it's usually worked out okay. But your faucet story hits close to home...spent hours once trying to fix a running toilet, convinced it was just a simple flapper replacement. Turned out the whole valve assembly was shot, and I ended up calling a pro anyway after wasting half my Saturday.
Makes me wonder: at what point do you draw the line between DIY and calling in backup? Is it complexity, potential damage, or just how much patience you've got left?
For me, it's definitely about potential damage and safety. Learned that the hard way after flooding half my kitchen trying to replace a dishwasher hose...cost way more in repairs than calling a plumber upfront would've. Sometimes DIY just isn't worth the gamble.
Had a similar experience once—tenant called about a "small leak," figured I'd swing by with my toolbox and save a few bucks. Ended up ankle-deep in water and calling emergency plumbing anyway. Curious if anyone's found a reliable way to gauge when DIY crosses into risky territory?
"Ended up ankle-deep in water and calling emergency plumbing anyway."
Haha, sounds all too familiar. My rule of thumb is if YouTube tutorials start mentioning "main valve shut-off," it's probably above my pay grade. Ever had a DIY fix unexpectedly work out better than hiring pros?
