"Next time, try adding foam pipe insulation too—it dampens vibrations nicely."
Foam insulation can help, but honestly, I've had better luck with rubber isolators. Foam tends to compress over time, especially if there's a lot of vibration or temperature swings. Rubber mounts or isolators hold up better in my experience. Plumbing really is full of surprises though...like that time I found a wrench someone left behind the drywall.
Rubber isolators definitely hold up better long-term, especially if you're dealing with a lot of vibration. Foam's decent for quick fixes, but I've seen it flatten out pretty quickly. And yeah, plumbing surprises...I once pulled out an old soda can behind my pipes.
- Congrats on tackling the pipes—plumbing can be a real adventure, huh?
- Soda can behind the pipes? That's next-level weird...makes me wonder what I'll find lurking behind mine.
- Good tip on the rubber isolators. I've been using foam pads, and yeah, they're already looking pretty sad.
- Anyway, your post gives me hope that someday I'll conquer my own plumbing mysteries without flooding the basement. Fingers crossed.
"Good tip on the rubber isolators. I've been using foam pads, and yeah, they're already looking pretty sad."
Interesting you mention foam pads—I actually had the opposite experience. When I first moved in, I swapped out some old rubber isolators for foam pads thinking they'd be quieter. At first, they seemed great, but after a few months, they compressed and lost effectiveness. Maybe it's just the brand I bought or something? But honestly, I'm starting to think rubber isolators might be more durable in the long run.
Also, about that soda can behind the pipes... weird finds seem pretty common in older homes. When I opened up my bathroom wall last year, I found an ancient-looking toothbrush wedged behind the sink plumbing. Makes me wonder if plumbers leave these things as some kind of secret signature or if it's just random junk left behind by previous DIYers.
Anyway, congrats on your plumbing victory—I'm still working up the courage to tackle mine without causing a minor flood.
"Makes me wonder if plumbers leave these things as some kind of secret signature or if it's just random junk left behind by previous DIYers."
Haha, pretty sure it's random DIY junk—I once pulled out a wall panel and found half a peanut butter sandwich wrapped in plastic... talk about a snack break gone wrong.
Anyway, agree with you on foam pads. Tried them myself, and after a year they turned into flat pancakes. Rubber isolators have been my go-to since then—definitely hold up better long-term. Good luck with your plumbing adventures—may your floors stay dry!
