I get the value of a moisture meter, but honestly, I’d rather err on the side of overkill and leave access panels where possible. Found a slow leak behind a tub once—meter didn’t catch it, but an open panel sure did. Sometimes old-school wins.
Access panels have saved me more than once, especially in older houses where you never know what’s lurking behind the walls. Moisture meters are handy, but they’re not magic. Curious—do you usually put panels behind every tub or just in spots with plumbing?
I get the appeal of access panels, but honestly, I’m not convinced you need one behind every tub. Sometimes it feels like overkill, especially if you’re dealing with a newer install or you’re pretty confident in your plumbing work. I’ve opened up too many old panels only to find nothing but dust and maybe a spider or two. Unless there’s a specific fixture or valve you might need to reach, I’d rather patch it up and keep the wall solid. Maybe that’s just me being stubborn, though…
I hear you on the “just patch it up” approach—especially if you’re confident in your plumbing and want a clean look. I used to think the same, but after dealing with a slow leak that took forever to track down (and ended up wrecking a bunch of drywall), I’ve kinda changed my tune. Now, I figure if there’s any chance I might need to get at shutoff valves or trap assemblies, I’d rather have a small panel than rip out half a wall later.
That said, I’m curious—have you ever had to deal with a hidden leak or plumbing issue after closing everything up? Did it make you rethink skipping the panel, or did it just confirm your decision? Sometimes I wonder if the peace of mind is worth the extra step, even if it’s not the prettiest solution...