Haha, your sprinkler story gave me flashbacks to my own plumbing fiasco. A couple years back, I decided to tackle a DIY bathroom remodel at my place. Thought I'd save some cash by doing the plumbing myself—how hard could it be, right?
Well, turns out pretty hard when you don't double-check the water pressure first. I didn't even know pressure reducer valves were a thing back then. So there I was, feeling super proud after installing a shiny new faucet and showerhead. Turned the water back on and BAM—instant indoor water park. Water shooting everywhere, me scrambling around like a cartoon character trying to find the shutoff valve... good times indeed.
After that little adventure, I picked up one of those gauges you mentioned and checked my pressure. It was hovering around 90 psi—not quite your 100 psi nightmare, but still way too high. No wonder my fixtures were acting possessed. Ended up installing a regulator valve (after watching about 20 YouTube tutorials) and things have been smooth sailing ever since.
Moral of the story: never underestimate water pressure or skip steps in plumbing projects. Learned that lesson the soggy way, haha.
Hope your bathroom fix-up goes better than mine did... or at least involves fewer towels and buckets.
Your plumbing adventure definitely resonates—I had a similar experience when I first bought my house. Thought I'd save some money replacing the bathroom sink myself, and... let's just say it wasn't exactly straightforward. I didn't have the pressure issue you described (thankfully!), but aligning pipes correctly turned out to be trickier than anticipated. After a weekend spent wrestling with fittings and multiple trips to the hardware store, I got it sorted out.
You're completely right about double-checking everything beforehand—especially water pressure. It's one of those details that seems minor until suddenly it's not. Good on you for sticking with it and figuring out the regulator valve installation yourself; that's no small feat. DIY plumbing can be intimidating, but once you've tackled something like that, future projects start feeling a bit more manageable.
Hopefully OP's project goes smoother, but either way, these mishaps always make for great stories later on... after everything has dried out, of course.
"aligning pipes correctly turned out to be trickier than anticipated."
Yeah, alignment can be a headache, especially if you're dealing with older plumbing. One tip I've found helpful is using slip-joint fittings—they give you a bit more wiggle room when things don't line up perfectly. Also, silicone grease on the washers helps everything slide into place easier and prevents leaks later. Good luck to OP... plumbing's always an adventure.
Haha, plumbing adventures indeed... I tackled my first DIY bathroom fix-up last month, and let's just say aligning pipes had me questioning all my life choices. Slip-joint fittings saved me too—total lifesavers when nothing lines up right. Another thing that helped was grabbing one of those flexible drain connectors; they're forgiving enough for newbies like me who measure twice and still cut wrong. Hang in there, OP, you'll get it eventually... or at least close enough to call it "rustic charm."
Flexible connectors can definitely save the day, but I'd caution against relying on them too heavily. They're great for minor misalignments or tricky spots, but if you're dealing with significant alignment issues, it's usually better to step back and reassess your layout. Sometimes just adjusting the trap or repositioning your fittings slightly can make a huge difference.
One trick I've learned over the years is dry-fitting everything first—no glue, no sealant—just to see how it all lines up. Mark your pipes clearly with a sharpie once you've got them aligned. Then when you take it apart to glue or tighten things down, you know exactly where everything goes. Saves a ton of headaches later.
Also, don't underestimate the value of a good pipe cutter. Hacksaws are fine in a pinch, but clean cuts make alignment way easier. And if you're working with PVC, deburring the edges after cutting helps fittings slide together smoothly.
Good luck with your project... plumbing's always an adventure, even for us who've been at it awhile.
