Haha, reading this thread is giving me flashbacks to my own toilet saga last summer. Thought I'd outsmart the plumbing gods by just tightening a few bolts and slapping on some plumber's tape. Worked like a charm—for about two days. Then came the midnight flood... nothing wakes you up faster than stepping barefoot into cold toilet water at 2 AM.
Turns out the real culprit was a cracked flange hidden beneath the floor. Had to rip up tiles and everything—my wallet still hasn't forgiven me. But honestly, you're spot-on about biting the bullet early. Quick fixes are tempting, especially when you're watching your budget, but plumbing has a sneaky way of punishing shortcuts. Now I joke that my DIY skills are limited to changing toilet paper rolls and plunging minor clogs—anything beyond that, I'm calling in backup. Lesson learned the soggy way.
"Quick fixes are tempting, especially when you're watching your budget, but plumbing has a sneaky way of punishing shortcuts."
True, but sometimes DIY can work if you're cautious and research thoroughly. I've fixed minor leaks sustainably without issues... just gotta know your limits and when to call a pro.
