- Good call on the main shutoff—I've had a flex hose burst while I was out, and the cleanup was way pricier than just replacing a valve later.
- Those fill valves are sneaky. I swapped mine after hearing that faint hiss for weeks... water bill dropped noticeably.
- Never tried the stethoscope trick, but the screwdriver method works in a pinch.
- Honestly, unless your plumbing is super old, most valves can take being turned off now and then. Better safe than sorry, especially if you’re watching your budget.
Main shutoff is always the first move—seen way too many folks skip it and regret it later. About those fill valves, yeah, they’re basically ninjas for running up your water bill. The screwdriver trick’s solid, but honestly, half the time you can just feel the vibration with your hand if it’s bad enough. Don’t stress about turning valves off now and then; unless you’re in a 100-year-old house, they’ll handle it just fine. Worst case, you’re out a $10 shutoff instead of a soaked floor.
I had a similar issue last year—turned out the culprit was a fill valve that wouldn’t fully close. I agree, main shutoff first, always. I’ve replaced a couple of those $10 shutoffs myself and honestly, it’s way less hassle than dealing with water damage. Sometimes you can even hear a faint hiss if you’re quiet enough, but feeling for vibration is usually quicker. I do check my valves every few months just to be safe… old habits from living in a place with ancient plumbing.
