Gate valves aren't terrible, true, but I've had better luck overall with quarter-turns. Maybe it's just me, but gate valves seem fussier if you don't remember to cycle them regularly. On the water-saving side, I do try to pay attention—hate seeing water wasted when I'm fixing stuff. Ever tried those low-flow aerators? Surprisingly decent pressure and saves a bit too.
I've actually switched out most of my gate valves for quarter-turns too. Learned the hard way when one seized up on me mid-repair—talk about a mini flood in the laundry room... As for water-saving, those low-flow aerators surprised me as well. Installed one in the kitchen sink expecting a weak trickle, but honestly, pressure feels about the same and my water bill dropped noticeably. Small changes like that really add up over time.
Totally agree about the quarter-turn valves—after a similar incident, I swapped mine out too. Ever thought about adding leak detectors under sinks and behind appliances? I've put a couple in, and they already saved me once when my dishwasher hose started dripping. On aerators though... do you find they clog more easily with sediment? Mine seem to need cleaning more frequently now, but maybe that's just my water quality being sketchy lately.
I've noticed the same thing with aerators lately—mine seem to clog up way faster than they used to. Could definitely be water quality, especially if your area's been doing any pipe maintenance or flushing hydrants recently. I had a client whose aerators kept clogging every couple weeks, and turns out the city was working on the main lines nearby. After they finished, things settled down again.
Leak detectors are a solid idea, by the way. I've installed a bunch for customers, and they've saved folks from some pretty nasty surprises. Funny enough, I still haven't gotten around to putting them in my own place yet... classic case of the plumber's house always needing plumbing, right? Maybe your dishwasher hose story is the nudge I needed.
I've had similar issues with aerators getting clogged, especially after our city did some hydrant flushing nearby. Ended up pulling the aerators off, soaking them in vinegar overnight, and giving them a good scrub—worked like a charm. Definitely agree leak detectors are worth it; they've saved me more than once. Curious though, has anyone tried those flow-restricting showerheads or faucets? Wondering if they're actually practical or just end up being annoying...
