"Speaking of valves though, anyone ever deal with those old-school gate valves? I swear they always break or jam halfway open at the worst possible moment."
Haha, gate valves are definitely temperamental beasts, but honestly, I've seen ball valves fail too—usually from cheap materials or improper installation. Had a customer once who swapped all his gate valves for ball valves thinking he'd solved everything... until one seized up completely after just a year. Moral of the story: quality matters as much as valve type. Also, your dishwasher-shower pressure drop isn't quirky—pretty common actually, especially in older homes with undersized supply lines.
Gate valves really can be a pain, especially when you're mid-project and they decide to jam up. Had one stick halfway closed during a bathroom reno—ended up having to shut off the whole house supply just to finish the job. You're definitely not alone on this one...
Gate valves have given me plenty of headaches too. Had one seize up in a rental property basement—tenants called me at midnight because the water pressure dropped to a trickle. Turned out the valve was corroded halfway shut, restricting flow. Switched it out for a ball valve and haven't had an issue since. Honestly, gate valves are outdated tech; ball valves are smoother, more reliable, and worth the extra few bucks.
I've thought about switching to ball valves too, but aren't they significantly pricier? Curious if anyone's noticed a real difference in longevity or maintenance costs that justifies the upfront expense...
I've wondered the same thing about ball valves. From what I've seen, yeah, they're pricier upfront, but they tend to hold up better over time. Gate valves can get stuck or corrode more easily, especially if they're not used regularly. Had a job recently where we replaced some old gate valves that were completely seized—total headache. Ball valves seem smoother and less prone to issues like that. Might be worth the extra cost if you're thinking long-term...
