Been there myself—had a similar issue with a stubborn shut-off valve under the sink. Thought I'd save some time by forcing it open with channel locks, and next thing I knew, water was spraying everywhere. Ended up drenched and scrambling to shut off the main supply. Lesson learned: patience and WD-40 are your friends when dealing with plumbing that's been sitting untouched for years...
Haha, sounds familiar... but does WD-40 actually help with plumbing valves? I've always wondered if that's legit or just one of those DIY myths floating around. Might have to test it next time I'm stuck under the sink.
Haha, I've definitely been tempted by the WD-40 trick myself, but honestly, it's more of a temporary fix than a real solution. WD-40 is great for loosening stuck metal parts, but plumbing valves usually have rubber or plastic seals that can degrade if you spray them with petroleum-based products. Learned this the hard way when I tried it on my outdoor faucet—worked great for about two days, then started leaking worse than before... classic DIY fail moment.
Haha, yeah, WD-40's pretty much the duct tape of lubricants—great for a quick fix, but rarely the right long-term solution. A few thoughts from experience:
- WD-40 isn't even technically a lubricant; it's more of a water-displacer and rust dissolver. So it might loosen things up temporarily, but it doesn't really protect or maintain parts in plumbing systems.
- Like you mentioned, petroleum-based products can seriously mess up rubber seals. Learned that myself when I sprayed some on a squeaky bathroom faucet handle. It got super smooth for about three days, then suddenly I had water dripping nonstop... not my proudest homeowner moment.
- If your water pressure issues are valve-related (like a stuck shut-off valve), you're better off using silicone-based lubricants or plumber's grease designed specifically for plumbing components. These won't degrade rubber seals and usually last way longer.
- But honestly, low water pressure can be caused by so many different things—clogged aerators, mineral buildup in pipes, partially closed valves somewhere down the line... sometimes even municipal supply issues. Had one client convinced their whole system needed replacing until we realized their main shut-off valve was only halfway open after some landscaping work.
I'd recommend starting with the simplest checks first—cleaning aerators, checking valves—and working your way up from there. And maybe leave the WD-40 on the shelf this time around... unless you're fixing a rusty bike chain or something.
Good points overall, but I'd push back a bit on the WD-40 dismissal. While it's definitely not ideal for plumbing seals or valves, I've seen it work surprisingly well as a temporary diagnostic tool. Had a stubborn shut-off valve once that wouldn't budge—quick spray of WD-40 loosened it enough to confirm the valve was the issue. Obviously, replaced it afterward, but sometimes a quick fix can help narrow down the real problem before investing in specialized lubricants or parts.
