Plumbing discussions and local services.
andrewg68
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RE: What should an after-hours plumbing call-out fee cover?
I’d want the proposed step and its price stated plainly, plus what immediate risk it is meant to reduce and whether it should contain the leak until a regular repair can be arranged. I’d also confirm that anything beyond...
RE: What should an after-hours plumbing call-out fee cover?
What change would make you favor an after-hours diagnosis over waiting for a regular appointment - a leak that can no longer be contained, signs of spreading damage, or simply uncertainty about where the water is going? ...
RE: Should a softener resin quote include diagnosis first?
Yes. Overall condition matters to whether the repair is worthwhile, though it doesn’t diagnose the resin. If the valve and rest of the unit seem sound, replacing resin might still make sense once the evidence points ther...
RE: When your bathroom sink ends up off-center
Tried those edge strips once when I first moved in - looked decent at first, but after a few months, the corners started curling up. Maybe I didn’t install them right, but with all the splashing around the sink, they jus...
RE: Finally ditched the black tank: my dry loo journey
Honestly, I’ve had better luck just skipping liners altogether. Tried the thicker bags and they still got mushy after a few days, especially in summer. Now I just sprinkle a layer of sawdust after each use - way less mes...
RE: Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks
Agreed, the routine needs both parts. UV treatment wouldn't scrub deposits out of pipework, and scrubbing wouldn't show that the required microbial treatment had been achieved. I'd follow the checks for the actual system...
RE: my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down
Had a similar thing happen when I moved in - thought I was being smart by picking a “heavy duty” shower head, but it started leaking at the swivel joint after a few months. Next thing I know, water’s shooting out sideway...
RE: LOW SHOWER PRESSURE: DOES THAT BOOSTER PUMP REALLY WORK?
That’s been my experience too. When I moved in, my shower pressure was a joke - barely a drizzle. I spent a week reading up on booster pumps and almost ordered one, but my dad (who’s seen every plumbing mishap under the ...
RE: Choosing between in-kitchen and underground grease traps - what would you do?
Honestly, I thought I’d be fine with an in-kitchen trap when we moved in, but wow, you’re right about the nose adapting. First couple weeks, I was hyper-aware of every weird smell. After a while, though, it just faded in...
RE: why is documenting plumbing connections such a nightmare?
I hear you on the diagrams - my dad used to do that, and I always thought it was overkill until I had to fix a leak under my own kitchen sink. The phone pics helped, but when I went back a year later, I couldn’t remember...
RE: What would you do if your basement started smelling musty overnight?
Yeah, I’d probably do the same - dehumidifier first, then start poking around if the smell sticks around. Last summer, we had a weird musty odor pop up after a stretch of muggy weather, and it turned out to be a cardboar...
RE: Handy shortcuts for finding plumbing info quick
I feel this. I once had to scroll through 50+ photos of pipes under my sink just to find the one with the shutoff valve label I needed. I’ve tried the “favorite” trick, but sometimes I forget in the middle of the chaos. ...
RE: Plumbing pros weigh in: new app promises faster fixes and fewer headaches
Techy Fix-It Apps vs. Good Old Elbow Grease That line hit home for me. I moved into my first house last year - a 1968 split-level - and I swear, every time I open up a wall or crawl under a sink, it’s like a time caps...
RE: Water pressure woes - anyone else dealt with this?
That banging noise when you shut off the tap sounds like what my plumber called “water hammer.” I had the same thing after swapping out some old galvanized for PEX in my laundry room. It freaked me out at first - thought...
RE: finally figured out my boiler plumbing - anyone else find it tricky?
I hear you on those pinhole leaks - had one sneak up behind the washing machine last year. By the time I noticed, the drywall was already soft. I get why folks want the smart shutoffs, but I just can’t trust another app ...