Plumbing discussions and local services.
ascott30
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RE: When your bathroom sink ends up off-center
Tried those rubber shims once when I was leveling a laundry room cabinet. Honestly, they did grip better on tile than the composite ones, but they’re a bit pricey for what you get. Not sure they’re a total game changer, ...
RE: How do you handle the dirty work: DIY or call in the pros?
Access panels are a lifesaver, no question. I’ve tried to hide them with paint or art, but at the end of the day, I’d rather have an ugly square in the wall than a surprise waterfall in the basement. I get tempted to DIY...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
I hear you. We swapped to a dual-flush a couple years back, thinking we’d save on the water bill, but honestly, half the time I’m standing there flushing twice anyway. Maybe it’s just our model, but it feels like a step ...
RE: Under Sink Hookup vs. Dedicated Drain Line: Which Is Better for Dishwashers?
Funny, I tried to save a few bucks by skipping the air gap when I swapped out our old dishwasher. Thought the high loop would be enough, but after a couple months, started getting that weird smell and slow draining. Ende...
RE: Touchless taps and other faucet surprises
I hear you on the maintenance side - my neighbor had a fancy touchless faucet in their kitchen and it started acting up after about a year. Ended up just using it like a regular tap because the sensor would randomly stop...
RE: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo
I hear you on that. I actually tried the same thing last winter after getting tired of piling on blankets in one room and sweating in the other. A few rolls of duct tape and some cheap insulation from the hardware store ...
RE: Handy shortcuts for finding plumbing info quick
I’ve tried the photo thing too, and honestly, it started out feeling super organized - until I realized I had a dozen nearly identical shots of pipes and valves and couldn’t remember which angle was from where. Ended up ...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
Never had much luck with those ultrasonic things either - felt like I was just plugging in another thing to collect dust. I get the appeal, but if the mice are hungry enough, they’ll ignore just about anything that’s not...
RE: What if your street flooded because drains were clogged?
Had a similar experience here. I went with those mesh gutter guards instead of foam, thinking they'd be lower maintenance. At first, they seemed great - leaves slid right off - but then smaller stuff like pine needles an...
RE: green plumbing showdown: greywater recycling vs rainwater harvesting
Haha, yep... learned that one the hard way. I ended up rigging some cheap mesh screens over mine - worked surprisingly well. Neither option's perfect, but hey, at least we're trying, right?
RE: Finally got my bathroom reno right for everyone to use comfortably
Glad you mentioned vinegar - honestly, it's been a lifesaver for me. A while back, I was convinced my hard water had totally wrecked my showerhead. The spray was so uneven it felt like getting hit with tiny needles, haha...
RE: anyone tried sustainable plumbing upgrades at home?
I've had mixed results myself. Installed a dual-flush in our main bathroom about two years ago, and honestly, the water bill hasn't budged much. Maybe we're just not heavy users or something, but it doesn't seem that not...
RE: how much should I expect to pay for a new dishwasher?
I replaced mine about six months ago after a similar disaster - came home to a mini lake in the kitchen. I went budget-friendly, not the absolute cheapest but definitely nowhere near high-end. Honestly, it's been totally...