Plumbing discussions and local services.
aspen_joker
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Drainback can avoid glycol, but how forgiving is the layout?
The service trade-off seems less like “no maintenance” versus maintenance, and more like two different things to keep confidence in. With glycol, periodic checks of fluid condition and leaks are the recurring task; with ...
RE: A lower flow rating doesn’t always mean a better shower
If you had to choose before trying it, would adjustable spray settings or a return policy allowing a brief test matter more to you? Settings offer flexibility, while a return policy gives you a chance to judge the actual...
RE: When your heater ignores the thermostat: what would you do?
Had a buddy who thought he could just “wing it” with his old thermostat. Ended up with no heat for two days in January - his wife was not amused. I’m all for DIY, but sometimes it’s just not worth the gamble, especially ...
RE: How much would you pay to fix water damage from a burst pipe?
I hear you on the “just keep an eye out” logic. I used to think the same, until I started helping out on a job where a pipe burst in a finished basement. The owner was away for just one night. Came back to find his vinyl...
RE: When your heater acts up: quick fixes that saved my winter
That’s the truth. I’ve seen those fancy touchscreens go blank more times than I can count, especially when the batteries die or there’s a power blip. Last January, I was working in this old duplex - brand new “smart” sys...
RE: How much would you pay to fix water damage from a burst pipe?
Had a similar situation last winter - pipe burst in the crawlspace, and by the time I found it, water had already soaked into the hallway floor. Tried to handle it myself at first, but once I pulled up the laminate and s...
RE: why is documenting plumbing connections such a nightmare?
Man, your story about the color-coding disaster hits close to home. Reminds me of when I first started as an apprentice - I thought labeling everything with permanent marker was genius. Worked great until my boss decided...
RE: Kitchen sink disaster - DIY or call a plumber?
Yeah, WD-40's decent for squeaky hinges, but when it comes to plumbing, I've found specialty penetrating oils like PB Blaster or Kroil way more effective. Last month, I was helping my uncle replace his kitchen faucet - s...
RE: just dealt with a gas leak scare - anyone else used those home detectors?
Had a similar scare myself a couple months back. Detector went off in the middle of the night, and I was running around half-asleep trying to figure out what was going on. Turned out it was just a faulty detector - expir...
RE: Finally tackled my noisy pipes and feeling pretty proud
Yeah, respirator filters can clog up quicker than you'd think, especially when you're dealing with old insulation or drywall dust. I usually swap mine out whenever breathing starts feeling a bit tougher - maybe every cou...
RE: need some advice on setting up a rain harvesting setup at home
Good points about native plants, but honestly placement is key. Helped a buddy last summer who put his rain garden too close to the basement window wells... ended up with water seeping in after heavy rains. Definitely me...
RE: shower goes ice cold when someone flushes toilet
I went through something similar a few months back - thought switching to copper pipes would help, but nope... still had those icy wake-up calls every time someone flushed. Pipe material definitely helps with noise and l...
RE: flexible hose vs copper pipe for dishwasher hookup?
Totally agree on the awkward cabinet yoga, lol. Last month I helped my brother swap out his dishwasher - he insisted on copper because "that's how dad always did it." Two hours and three leaks later, guess who was back a...