Plumbing discussions and local services.
charles_skater
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: When should a kitchen sink leak prompt the main shutoff?
What clues would you look for to distinguish a supply leak from a drain leak - for example, whether it continues when no water is being used? If water is still flowing and the source is unclear, I’d prioritize a safely a...
RE: Keeping water out of the basement: what’s actually worked for you?
Couldn’t agree more about grading and gutters - those two things fixed 90% of my basement issues. I used to think crack patching would do the trick, but like you said, Took me a couple of rainy seasons to realize just h...
RE: Dripping taps driving me nuts - why is it never a quick fix?
Yeah, I hear you - sometimes it’s just not worth tearing the whole thing apart for a little drip. But man, those “quick fixes” have a way of turning into full-on projects at my place. Last time I tried swapping a washer,...
RE: Is underfloor heating really worth it?
Yeah, I get what you mean about the upfront cost. We put in radiant floors a couple years back when we redid our kitchen, and my wallet still remembers it. The warm floors are awesome, especially first thing in the morni...
RE: What if your street flooded because drains were clogged?
Totally get where you’re coming from. I’ve run into the same thing - some folks just don’t want anyone near “their” patch of street, even if it means everyone’s dealing with ankle-deep water later. One year, after a bad ...
RE: Plumber emergency: DIY quick fixes or call the pros?
Had something similar happen with my fridge - kept hearing weird humming noises at night, thought it was about to give up. Turned out the condenser coils were just caked in dust, making the compressor work overtime. Quic...
RE: finally figured out my boiler plumbing - anyone else find it tricky?
Couldn't agree more with this. A couple of years back, I tackled my own boiler plumbing and went the soldering route. Thought I was being super careful, cleaned everything meticulously - or so I thought - but still ended...
RE: Plumber emergency: DIY quick fixes or call the pros?
Haha, been there myself - nothing like a surprise plumbing sprint to get your heart racing. I remember trying to replace a simple faucet washer once, thinking it'd be a quick 10-minute job. Next thing I knew, water was s...
RE: WHAT IF YOUR PIPES STARTED TALKING BACK?
Haha, your story sounds way too familiar. I had a similar issue a couple years back - pipes making this creepy humming noise whenever I turned on the shower. Spent weeks googling, watching YouTube tutorials, and basicall...
RE: Rusty water heater woes - repair or replace?
That's a good point about checking fittings first. A couple years back, I had rusty water and immediately assumed the worst. Turned out it was just the anode rod completely eaten away - swapped that out, flushed the tank...
RE: WHAT IF YOUR PIPES STARTED TALKING BACK?
Totally agree about checking the water pressure first - mine was way off too, and dialing it back helped a ton. Another thing I noticed was that some pipes weren't secured properly, especially in the basement ceiling. Ad...
RE: leaky pipe under kitchen sink driving me nuts
For the supply-pressure side of this discussion, ours was high. We installed a regulator and I haven't had a leak since, but I wouldn't take that as a diagnosis of the original poster's drip or as a fix for a drain joint...