Plumbing discussions and local services.
christophert65
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RE: Switching out a tub for a walk-in shower: copper vs. PEX pipes?
Switching out a tub for a walk-in shower: copper vs. PEX pipes? Yeah, I’m with you - crawling around with a torch just isn’t my idea of a good time anymore. Used to love sweating copper, but after doing a couple bathroo...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
Yeah, I’ve run into that with a couple toilets over the years. Some just don’t seem to have enough oomph on the half flush, no matter how you tweak the settings or mess with the float. I’ve even tried adjusting the water...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
Yeah, I hear you on the “universal” flappers. I’ve tried a couple brands and they never seem to seal quite right, or they mess with the flush strength. I finally caved and just ordered the OEM one for my toilet model - c...
RE: anyone tried sustainable plumbing upgrades at home?
Recirculating pumps are one of those things I keep going back and forth on. I get the appeal - instant hot water sounds great, especially in winter - but I’ve heard mixed things about how much energy they actually save. ...
RE: Plumbing tips that change with the seasons
I used to do the towel thing too, but last winter the towels got soaked and froze solid - ended up with a popsicle around my spigot. Foam covers might look flimsy but they’ve saved me a headache or two. Guess it depends ...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
Yeah, masking tape just turns into a sticky mess in damp spots - been there. I tried using those paint pens on metal tags for my crawlspace pipes, and they’ve held up better than anything else so far. Still, nothing’s tr...
RE: need some advice on setting up a rain harvesting setup at home
I've had my share of raccoon battles too, and honestly, chicken wire alone didn't cut it for me. Those little guys are smarter than you'd think - one night I heard noises and found they'd managed to peel back the edges o...
RE: WHAT IF YOUR PIPES STARTED TALKING BACK?
Yeah, loose supports can definitely cause a racket. Had something similar happen in my basement - pipes started knocking randomly, drove me nuts for weeks. Turned out it wasn't just loose clamps but also some air pockets...
RE: ever wondered how faucets actually work?
Yeah, those tiny springs are sneaky little devils. Learned the hard way to lay out a towel or rag first - keeps parts from bouncing into oblivion. Saved me a few trips to the hardware store hunting replacements...
RE: Finally won the battle against invading tree roots
I've been thinking about root barriers myself, but I'm curious - did you go with the plastic panels or the fabric-type barriers? I've heard mixed things about durability and ease of installation, so I'm still on the fenc...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
Yeah, same here. I ended up switching to Zigbee-based sensors instead of Wi-Fi ones because my basement's practically a bunker - no signal ever makes it down there reliably. Zigbee's been way more stable for me, plus the...
RE: Water pressure woes - anyone else dealt with this?
Yeah, plumbing can be a real head-scratcher sometimes. I've had mixed luck with the vinegar trick myself - worked great on the kitchen faucet, but the bathroom sink was another story. Ended up swapping out the aerator en...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
I've tried those eco-friendly sleeves too, and they're decent, but honestly, heat tape has been way more reliable for me. Bit pricier upfront, but haven't had a single burst since switching... might be worth checking out...
RE: how do you actually use one of those drain snake things?
Good call on the gloves - I learned that lesson the hard way too. Another thing that helped me was going slow and steady rather than forcing it. I used to push too hard thinking it'd clear faster, but that just made the ...
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