emilyp40

RE: Warm floors, lower bills: my best winter upgrade yet

Funny you mention the door sweep - those things are seriously underrated. I put them on every unit after one tenant complained about “mystery drafts” and it’s wild how much warmer the place felt. Rugs help too, but I’ve ...

RE: How do you handle the dirty work: DIY or call in the pros?

RE: When is it time to swap out old pipes?

Yeah, labeling is a lifesaver - learned that the hard way after chasing a mystery valve for half a day. I hear you on the mixed piping too. Last place I worked on had copper spliced into old galvanized, and every fix fel...

RE: Under sink vs. countertop filters: which is less hassle to install?

I hear you on the countertop clutter - those hoses always seem to find a way to tangle up with everything else. I’ve had tenants who swear by countertop filters just because they’re easy to take with them, but I’ve also ...

RE: anyone tried sustainable plumbing upgrades at home?

Title: Anyone tried sustainable plumbing upgrades at home? I get where you're coming from. I’ve got a few rentals and every time a new “eco” product comes out, I get this mix of curiosity and dread. On one hand, yeah, s...

RE: WHEN HOT SHOWERS TURN LUKEWARM: DEALING WITH TEMPERAMENTAL WATER HEATERS

I get what you’re saying, but honestly, I’ve seen way more issues with old elements burning out than just breakers or thermostats. - I wish that was my luck. Sometimes those elements go and the water’s just lukewarm for...

RE: green plumbing showdown: greywater recycling vs rainwater harvesting

Yeah, that’s the thing - greywater setups sound cool until you’re the one unclogging a filter full of hair and soap gunk. I’ve had tenants freak out over way less. Rain barrels are just... simpler. Less drama, less mess.

RE: SEPTIC SYSTEM NIGHTMARES: DID YOU KNOW THIS?

Been there myself - definitely not a fun weekend project. Had tenants flush baby wipes once, despite clear instructions, and it was a total disaster. Sounds like you're already on the right track with regular pumping tho...

RE: Cracked Sink Dilemma: DIY Kit or Professional Fix?

Fair point about tenants and DIY patches... but honestly, I've had pretty decent luck with porcelain sinks over the years. Maybe I've just been lucky, but when I had a pro reglaze a few, they held up surprisingly well. C...

RE: do you pay attention to water-saving rules when fixing stuff at home?

Yeah, good call on the pressure regulator. Had something similar happen at a rental property last year - tenant kept complaining about weird noises even after I put the restrictor back in. Turned out the pipes weren't se...

RE: Finally got my bathroom reno right for everyone to use comfortably

I've heard about the dish soap trick but never actually tried it myself... usually just end up cursing quietly while wiping silicone off my fingers, lol. Does the soap leave any residue behind? I always worry about that ...