Plumbing discussions and local services.
ericinventor
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RE: Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks
I hear you on the tech sometimes making things more complicated than they need to be. Honestly, I’ve stuck with manual checks because the smart sensors seem pricey and I’m not convinced they’d catch everything anyway. As...
RE: Best ways to deal with slow drains at home?
I’ve actually wondered about those too. I’m always a little skeptical of anything that promises a “quick fix,” but I did borrow one from a neighbor once when my bathroom sink was draining super slow. It worked, but hones...
RE: Under Sink Hookup vs. Dedicated Drain Line: Which Is Better for Dishwashers?
Funny, I’ve actually had more trouble with gunk building up in the under-sink setup, but I’m guessing it’s because my kitchen sees a lot of pasta and rice - those little bits seem to sneak past the strainer every time. T...
RE: How would I remove this stem to replace it?
I hear you on the “just swap the stem” gamble. I’ve been there, standing under the sink with a flashlight in my mouth, thinking I’d save a few bucks and a trip to the hardware store - only to end up with a slow drip that...
RE: Is underfloor heating really worth it?
Definitely agree about the “instant” thing being a bit of a stretch, especially with thicker tiles. Ours are about 10mm and it takes a good while to feel any warmth - sometimes I wonder if slippers would’ve been cheaper....
RE: Plumbing tips that change with the seasons
I get what you mean about the pool noodle thing - mine ended up looking like a sad, soggy marshmallow by February. Didn’t really inspire confidence. As for wrapping the shutoff valve, I’ve wondered about that too. My nei...
RE: green plumbing showdown: greywater recycling vs rainwater harvesting
I hear you on the “self-cleaning” hype - my rainwater setup was supposed to be low-fuss, but I still end up scooping out sludge every couple months. I’m curious, has anyone found a way to keep maintenance costs down with...
RE: Finally tackled my noisy pipes and feeling pretty proud
Nice job! Had a similar win recently with a dripping faucet - thought I'd have to replace the whole thing, but turns out swapping out a cheap washer fixed it. Funny how these little fixes feel so satisfying...
RE: shower goes ice cold when someone flushes toilet
Yeah, plumbing issues can definitely catch you off guard... I remember when we first moved into our place, every morning shower turned into a Russian roulette of hot and cold whenever someone ran the dishwasher downstair...
RE: need some advice on plumbing stuff for DIY bathroom fix-up
Been there, done that... learned the hard way to triple-check before closing things up. I'm curious though, has anyone tried those push-fit connectors (like SharkBite) behind drywall? I've heard mixed opinions - some swe...
RE: Rusty water heater woes - repair or replace?
Replacing the anode rod helped slow down the corrosion for me, but honestly, once rust starts showing up visibly, it's usually a sign the tank's days are numbered. I patched mine once, bought me another year or so before...