Plumbing discussions and local services.
fisher83
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Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: Keeping your water heater running longer without breaking the bank
Couldn’t agree more about the anode rod. I’ve lost count of how many heaters I’ve had to replace in my units just because previous owners or tenants never bothered with that little detail. People think it’s some kind of ...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
Had to laugh reading this - reminded me of when I swapped out all the toilets in one of my older rentals for “high efficiency” models. Tenants called me within a week, saying they had to flush twice every time and the bo...
RE: Need some advice on choosing new plumbing fixtures
Matte black is a nightmare in rentals, at least in my experience. I put in a set of matte black bathroom fixtures in one of my units because they looked sharp and modern, but man, every single water spot and fingerprint ...
RE: Why do faucet handles turn opposite ways?
You’re not wrong about the chaos. I’ve seen everything from cross-handled antiques (where both turn outwards to open) to newer single-handle jobs that make no sense at all. In older buildings, I’ve found handles swapped ...
RE: When your water heater goes rogue: quick fixes and hacks
Brass valves are definitely the way to go, in my experience. Those plastic ones always seem to start weeping after a year or two - had one actually snap off in my hand once, which was a fun surprise at 7am. As for thread...
RE: Plumbing tips that change with the seasons
I’ve actually had better luck with dehumidifiers than I expected, but it’s all about sizing and placement. In my older duplex, a 50-pint unit kept the crawlspace dry enough to stop that musty smell, and it didn’t run 24/...
RE: are water-saving toilets really worth the hype?
Dual-flush in older houses is a mixed bag for me too. I’ve got a couple rentals from the 50s - cast iron, long runs, the works. Tried a Caroma dual-flush in one, and it’s been surprisingly reliable, but only after swappi...
RE: Plumbing tips that change with the seasons
That’s classic. I’ve seen everything from newspaper to socks wrapped around pipes - people get creative when it’s 10 below. I agree, spray foam just doesn’t hold up long-term in crawlspaces. I’ve had better luck layering...
RE: Rusty water heater woes - repair or replace?
Funny you mention the anode rod - I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve meant to check those and just plain forgot. Had a tenant call about “funny-tasting water” once, turned out the rod was basically gone and the tank ...
RE: ever wondered how faucets actually work?
I've dealt with both types quite a bit, and honestly, ceramic disc cartridges tend to hold up better against mineral buildup. A couple years back, I had tenants complaining about low water pressure in a unit with traditi...
RE: My garbage disposal smells like a swamp monster moved in
Ice cubes and salt definitely help, but honestly, if the smell keeps coming back, you might have a deeper plumbing issue. Had a tenant once who tried every trick in the book - citrus peels, ice cubes, vinegar - you name ...
RE: are water-saving toilets really worth the hype?
I totally get where you're coming from. Had a similar experience myself a few years back when I upgraded the toilets in one of my rental properties. The house was built in the late '60s, and even though the plumbing chec...
RE: outdoor faucet leaking like crazy, worth fixing myself?
Good call on the YouTube caution... learned that one the hard way myself. Had an outdoor faucet that leaked nonstop, figured it was just washers. After wrestling with rusty screws for an hour, found out the whole thing h...