historian761717

RE: When your bathroom helper needs a little TLC

Ain’t that the truth. I once thought I could just slap some paint over a suspicious spot in my shower - fast forward to me, three weekends deep, pulling out soggy insulation and muttering about “just a little touch-up.” ...

RE: When The Pipes Burst: Citywide Chaos Over Blocked Sewers

RE: When your bathroom sink ends up off-center

Never had one burst on me, but I totally get the paranoia. I’m always half-expecting to find a puddle under the sink after I shove cleaning supplies in there. Rigid pipes feel safer, but then again, flex lines are so muc...

RE: When your heater ignores the thermostat: what would you do?

Had something similar, except it was a mouse that made a nest right where the wires connect. Took me forever to figure out why the heat kept kicking on at random. Turns out, mice don’t care about your comfort settings.

RE: Restaurant kitchen shut down after messy plumbing fiasco - thoughts?

Restaurant Kitchen Shut Down After Messy Plumbing Fiasco - Thoughts? That checklist is way more organized than what I do at home. I’ll admit, when it comes to plumbing, my “system” is basically waiting until something s...

RE: What would you do if your septic tank alarm went off while you’re on vacation?

Neighbor fails are the stuff of nightmares. I had a buddy once who thought he was doing me a favor by “resetting” my breaker panel while I was out of town - came home to a fridge full of science experiments. I totally ge...

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

I hear you on the countertop adapters - mine turned into a mini fountain the first week. Under sink was more intimidating at first, but honestly, it’s been drama-free since. Has anyone tried those filter pitchers instead...

RE: Finally won the battle against invading tree roots

Yeah, hydro jetting on old clay is a gamble - I learned that the hard way, too. My plumber looked at me like I’d just handed him a piñata when he saw the crack. As for the foaming root killer, I’ve used it a couple times...

RE: Making sure your home’s pipes are up to code - how I do it

I get the urge to swap out anything that looks even a little bit sketchy, but I’ll admit, I’m not always as quick to replace every mystery pipe or unlabeled valve. Maybe it’s just me being stubborn (or cheap), but someti...

RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?

Couldn’t agree more. I swear, every time I try to “upgrade” something in my house, it just gives me new ways for things to break. Had a cable flush stick halfway through a family BBQ - let’s just say it was not the highl...

RE: Why does swapping out a busted ice maker cost so much?

Those sneaky water lines will humble you real quick, won’t they? I can’t count how many times I’ve thought, “Eh, just a little tighter - good enough,” then spent the next week sniffing around for mystery leaks like a blo...

RE: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo

Man, this hits home. I spent last winter with my toes frozen solid in the bedroom while the living room felt like a tropical resort. I went nuts with the foam tape and weatherstripping - thought I was a genius until I re...

RE: What if your street flooded because drains were clogged?

I've tried those foam inserts myself, and honestly, they were kind of a mixed bag. At first, I thought I'd found the holy grail - no more gutter cleaning weekends! But after a year or so, they started getting pretty gunk...

RE: Water pressure woes - anyone else dealt with this?

Had a similar experience myself - flushed my 12-year-old heater thinking I'd be proactive, and boy, did I regret it. Water pressure dropped like a rock, and within days I was showering under a sad little trickle. Ended u...