Plumbing discussions and local services.
illustrator556041
Discussion activity
Topics and replies this member has contributed.
RE: That weird hissing sound behind the bathroom door...
I get what you mean about the food coloring trick, but I’ve actually had it miss a slow leak once. Ever tried shutting off the supply line to isolate the noise? Sometimes those hissing sounds are from a tiny pinhole in ...
RE: Why do faucet handles turn opposite ways?
That’s been my experience too, especially with older two-handle setups. I’ve always wondered - why did manufacturers design hot and cold handles to turn in opposite directions in the first place? Is it just tradition, or...
RE: What would you do if your septic tank alarm went off while you’re on vacation?
I get where you’re coming from - sometimes it feels like the more tech you add, the more stuff there is to go wrong. But honestly, a basic cellular alert isn’t that complicated. Most of them just send a text if the alarm...
RE: What would you do if your basement started smelling musty overnight?
That’s a good call on checking outside. I always wonder - did you notice any cracks or efflorescence on your basement walls? Sometimes it’s just humidity, but if there’s staining or white powder, could be water seeping t...
RE: When is it time to swap out old pipes?
Can’t argue with that - water damage is brutal, and it always seems to happen at the worst possible time. But I do wonder, is there a “right” age for pipes before you just call it and swap them out? Like, if you’ve got g...
RE: my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down
Yeah, getting those old showerheads off can be a nightmare. I always worry about twisting the pipe too much and causing a leak behind the wall. Did you end up using any Teflon tape when you put the new one on? Makes a bi...
RE: Getting more hot water from my solar heater - what am I missing?
That’s definitely true, but I keep wondering about the mixing valve settings. Has anyone checked if the tempering/mixing valve is set too low? I’ve seen it a couple times where folks crank it down for safety and then won...
RE: finally figured out my boiler plumbing - anyone else find it tricky?
I get the appeal of manual shutoffs, especially when things get weird with the weather, but I’ve actually seen a couple smart valves that’ll auto-close if they detect a leak or freeze risk. Not saying they’re perfect, bu...