Plumbing discussions and local services.
jose_tail
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RE: basement flooding woes - pedestal vs submersible sump pumps?
The thread doesn’t say whether the old pump stopped or kept running during those floods, so I wouldn’t assume either. Knowing that would help distinguish a pump that failed from one that ran but couldn’t keep up; the two...
RE: my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down
Honestly, you nailed it with the prep work being the real MVP here. I’ve lost count of how many times someone’s swapped in a shiny new gasket and still ended up with a mess because they didn’t bother cleaning out the old...
RE: Plastic Vs. Tile-Ready Shower Bases: Which One's Less Hassle?
Honestly, I’ve seen a lot of “perfect” tile jobs go sideways after a few years. Even with good prep, one tiny missed spot or a pinhole in the membrane and you’re looking at water creeping where it shouldn’t. Plastic base...
RE: my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down
Honestly, those rain heads look great in the showroom but they’re a pain if you’ve got hard water. I see this all the time - people get tired of picking at nozzles and just want something that’ll actually rinse shampoo o...
RE: Why does my hot water sometimes sound like popcorn?
Popcorn noises are classic. Nine times out of ten, it’s just all that sediment at the bottom getting bounced around by the heating element. People don’t realize how much gunk builds up in there - sometimes it’s like a gr...
RE: Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks
Honestly, duct tape’s a lifesaver in a pinch, but I’ve seen way too many “temporary” fixes turn into long-term headaches. Once water gets behind that tape, you’re just asking for mold or a bigger leak down the line. Hose...
RE: Need some advice on choosing new plumbing fixtures
Not gonna lie, I’ve actually had the opposite experience with Delta - maybe I just got lucky, but their stuff’s been solid for me. The “easy install” label is hit or miss though, I’ll give you that. As for the eco labels...
RE: Water pressure woes - anyone else dealt with this?
That’s the trick - turn those valves every so often or they’ll seize up for good. Ball valves usually hold up better than the old gates, but yeah, hard water will gunk up anything eventually. I’ve seen some that look fos...
RE: why is documenting plumbing connections such a nightmare?
Yeah, those aluminum tags are a step up from stickers, for sure. I’ve used them on a few jobs where the inspector wanted everything labeled and legible. They hold up way better than anything adhesive, especially in damp ...
RE: ever wondered how faucets actually work?
Honestly, I get the nostalgia for the old stuff, but you’d be shocked how much those old faucets leaked or just dripped for years without anyone noticing. I do wish the new ones weren’t so touchy about parts, though - so...
RE: do you pay attention to water-saving rules when fixing stuff at home?
Yeah, sounds like you definitely got stuck with a dud. Quality low-flow heads these days are miles better - brands like Kohler or Delta keep pressure decent without the endless rinse cycle. Leaks are obvious fixes, but h...
RE: WHAT IF YOUR PIPES STARTED TALKING BACK?
Yeah, humming usually points to pressure issues - you're spot on there. But I've also seen some weird humming from partially closed valves or even sediment buildup causing turbulence inside the pipes. Had a client once w...
RE: Plumbing hacks to keep your pipes happy all year round
Are we talking about the tape and caulk around the gap where the pipe passes through the wall, or thread-seal tape inside a pipe connection? Those are different jobs. For the rodent-entry gap discussed above, I’d check ...
RE: Finally tackled my noisy pipes and feeling pretty proud
Good call on the brackets - seen that happen a few times myself. Another thing that helps with noisy pipes is checking your water pressure. Had a customer once who swore his pipes were haunted (lol), turns out his pressu...
RE: why is documenting plumbing connections such a nightmare?
Fair point, but honestly, digital isn't always practical when you're elbow-deep under a sink. I've found laminated diagrams taped inside cabinet doors pretty reliable... tenants rarely mess with those.