Plumbing discussions and local services.
jthinker83
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RE: Weirdest things people have used to clear a clogged drain
I’ve lost count of how many cheap plastic snakes I’ve fished out of drains over the years. They just don’t hold up, especially if you’re dealing with a real clog and not just hair. I’ll admit, taking apart the trap isn’t...
RE: Weirdest things people have used to clear a clogged drain
Compressed air cans are a bit sketchy for drains, honestly. I’ve seen tenants try it and it just blasted gunk back up into the sink - messy and didn’t clear the clog. A wet/dry vac works better if you’re set on using suc...
RE: Under Sink Hookup vs. Dedicated Drain Line: Which Is Better for Dishwashers?
I get the “if it ain’t broke...” mindset, but I’ve been burned by that before. Had a place where the under-sink hookup looked fine for years, then one day a slow leak turned into a full-blown mess. - sure, but sometimes...
RE: Swapping out the flush: living with a composting toilet
I get where you’re coming from on the veggie garden thing. Even after seeing that “dirt,” it’s hard to shake the mental block, right? I’ve got composting toilets in a couple of my rentals, and honestly, most folks are su...
RE: What would you do if your septic tank alarm went off while you’re on vacation?
I hear you on that - sometimes a stuck float or a bit of crud on a sensor can trigger the alarm and it’s nothing major. I’ve definitely had those false alarms. Still, I get a bit anxious if I’m not home to check it mysel...
RE: Why does swapping out a busted ice maker cost so much?
Yeah, I get the nerves around those fittings. I used to insist on compression nuts too, but after a few years of seeing push-to-connects hold up, I’ve mellowed out. Like you said, “old habits die hard.” I still check und...
RE: How much would you pay to fix water damage from a burst pipe?
I hear you, but honestly, I’ve had decent luck with moisture meters - at least the higher-end ones. They’re not perfect, but neither is ripping out perfectly good drywall just in case. I usually combine a meter with a fe...
RE: Under sink vs. countertop filters: which is less hassle to install?
Yeah, I hear you on the “quick” under sink jobs turning into all-day projects. I’ve lost count of how many times a simple swap turned into a full-on plumbing adventure. Countertop filters might not look great, but at lea...
RE: Burst pipe panic: what would you do?
I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually seen color-coding work - at least for tenants who aren’t used to the layout. Had a young couple in one of my units last year, and when their kitchen pipe burst, they foun...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
Yeah, sealing up those crawlspace vents is one of those things that seems almost too simple, but it really does make a difference. I used to focus on all the fancy stuff - heat tape, foam sleeves, even those little plug-...
RE: my shower's gone rogue and sprays everywhere but down
Had a similar issue with one of my rentals last year - tenant called me in a panic because water was shooting sideways more than down, lol. Turned out it wasn't just buildup or the washer; the showerhead itself had tiny ...
RE: Help, my basement drain's backing up again...
Camera inspections are definitely a lifesaver - caught a nasty root invasion at one of my rentals before it got really ugly. Good shout on the landscaping too, but honestly, root barriers can be hit or miss depending on ...
RE: Plumbing pros weigh in: new app promises faster fixes and fewer headaches
Yeah, that makes sense. I've had similar experiences with my rental properties. One thing I've found helpful is checking the water meter directly when an alert pops up. If the meter's spinning slowly with everything off,...
RE: Handy shortcuts for finding plumbing info quick
I've definitely been down that rabbit hole myself. YouTube can be great for visualizing a task, but I've lost count of how many times I've watched a video and thought, "Wait, that's not how my faucet looks at all..." Man...