Plumbing discussions and local services.
kathymountaineer
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RE: Finally got my bathroom reno approved - permit process wasn’t as scary as I thought
I hear you on the meters - some of them are just not worth the price, especially for a one-off project. I’ve had decent luck borrowing one from a tool library, but honestly, the plastic test is still my go-to. It’s low-t...
RE: When is it time to ditch your old water heater?
I get where you’re coming from, but I think the “10-year rule” is a bit too rigid. I’ve kept a tank running for 14 years with regular flushing and anode changes - never had a leak. Maybe I just got lucky, but I also thin...
RE: Plastic Vs. Tile-Ready Shower Bases: Which One's Less Hassle?
Yeah, those mats can get pretty gnarly if you’re not careful. I’ve pulled up a few in old rentals that were basically a petri dish underneath - definitely not what you want in a shower. I lean toward the smoother plasti...
RE: Drips from the box vs. leaks at the connections - what’s worse?
Yeah, I hear you. Hidden leaks are the worst - by the time you notice, you're already in damage control mode. I try to keep an eye on all the old stuff, but sometimes you just can't catch everything. At least with a drip...
RE: Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks
Had a similar situation last year with our greywater system - tiny leak in a spot I never would’ve thought to check, and it went unnoticed until the laundry room smelled musty. Took hours to find and fix. I still think t...
RE: When your heater ignores the thermostat: what would you do?
Yeah, I’ve been tripped up by the simplest stuff more times than I’d like to admit. Last winter, my heater wouldn’t kick on and I was ready to tear into the board - turned out the batteries in the thermostat were dead. F...
RE: Rainwater toilets and greywater showers: City tries new water-saving tricks
I hear you on the “it’ll be easy” DIY guides. I thought I’d just slap a barrel under the gutter and call it a day, but ended up knee-deep in city code PDFs and weird fittings from the hardware store. My setup’s about as ...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
I hear you - half flushes can be hit or miss. I had to fiddle with the float and the button mechanism on mine for ages before it worked halfway decently. Sometimes it’s just the design, too. Some toilets just don’t handl...
RE: Gravel Vs. Corrugated Pipe: Which Works Better For Drain Fixes?
I hear you on the corrugated pipe headaches - roots just love those things. I swapped to solid PVC too, and it's been way easier to keep clear. Haven’t tried the perforated PVC yet. Honestly, I’m a bit skeptical about ro...
RE: That weird hissing sound behind the bathroom door...
Yeah, that fill tube can be sneaky. I’ve had the same thing happen - spent ages thinking it was the flapper or the valve, but nope, just a tube out of place. Honestly, I’m with you on not swapping out parts unless it’s r...
RE: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo
Title: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo That’s the story of every old house, isn’t it? I’ve been there - my living room used to roast while the back bedrooms felt like walk-in freezers. I tri...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
Totally agree - sometimes the simplest stuff just works best. I’ve got a labeled shutoff too, and it’s saved me a couple times when things went sideways. I get the appeal of smart tech, but honestly, when water’s pouring...