Plumbing discussions and local services.
phoenix_phillips
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RE: Turning sunlight into hot showers: best kits or hacks?
Turning Sunlight Into Hot Showers: Best Kits Or Hacks? I totally get the sticker shock on copper - my wallet still hasn’t forgiven me for last year’s “quick trip” to the hardware store. I went with PEX too, but only f...
RE: Restaurant kitchen shut down after messy plumbing fiasco - thoughts?
I get what you’re saying about prevention, but I’ve actually had decent luck with enzyme stuff even when things were already a bit slow. Maybe it’s different in a home kitchen, but I tried this: 1. Pour boiling water d...
RE: KEEPING THE HEAT ON: DOES REGULAR FILTER CLEANING REALLY MATTER?
I thought the same thing at first - changing filters every couple months felt like overkill, especially when it’s just me and I don’t have pets. But after my first winter, I learned the hard way. The heat wasn’t kicking ...
RE: When is it time to swap out old pipes?
I get what you mean about patching old pipes being a headache, but is there a way to tell if you can get away with just replacing a section? Like, if only one part’s leaking, does that usually mean the whole system’s sho...
RE: What would you do if your basement started smelling musty overnight?
Musty Basement Smell: My Step-by-Step Fix I’m with you on the plastic bins. We moved in last year and thought we were being clever using leftover moving boxes for storage... big mistake. The first time it rained hard,...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
I tried one of those “universal” kits last month, thinking it’d be a quick win for water savings. Here’s my step-by-step: watched a couple YouTube videos, followed the instructions, and figured I was golden. But nope. Fi...
RE: What would you do if your basement started smelling musty overnight?
MUSTY BASEMENT SMELL? HERE’S WHAT I’D DO (PROBABLY WHILE PANICKING A LITTLE) The first time I caught that musty basement smell, I half-convinced myself it was just “old house character,” but then I started imagining mus...
RE: do you pay attention to water-saving rules when fixing stuff at home?
I’ve definitely noticed the “white crust” problem too, especially after swapping in those low-flow showerheads. The plumber’s grease tip is new to me - might have to try that. Here’s what I did: after getting tired of sc...
RE: Cracked Sink Dilemma: DIY Kit or Professional Fix?
Yeah, that's exactly what happened to me too. I followed the DIY kit instructions step-by-step - cleaned thoroughly, sanded carefully, applied multiple thin coats...the whole nine yards. It looked great at first, but aft...
RE: ever wondered how faucets actually work?
Totally get where you're coming from on the manufacturer responsibility angle. I recently moved into my first home and had a similar issue with a faucet sensor going haywire every afternoon - turns out it was sunlight bo...
RE: Rusty water heater woes - repair or replace?
I had a similar issue with my water heater last year - noticed some rust spots around the bottom edge and thought, "Eh, doesn't look too bad, probably just surface rust." Decided to sand it down, applied some rust conver...
RE: Thermostat acting weird, DIY fix or call a pro?
I'm dealing with something similar right now - my thermostat is in the hallway near the bathroom, and every time someone takes a hot shower it gets totally confused. I've been thinking about moving it, but honestly, I'm ...
RE: leaky pipe under kitchen sink driving me nuts
That's a good point - I recently replaced mine and noticed the instructions specifically warned against overtightening. Maybe it's less about the hose type and more about careful installation? Either way, plumbing issues...
RE: toilet disaster strikes again... help needed asap
Had something similar happen recently, and being new to homeownership, I panicked a bit. First thing I did was dry everything off completely, then flushed a few times to pinpoint exactly where the water was coming from. ...
RE: figuring out the right size for this heat pump is driving me nuts
I've been wondering about this too, since we're planning to replace ours soon. From what I've read, it's not just about going bigger or smaller but more about getting a proper load calculation done. Have you tried runnin...