Plumbing discussions and local services.
simbascott768
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RE: What do you keep on hand for sudden sewer backups?
I get what you mean about the wet/dry vac - if you’re not careful, it can definitely make a bigger mess. Personally, I’ve had better luck with a manual hand auger for sudden backups. It’s a bit more work, but at least I ...
RE: Making sure your home’s pipes are up to code - how I do it
Manual shutoffs are my go-to as well - less to go wrong, and you know exactly what you’re dealing with. I’ve had a couple of those “smart” valves decide to throw a tantrum during a storm, which is the last thing you want...
RE: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo
That’s the truth. I once found a return vent stuffed with old magazines - no idea how they got there, but it basically turned the whole upstairs into a meat locker. Ever checked if your returns are actually pulling air, ...
RE: Making sure your home’s pipes are up to code - how I do it
Big red labels are hard to beat, honestly. I’ve seen folks freeze up in emergencies and anything that takes more than a split second to figure out just gets ignored. Had a job once where someone tried color-coded zip tie...
RE: How much would you pay to fix water damage from a burst pipe?
I’ve seen folks try to dry things out with just a couple fans and cross their fingers, but that’s a risky game. Had a neighbor who thought he’d gotten all the water after a leak in his kitchen - looked dry on the surface...
RE: Half flush never seems to work right - am I missing something?
Had a job last month where the client was frustrated for the same reason - brand new dual-flush, but the half flush barely moved anything. Turns out, the installer hadn’t adjusted the float properly, so it wasn’t releasi...
RE: Rusty water heater woes - repair or replace?
Had a customer last winter who thought he could just slap some sealant over the rusty patch on his heater and call it a day. The thing limped along for about a month, then gave up in the middle of a snowstorm. Not only d...
RE: toilet disaster strikes again... help needed asap
Gotta say, I mostly agree with your points, but I'd caution against dismissing sistering joists too quickly. Yeah, it's intimidating at first, but with some patience and a bit of prep, it's not rocket science. My first t...
RE: Finally won the battle against invading tree roots
Haha, honestly, bamboo is the terminator of the plant world. A few years back, I was called out to a property where bamboo had actually grown up through the floorboards in someone's living room - talk about a rude houseg...
RE: basement flooding panic - french drain or sump pump?
I get why you'd lean toward a sump pump - it's definitely quicker in a pinch. But honestly, from experience, neither option fully solves the root issue if your grading or gutters aren't directing water away properly. Had...