Plumbing discussions and local services.
skater25
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RE: My water heater's secret guardian
Scalezilla sounds right: a slow, glittering menace that tries to turn every surface into its throne. Rustward could face it down with the old “you can’t have this tank” speech - though I suspect Scalezilla would just kee...
RE: That weird hissing sound behind the bathroom door...
Same with a moisture meter: useful extra information, but it only tells you about the area and depth it can measure. A normal wall reading won't catch a toilet quietly leaking into the bowl. I'd check the nearby fixtures...
RE: WHEN YOUR LAWN TURNS INTO A SWAMP AFTER EVERY RAINSTORM
I tried the hardware cloth thing once and yeah, it’s a total hassle. I kept poking holes in my gloves and swearing at the rocks. Honestly, I’ve been experimenting with planting more native grasses and rain garden plants ...
RE: When your living room is a sauna but your bedroom's an igloo
That’s wild - my place is older too, but I guess every house has its own quirks. I did some weatherstripping and added insulation, but I held off on sealing every single crack because I was nervous about exactly that - t...
RE: What would you do if your basement started smelling musty overnight?
I get where you’re coming from - mold is no joke, and I’m always a little paranoid about it too. I had a similar thing happen last fall after a week of nonstop rain. The musty smell just sort of crept in overnight, and I...
RE: Plumbing tips that change with the seasons
I hear you on not skipping steps - learned that the hard way when my pipes froze behind a “well-insulated” wall. I’m always torn about heat cables, though. Anyone else worry about the energy draw? I try to go heavy on dr...
RE: Why does swapping out a busted ice maker cost so much?
Yeah, I totally get that - sometimes you think you’re saving money and then end up with a bigger mess (or bill) later. I always wonder if the newer appliances are just built to be trickier to fix on purpose. Plus, water ...
RE: My Pipes Burst at 2 AM - Ever Had a Midnight Plumbing Nightmare?
I’ve definitely been guilty of just assuming the heat tape is fine until I hear that weird drip-drip in the middle of the night. Testing it with a voltage tester is one of those things I always *mean* to do, but then I g...
RE: Thinking about swapping to a pedestal sink - tips or regrets?
Yeah, pedestal sinks definitely look nice, but the storage struggle is real. We ended up putting a couple floating shelves above ours - looks decent and keeps stuff off the floor. Also, if you're eco-conscious, watch out...
RE: why is documenting plumbing connections such a nightmare?
I've definitely run into the flexible hose issue before. Had a kitchen faucet that was barely trickling, spent ages thinking it was something major - turned out the braided line underneath had kinked just enough to mess ...
RE: Finally got my bathroom reno right for everyone to use comfortably
That's interesting about the baby powder - I never would have thought of that. Makes sense though, since it creates a barrier between your skin and the fibers. I'll have to try that next time I'm dealing with insulation ...
RE: need some advice on plumbing stuff for DIY bathroom fix-up
Interesting take on the flex connectors - I get your point about durability, but honestly, I've had pretty decent luck with them. Maybe it depends on the brand or quality? I redid my bathroom sink about three years ago u...
RE: need some advice on setting up a rain harvesting setup at home
I've tried both ways, and honestly, a simple mesh screen at the top has saved me a ton of hassle. Cleaning out soggy leaves and bugs is no fun... I'd say it's worth the minor upfront effort.
RE: Water pressure woes - anyone else dealt with this?
Had a similar issue a while back, but mine was actually set way too high - didn't even realize until my dishwasher started leaking. Apparently, too much pressure can mess up appliances and waste water. Adjusted it down m...