I've definitely improved over time, but it's been a slow process with plenty of headaches along the way. A few things I've learned: - Always buy extr...

I've had decent luck with root barriers myself—installed them around a rental property about five years ago. So far, no major root intrusions, but I d...

Good call on the breathable insulation—plastic sheeting can definitely trap moisture if you're not careful. Had a similar issue in an older rental pro...

Color-coding's handy, but I prefer numbering my shut-off valves and then keeping a laminated cheat sheet nearby. Numbers are quicker for me to track, ...

You're definitely not being overly cautious—regular valve checks are smart. A few things from my own experience: - Valves that sit unused for years t...

Good points here, especially about regular cleaning vs. heavy-duty treatments. I've found that ice cubes and coarse salt every couple weeks help scrap...

I've used both types extensively, and here's what I've noticed: - Self-regulating tapes generally last longer for me—around 5-6 winters without issue...

I actually gave this a shot last year—cheap mesh plus diverter. Diverter definitely helped with sediment, but maple seeds still caused headaches. Expa...

I've redone boiler piping layouts a few times myself—alignment is always a bit of a headache. Key for me was dry-fitting everything first to spot issu...