Definitely agree—plumbing's tricky. Sometimes DIY feels solid until you uncover something nasty lurking behind the scenes. Had a similar surprise with corroded pipes hidden behind perfectly good drywall... Now I lean toward occasional pro check-ups, especially pre-renovation. Saves headaches later on.
"Sometimes DIY feels solid until you uncover something nasty lurking behind the scenes."
Yep, learned that the hard way myself. Thought I had a simple faucet replacement until I discovered a slow leak that'd been rotting the cabinet floor for who knows how long. Now, if it's anything beyond basic fixtures or fittings, I don't hesitate to call someone in. Better safe than sorry—especially when water damage is involved.
Been there myself—thought I'd just swap out an old toilet, ended up discovering ancient pipes practically crumbling behind the wall. Old houses always have surprises lurking... Sounds like you handled it right though, water damage is no joke.
"Old houses always have surprises lurking..."
Haha, isn't that the truth? I've tackled a few plumbing DIYs myself, and every time it feels like opening Pandora's box. If you're comfortable with basic fixes, you can definitely do some initial checks yourself—like inspecting visible pipes for corrosion or leaks, or checking water pressure. But honestly, if you're dealing with ancient plumbing or suspect deeper issues, getting a pro to do a thorough inspection can save you headaches (and money) down the road. Plus, they'll spot things we might miss...
"every time it feels like opening Pandora's box."
Haha, exactly... I've been there. When we first moved into our historic place, I thought I'd just swap out a faucet—easy, right? Nope. Ended up discovering pipes older than my grandparents and a hidden leak that had probably been dripping since the Eisenhower administration. DIY is great for surface-level stuff, but if your plumbing predates color TV, calling in a pro can be worth every penny (and sanity point).
