Lesson learned: know your limits, but don’t be afraid to try the basics first.
That’s pretty much my approach too. First time I tackled a clogged bathroom sink, I was surprised how much gunk builds up in the trap—gross, but not hard to clean out. But when I noticed a slow leak under the kitchen sink, I hesitated. Watched a few videos, tried tightening the compression nut, and it actually worked. Still, anything behind the walls or with soldering... not worth the risk for me.
Still, anything behind the walls or with soldering... not worth the risk for me.
I totally get that. I’ve had a similar experience—felt pretty confident cleaning out a P-trap, but once I saw water stains on the ceiling below our upstairs bathroom, I just froze. The idea of cutting into drywall or messing with copper pipes is intimidating. Did you ever try using one of those little hand augers for clogs? I found it works better than chemical stuff, but it’s kind of gross pulling out the hair and gunk.
Curious if anyone’s tried those flex seal sprays for minor leaks? I’ve seen ads but never trusted them enough to use on anything important. Like you said, tightening a compression nut is one thing, but as soon as it gets more complicated—or if there’s any risk of flooding—I’m calling in backup. Ever had a “quick fix” turn into a bigger problem? That’s my main worry.
The idea of cutting into drywall or messing with copper pipes is intimidating.
- Totally agree—once you’re talking about walls or soldering, I’m out.
- Hand augers are my go-to for clogs. Not glamorous, but way less scary than chemicals.
- Flex seal sprays? I’ve only used them on outdoor stuff, like a leaky planter. Wouldn’t trust them for plumbing.
- Quick fixes can snowball. Tried patching a tiny leak under the sink once and ended up redoing the whole vanity... not fun, but at least it looks better now.
Cutting into old plaster walls is my nightmare—never know what you’ll find behind there. I’ve had to patch up ancient pipes with epoxy putty before, just to buy time. It’s not pretty, but sometimes you need a stopgap until you can do it right. Hand augers are underrated, honestly... they’ve saved me from some gnarly clogs without harsh chemicals. Flex seal inside? I’d be nervous about that too—seems like a recipe for hidden water damage down the line.
I get the anxiety with old plaster—every time I open up a wall, it’s like a history lesson I didn’t sign up for. But honestly, I’m not a fan of epoxy putty as a long-term fix. Here’s why:
- That stuff can hold for a bit, but if the pipe’s already corroded, you’re just delaying the inevitable leak.
- I’d rather bite the bullet and swap out a section of pipe, even if it means a bigger mess up front. Less stress down the road.
- Hand augers are solid, but sometimes they just don’t cut it for deep or stubborn clogs. I’ve had to rent a power snake more than once—worth it if you’re dealing with old cast iron lines.
- Flex seal inside pipes? Hard pass. It might seem like a quick fix, but I’ve seen it peel off and clog things worse. Plus, you can’t see what’s going on behind the wall.
Sometimes the ugly fix is the right one, but I’d rather go ugly once than patch it over and over. Just my two cents.
