How do you handle leaky pipes and clogged drains at home?

Camera inspections are a game changer. Saved me from demoing an entire bathroom once.

Couldn’t agree more - camera scopes have saved me so many headaches, especially in older homes where you never know what’s hiding behind the walls. I do think pipe bursting is underrated, but sometimes lining can save the day if the pipe’s not totally shot. Full replacement feels drastic, but in my experience, it’s usually worth it for anything beyond a small section - especially with old lead or galvanized. That said, if it’s just a pinhole or two and the rest of the line looks solid on camera, I’ll sometimes risk a spot repair... but only with copper or newer PVC. The peace of mind with new lines is hard to beat though.

Totally get where you’re coming from - camera inspections are worth every penny. I used to just patch leaks as they popped up, but after one hidden mess turned into a weekend project, I started checking the whole line first. It’s tempting to just do spot repairs to save cash, but I’ve learned the hard way that sometimes it costs more in the long run. Full replacement hurts the wallet, but at least you’re not dealing with surprise leaks down the line.

I get the logic behind replacing the whole line, but honestly, I’ve had decent luck with targeted repairs - at least for minor leaks. Sometimes a quick fix and regular checks do the trick, especially if your pipes aren’t ancient. Full replacement feels a bit drastic unless there’s a bigger issue lurking.

I hear you on the targeted repairs. I’ve patched a few pinhole leaks with epoxy putty and those clamp kits, and honestly, they held up for years. It’s not always worth tearing out a whole section of pipe if the rest looks solid and you’re not dealing with old galvanized stuff or chronic issues.

That said, I’ve had one situation where I kept chasing little leaks in the same stretch of copper, and after the third fix, I just gave up and swapped out the whole run. Sometimes it’s like playing whack-a-mole - fix one spot, another pops up a month later. Guess it depends on how much time you want to spend crawling under the sink or in the crawlspace.

For clogs, I’m all about the manual snake first. Chemicals are my last resort, especially with older pipes. Had a buddy melt his PVC trap once... not pretty. Regular maintenance seems to be the key, but yeah, sometimes a quick patch is all you need.

Totally get the whack-a-mole vibe with old copper lines. I’ve had a few flips where you patch a leak, then another pinhole pops up a foot away - sometimes it’s just time to bite the bullet and swap the whole thing, even if it feels wasteful.

- Epoxy and clamps are great for quick fixes, but if I see green corrosion or crusty spots along the pipe, that’s my sign it’s probably on its last legs.
- For clogs, yeah, manual snake first every time. Chemicals only if I’m desperate. I’ve seen them eat through cheap ABS traps too... not worth the risk.
- One thing I started doing: after a repair, run water for a good while and check every joint nearby. Sometimes you only spot the next weak point when everything’s under pressure.

Maintenance is huge, but sometimes you just have to trust your gut on when to patch and when to replace.