I know that feeling—one minute you’re proud of your detective work, next you’re staring at a puddle and a pile of parts you didn’t mean to remove. I’m curious, when you do your own checkups, do you stick to just visible leaks and loose fittings, or do you go as far as checking water pressure and supply line shutoffs? I’ve found some issues only show up when you test under pressure, but maybe that’s overkill for most folks...
I’m with you on the “parts you didn’t mean to remove” thing—been there, done that, and had to sheepishly put it all back together. I usually start with the basics: visible leaks, loose fittings, and making sure nothing’s corroded or weirdly damp under the sinks. But honestly, I do get a bit paranoid about water pressure. Had a sneaky leak once that only showed up when someone flushed the upstairs toilet while I was running the washing machine. That was a fun surprise...
I’ve got a cheap pressure gauge I screw onto the hose bib outside every few months, just to see if anything’s changed. Not sure if that’s overkill or just being cautious. Sometimes I wonder if I should be checking the shutoff valves more often too—like actually turning them off and on to make sure they’re not stuck. But then I worry I’ll break something and end up with a bigger mess.
Do you ever test your shutoffs, or is that just asking for trouble? And what about those flex hoses under sinks and toilets—do you replace them on a schedule, or just wait until they look sketchy? I’ve read horror stories about them bursting out of nowhere, but replacing everything preemptively seems like it could add up fast.
I’m always torn on the shutoff valves. I’ve tried turning them every now and then, but last time I did, the one under the kitchen sink started leaking around the stem and I had to scramble for a wrench and some plumber’s tape. Now I mostly just cross my fingers and hope they’ll work if I ever need them. As for flex hoses, I’m in the “wait until they look sketchy” camp—my wallet can’t handle swapping them all out on a schedule. I do keep an eye out for rust or bulges, though. Those horror stories are no joke, but so is the price of new hoses...
Title: Home plumbing checkups: DIY checklist or pro inspection?
Now I mostly just cross my fingers and hope they’ll work if I ever need them. As for flex hoses, I’m in the “wait until they look sketchy” camp—my wallet can’t handle swapping them all out on a schedule.
I get where you’re coming from—those little “just in case” maintenance tasks always seem to turn into a bigger project than you bargained for. But honestly, I think waiting until hoses look bad is a risky game, especially if you’ve got older braided ones. The thing is, by the time you see rust or bulges, the hose is already on borrowed time. I learned that the hard way when a laundry hose burst while I was out of town... came home to a soaked floor and a mess that cost way more than a couple of new hoses would’ve.
On shutoff valves, yeah, they’re notorious for leaking around the stem if they haven’t been touched in years. But that’s kind of why I force myself to turn them every six months or so—even if it means tightening the packing nut or replacing one now and then. If they freeze up completely, you’re looking at a much bigger headache (and probably calling in a plumber anyway). It’s not fun, but it beats having zero control during an emergency.
I know it feels like overkill to swap hoses every five years or whatever the manufacturers say, but there are eco-friendly options out there now—stainless steel with recycled materials, for example—that last longer and aren’t as rough on your conscience (or landfill space). Sometimes paying up front saves money and hassle down the line.
Not saying everyone needs to go full-on preventive maintenance mode, but after seeing what water damage can do (and how much waste it creates), I’m way more proactive than I used to be. Just my two cents...
- Totally get the wallet pain—those “just in case” swaps add up fast.
- Still, you’re not alone in the “wait and see” approach. Most of us have been there, crossing fingers and hoping for the best.
- It’s honestly impressive you’re even thinking about it. A lot of people don’t notice until there’s water on the floor.
- Even if you’re not swapping everything on a schedule, just keeping an eye out and wiggling those shutoffs now and then is already ahead of the game.
- No shame in doing what works for your budget. Every little bit of attention helps, and you’re clearly paying attention. That’s a win in my book.
