Honestly, I’ve tried those cheap scopes too—mine basically turned every pipe into a blurry horror movie. Agree that you can catch a lot with just your nose and eyeballs. But man, I once missed a slow leak behind a wall because all I saw was a tiny stain. Ended up with a mushroom farm under the sink... not the kind you want. I’m all for DIY, but sometimes it pays to call in the pros, especially if you’re flipping an old place. Still, I’d rather spend on low-flow toilets than another inspection if I can help it.
But man, I once missed a slow leak behind a wall because all I saw was a tiny stain.
Had to laugh at the “mushroom farm under the sink”—been there, except mine was more like a mossy swamp behind the washing machine. I totally get wanting to save a few bucks and just trust your own eyes (and nose), but those hidden leaks are sneaky. Still, I hear you on the cost. I’ve found that doing a really thorough DIY check first—like, pulling out appliances and poking around—catches most stuff. But yeah, sometimes you just gotta bite the bullet and get a pro, especially if you’re seeing weird stains or smells that don’t add up. It’s a balance, for sure.
I hear you—those “just a stain” moments are the stuff of nightmares in old houses. I’ve learned the hard way that even the most thorough DIY doesn’t always catch what’s lurking behind 100-year-old plaster. I still do my own checks, but if there’s a weird musty smell or the floor feels off, I call in someone with a moisture meter. Sometimes you just can’t outsmart water... it finds a way.
Yeah, water’s sneaky—seen it travel across joists and show up nowhere near the actual leak. I always check for soft spots around toilets and under sinks, but honestly, sometimes you just need a thermal camera or moisture meter to know what’s really going on. DIY’s great for basics, but old houses hide stuff too well.
Had the same thing happen in my place—thought the leak was under the kitchen sink, but it ended up being a cracked pipe way over by the laundry.
Those tools sound handy, but are they worth buying if you’re only doing this once? Or do you just rent them?“sometimes you just need a thermal camera or moisture meter to know what’s really going on”
