Smart shut-off valves are actually pretty slick, especially if you travel or have rental properties. I put one in after a pipe burst while I was out of town—never again. It’s not just about leaks, either; you get a heads-up if your usage spikes, which can catch slow drips before they wreck your walls. For old plumbing, though, installation can be a pain if your main isn’t easily accessible or you’ve got weird fittings. Still, I’d call it more practical than overkill, especially with old houses that love to surprise you.
Honestly, I’m with you—smart shut-off valves are a lifesaver, especially for older houses that like to throw curveballs.
That’s the kicker. I had to crawl under my crawlspace to get mine in, and it wasn’t pretty.For old plumbing, though, installation can be a pain if your main isn’t easily accessible or you’ve got weird fittings.
When it comes to checkups, do you lean more toward a DIY checklist, or do you bring in a pro every year? I’ve always done my own—look for corrosion, listen for weird noises, check water pressure, peek at exposed pipes for leaks. But sometimes I wonder if I’m missing hidden stuff a pro would spot.
I’m all about the DIY route too, mostly because I like knowing exactly what’s going on, but I get what you mean about hidden stuff. I once thought I had everything under control, then a pro found a slow leak behind a wall—total surprise. Guess there’s always a risk, but I figure if you’re thorough and keep an eye out, you catch most things... at least until something weird pops up.
I get the appeal of DIY, especially when you’re trying to save a few bucks and learn something new. But honestly, after I missed a tiny drip under my kitchen sink for months—ended up with warped cabinets—I started thinking twice about skipping the pros. Sometimes you just can’t see or hear what’s going on behind the scenes, no matter how careful you are. I still do the basics myself, but every couple years I bite the bullet and get someone in with the fancy tools. It’s not cheap, but neither is replacing half your kitchen...
Honestly, I get where you're coming from, but I think a lot of folks overestimate how much the pros actually catch—especially if you’re not dealing with an old house or a weird plumbing setup. I’ve had inspectors miss stuff more than once, and they weren’t cheap either. For rentals, I usually stick to a pretty detailed DIY checklist every few months—look under sinks, check for any signs of moisture, test shutoff valves, that kind of thing.
Maybe I’m just stubborn, but I’ve found that being systematic about it catches most issues before they get expensive. Not saying the pros don’t have their place, but if you’re on top of things and know what to look for, you can avoid a lot of those big-ticket surprises. Then again, if you hate crawling around with a flashlight... yeah, paying someone else makes sense.
