Had to call a pro anyway. Guess I learned where my limits are.
Honestly, knowing your limits is half the battle. That black gunk under the faucet? Seen it a hundred times—sometimes it’s just old minerals, sometimes it’s a sign of bigger issues. Finding the main shutoff is huge, though. If you ever do try again, just remember: towel down, bucket ready, and take pics before you start. Even pros have those “well, that escalated quickly” moments.
DIY Plumbing: Worth It Sometimes, But Not Always
- Been there, done that—sometimes you just gotta throw in the towel and call the pro. No shame in it, especially if you’re staring down mystery gunk or pipes older than your car.
- That black stuff under the faucet? I’ve scraped it out before thinking it was just buildup, but once it turned out to be a gasket disintegrating. Ended up with a slow leak that cost me more in water bills than if I’d just called someone sooner.
- Main shutoff is a lifesaver. First thing I show anyone who’s house-sitting for me. If you don’t know where yours is, that’s priority #1 before touching anything else plumbing-related.
- For minor stuff (dripping faucet, replacing a washer), I’ll give it a go. But if I see corrosion, weird smells, or anything that looks like mold, I’m out. Not worth risking water damage or a flooded kitchen just to save a few bucks.
- Photos before you start—yes, 100%. Saved my butt when I had to put things back together and couldn’t remember which way the washer went. Also helps if you need to show the pro what you tried (and what you might’ve accidentally broken).
- Towels and buckets are non-negotiable. I learned the hard way that “just a little water” can turn into a small river if you’re not careful. Also, keep a flashlight handy—under-sink lighting is always terrible.
Honestly, I get wanting to save money (who doesn’t?), but sometimes paying for a pro is the cheaper option in the long run. I’ve spent $30 on parts for a DIY fix that ended up costing $200 more when I had to get it redone properly. Not my proudest moment.
If you’re on the fence, maybe start with something low-risk and see how it goes. But yeah, knowing when to step back is just as important as knowing how to use a wrench.
I get the argument for calling a pro, but sometimes with older homes, you’re better off doing the initial check yourself. Plumbers around here tend to default to “replace everything” if they see galvanized or anything pre-1970s, which isn’t always necessary. I’ve kept original brass fittings going just by cleaning and reseating, no leaks for years. Not saying skip the pro entirely, but a careful DIY inspection can save you from unnecessary upgrades if you know what you’re looking at. Just my two cents...
I get where you’re coming from—there’s definitely value in knowing your own plumbing and not jumping to replacements just because something’s old. That said, I’ve seen a few too many “just needs a cleaning” situations turn into major headaches down the line. Galvanized pipes especially can look fine on the outside but be a mess inside, and sometimes those old fittings are just waiting to fail at the worst possible moment.
I’m all for DIY inspections and keeping things original when it makes sense, but I usually recommend at least getting a pro’s opinion if you’re seeing any signs of corrosion or weird water pressure. Sometimes a second set of eyes catches stuff you’d never notice, especially with hidden leaks or slow buildup. I guess it’s a balance—DIY can save money, but sometimes it’s worth paying for peace of mind, especially in older homes where surprises are kind of the norm.
That’s a fair point about the hidden mess inside old pipes—galvanized especially can be sneaky. I’ve had a “just a little rust” situation turn into a full-on kitchen flood, so I’m a bit gun-shy now. Still, I like to poke around myself first, just to get a sense of what’s going on. But yeah, if I see anything weird—like that mysterious greenish drip or the water pressure suddenly drops—I’m calling in backup. Sometimes you just don’t want to gamble with 100-year-old plumbing...
