Thermal cameras are cool, but honestly, I’ve never felt like I needed one for basic plumbing checks. I’m all about saving a buck, so I stick with the moisture meter and just keep an eye out for musty smells or soft spots. Had a slow leak under my kitchen sink once—caught it by noticing the cabinet floor was a little warped. If you’re not tearing into walls, those fancy gadgets seem like overkill to me... unless you just really love new toys.
I get where you’re coming from. I’ve got a house built in the 1920s, and honestly, most of my plumbing “inspections” are just me poking around with a flashlight and sniffing for trouble. Like you said,
Couldn’t agree more. I did splurge on a moisture meter after a pipe burst behind a wall—worth it for peace of mind, but otherwise, old-school methods have saved me more than once. Sometimes you just need to trust your gut and your nose.“those fancy gadgets seem like overkill to me... unless you just really love new toys.”
“old-school methods have saved me more than once. Sometimes you just need to trust your gut and your nose.”
- Totally get this. Flashlight, a good sniff, and listening for weird drips or gurgles—those basics catch a lot.
- That said, older homes (like your 1920s place) can hide some nasty surprises behind plaster and lath. I’ve seen pipes that looked fine from the outside but were paper-thin inside from decades of corrosion.
- Moisture meter’s a solid call after a burst. I keep one in the truck, but honestly, I don’t pull it out unless there’s already a suspicion.
- One thing I’d add: if you’re seeing frequent pinhole leaks or finding rust stains around joints, it might be worth bringing in a pro for a camera scope. Not every year, but just once in a while. Sometimes “overkill” gadgets do spot stuff before it gets ugly (or expensive).
- Otherwise, keep doing what works. Trust your instincts, but don’t ignore little changes—musty smells, water pressure drops, or even a faint hissing behind the wall.
Old houses keep you on your toes... sometimes you fix one thing and three more pop up. But hey, that’s half the fun, right?
Definitely relate to the “fix one thing, three more pop up” vibe—old houses are like that. I’m with you on trusting your senses first. Sometimes you just know something’s off before you even see it. That said, I used to think moisture meters and scopes were overkill, but after finding a slow leak that rotted out a whole section of subfloor (thanks to a faint musty smell), I’m a little less skeptical now.
One thing I’d toss in: don’t underestimate water pressure changes. I ignored a slight drop for months, chalked it up to city supply, and it turned out to be a corroded main shutoff valve. Not fun. Also, if you’re poking around in crawlspaces or behind walls, keep an eye out for old lead joints or weird DIY repairs—seen some wild stuff hidden back there.
DIY is great for the basics, but every once in a while, calling in someone with the fancy gear saves a lot of headaches. Still, nothing beats knowing your own house and catching the little things early.
Totally get what you mean about weird DIY repairs—last place I flipped had a garden hose used as a drain line. Still scratching my head over that one. Curious, do you ever bother with those water leak sensors, or do you just rely on your nose and the occasional gadget?
