I hear you on the “what if” spiral—been there plenty.
Same here. I’ve patched up old lines and felt good about it, but the minute I’m messing with something that could flood the basement, I get twitchy too. Sometimes peace of mind is worth the extra bucks, even if it stings a bit. But honestly, you’re not alone in second-guessing—half of DIY is just hoping you made the right call.“when it comes to pressure testing or anything involving the main shutoff, I start thinking maybe it’s worth calling in a pro.”
It’s wild how much DIY is just… crossing your fingers and hoping you didn’t miss something, right? I totally get the urge to call in a pro when it’s the main shutoff or anything that could go sideways in a big way. But sometimes, tackling those smaller fixes yourself can be super empowering. Ever notice how even a little win—like fixing a leaky faucet—makes you feel like you could build a house? Still, there’s no shame in wanting that peace of mind, especially when water’s involved. I always ask myself: will I sleep better tonight if I let someone else handle it? Usually, that answers it for me.
I totally get what you mean about that “did I miss something?” feeling. Last year, I tried to swap out a bathroom shutoff valve myself—watched a bunch of YouTube videos, had all the right tools, even double-checked the water was off. Still, I ended up with a tiny drip that wouldn’t quit. Drove me nuts for days until I finally caved and called a plumber. Turns out, I’d nicked the pipe threading just enough to mess up the seal.
That said, I’m still all for tackling the smaller stuff—like replacing washers or unclogging drains—because it really does save money and gives you a weird sense of accomplishment. But when it comes to anything behind the wall or involving the main line, I’m with you: peace of mind is worth every penny. There’s just too much that can go wrong, and water damage is no joke. Sometimes, knowing your limits is part of being handy... or at least not making things worse.
Plumbing is one of those things where the “how hard can it be?” attitude can backfire fast. I’ve had tenants call me about “just a little drip” that turned into a full-blown ceiling stain a week later. I’m all for DIY on minor stuff—snaking a drain, swapping out a faucet washer, sure. But once you’re dealing with anything that could cause hidden water damage, the risk just isn’t worth it in my book. The cost of fixing a botched job (plus lost rent if you have to repair drywall or flooring) adds up way faster than a plumber’s bill. Sometimes, paying for expertise is just good business sense... and saves your sanity.
Honestly, I’ve tried to “just tighten a fitting” and ended up with a mini indoor waterfall. It’s wild how fast a small leak can turn into a disaster. I’ll still tackle the easy stuff—clogged drains, leaky faucets—but if there’s any chance of water sneaking behind walls, I’m calling in the pros. Drywall repair is not my idea of a fun weekend project... learned that the hard way.
