The DIY thread - DIYourself

[iman29]

Saturday had to work on the one thing I hate the most. Plumbing stuff. Again.

Nothing too complicated but to me anything that has to do with a drain, valve, water supply or something that can leak I know will
Be complicated no matter what.

I probably posted this before but the inside shutoff for the hose bib was formerly slightly leaking. It’s located above the sump pit so it just drips in there all last summer and no big deal. Saturday my son needed the garden hose and turned the inside valve on and it’s pissing water everywhere. Plus the outside valve leaks too. I always assumed that I needed so cut pipes and sweat on new valves then I had a thought. Can I swap the valve body itself. ? Hmm.

Went to Lowe’s got a few hose bib and stop valves because I could not see the size on current one. While the hose valve was correct the indoor shutoff valve was not. So to try and avoid multiple trips I was able to take the old valve out to bring with me. Of course this required to shut off the main to the house (which was replaced with ball valve 3 years ago by an emergency plumber when the dishwasher installers broke the valve ).

While at ace hw store I explained my plan but we could not take apart one of the new stop valves to check the size. His last comment was he didn’t think it was going to work. So I bought two and crossed my fingers it would fit.

Used a pair of pipe wrenches to take out the valve body and BINGO! it fits. Went to install it and tightened it down but the old plastic seal washer was too brittle and cracked. Took it back apart and made some threads out of teflon tape and wrapped the valve base and reinstalled.
Done!

And since I had the hose bib valve I did the same but this was much easier swap and took less than 10 minutes. Mostly walking back and forth shutting off and turning back on the water.

So for $35 and 2 hours I fixed it. And now I know how to fix the leaky shut off valve and hose bib on the other side of the house hopefully it’s the same process. I think I was more satisfied that the hw store guy said it wasn’t gonna work. Learn something new every day.

 

[Bike N Gear]

Well, AI isn't there yet when it comes to auto repairs. Just spent a few hours replacing a broken microphone and Blend Door Actuator on my Suburban. I asked Chatgpt, Gemini and Grok, numerous questions about access and screw sizes. All 3 were about 95% incorrect on any questions asked. It's a t15 when they say it's a 7mm Allen. They say 7/32, it's a t10. They say it's held in with clips and there are actually screws. I correct them and they say, yes 2 screws, but there are actually 4. Just became a game of figuring it out myself and then asking the question to each, just to see what they would say.

 

[Patrick]

I was cleaning my boiler today -along with a few other items (reset pilot, check manifold pressure...)

oh look 8.1 inWC on the inlet (expecting 7) - but the other side was good at 3.3 (max 3.5)



To remove the flame tubes, there are wire clips - relatively easy. 7 of them.



I put them down in front of the boiler where i'm working. Nothing else is there.
Do my thing, put the boiler back together and one clip is gone!
Looked everywhere. Even broke open the shop vac, thinking maybe......
under stuff, in my pants cuffs, i'm getting ready to make one and.....

Spoiler: Found it!

prob 15 minutes gone!

 

[iman29]

Yup Fuck Plumbing.

I guess 3rd time was NOT a charm as I had already done 2 successful plumbing repairs the last few months. This one got me tho.

Long story not short:

Kitchen faucet leaks at the handles. And it drips at the spigot. After 19 years didn’t owe me much but figured I could change the cartridges.
Sent inquiry to Pfister last week to ask which hot/cold cartridges I need to order. Not only did they tell me which one they sent them for free. Without a receipt. Terrific !

Prepping for install 2 days ago I followed the YouTube method and successfully freed up the shutoff valves under the sink. Here’s where it went bad..

Seems the old full turn valves were so gunked up the washers inside disintegrated and clogged the water line. Opened them back up and barely any water pressure. Both sides. Ran to hardware store. Everything is 1/4 turn now no replacements. Went home. Found a way to get the valve stem out of the hot side and even found a brand new old style valve in my parts bin ! Lucky. Used the parts from that to reassemble the valve and ….

Same. No water pressure. Figured the valves were jammed and time to call plumber.

He comes today swaps out both valves in 20 minutes and we test it. It’s better but not ideal. Told me good luck if I try to change cartridges that is 50/50 going to work but suggested new faucet.

He leaves me and my middle son successfully take apart both sides. Cartridges basically fall apart when we take them out. Got it all cleaned up and went to install
New free ones and ……

Wrong part. Cartridges Doesn’t fit and even the instructions shows there’s 3 different ones that fit this faucet. White flag time To go to HD for a new faucet.

Call of shame to wife to get approval for new style faucet. Son suggested the single level flexible hose style and then we will get a separate built in soap dispenser.

New faucet was probably the easiest one I have ever installed in my lifetime. Took 15 minutes and back in business. I hope this faucet outlives me.

How it started :




How it ended :




$235 to the plumber and $180 for the faucet. Plus $20 for the new built in soap dispenser coming from Amazon tmw. And a few hours of aggravation.

To be fair those under sink valves needed to be changed regardless the new quarter turn is nice. And plumber was a local guy and came recommended and did a good job.

Can’t win them all. And yeah fuck plumbing. Did I mention that already. ?

 

[Patrick]

Yup Fuck Plumbing.

I guess 3rd time was NOT a charm as I had already done 2 successful plumbing repairs the last few months. This one got me tho.

Long story not short:

Kitchen faucet leaks at the handles. And it drips at the spigot. After 19 years didn’t owe me much but figured I could change the cartridges.
Sent inquiry to Pfister last week to ask which hot/cold cartridges I need to order. Not only did they tell me which one they sent them for free. Without a receipt. Terrific !

Prepping for install 2 days ago I followed the YouTube method and successfully freed up the shutoff valves under the sink. Here’s where it went bad..

Seems the old full turn valves were so gunked up the washers inside disintegrated and clogged the water line. Opened them back up and barely any water pressure. Both sides. Ran to hardware store. Everything is 1/4 turn now no replacements. Went home. Found a way to get the valve stem out of the hot side and even found a brand new old style valve in my parts bin ! Lucky. Used the parts from that to reassemble the valve and ….

Same. No water pressure. Figured the valves were jammed and time to call plumber.

He comes today swaps out both valves in 20 minutes and we test it. It’s better but not ideal. Told me good luck if I try to change cartridges that is 50/50 going to work but suggested new faucet.

He leaves me and my middle son successfully take apart both sides. Cartridges basically fall apart when we take them out. Got it all cleaned up and went to install
New free ones and ……

Wrong part. Cartridges Doesn’t fit and even the instructions shows there’s 3 different ones that fit this faucet. White flag time To go to HD for a new faucet.

Call of shame to wife to get approval for new style faucet. Son suggested the single level flexible hose style and then we will get a separate built in soap dispenser.

New faucet was probably the easiest one I have ever installed in my lifetime. Took 15 minutes and back in business. I hope this faucet outlives me.

How it started :


View attachment 279208View attachment 279209View attachment 279210

How it ended :


View attachment 279211

$235 to the plumber and $180 for the faucet. Plus $20 for the new built in soap dispenser coming from Amazon tmw. And a few hours of aggravation.

To be fair those under sink valves needed to be changed regardless the new quarter turn is nice. And plumber was a local guy and came recommended and did a good job.

Can’t win them all. And yeah fuck plumbing. Did I mention that already. ?

to even think about repairing a faucet that costs less than $500 new is prob a mistake.

Plumber was very reasonable - but why didn't you do the new shut-offs?
I mean for the price you paid, i'd have it done every time.

When you f**k with a valve, it needs to be flushed before hooking it up to something.
it prob spit a washer into the mixing stage. Then the aerator needs to be removed before running.

I'd call it a win for the price tho - even if annoying.

PS

Call the Grout Doctor....

 

[iman29]

to even think about repairing a faucet that costs less than $500 new is prob a mistake.

Plumber was very reasonable - but why didn't you do the new shut-offs?
I mean for the price you paid, i'd have it done every time.

When you f**k with a valve, it needs to be flushed before hooking it up to something.
it prob spit a washer into the mixing stage. Then the aerator needs to be removed before running.

I'd call it a win for the price tho - even if annoying.

PS

Call the Grout Doctor....

All confidence in my abilities left the building when the wife came home to make dinner the other night and I was trying to fix the old valves and get it working.

I could have changed them myself since they were only compression fittings but it was more a timing issue.

And yes he was reasonably priced and came within 48 hours.

She hasn’t asked for any grout cleaning or repair yet so I’m not touching that or offering. 😜