Tradespeople Battle Frustrations & Errors
Electricians and plumbers are sharing experiences with faulty equipment, unexpected problems on the jobsite, and navigating industry-specific challenges. The posts reveal a need for better tools, clearer instructions, and sometimes just a bit of luck.
SOURCES (60)
“Just found a slow drip coming out of this pinhole in the bottom of this drain joint underneath my shower/toilet. It looks like it’s right on the line of there the joint was soldered. Any guidance on a temporary fix, a permanent fix, or if…”
“Yes the handyman was not able to install the toilet directly over the hole, because of the cabinet, so he decided to use a flexible pipe.”
“It's not the valve that was fitted incorrectly, it's the plastic pipe that you guys in the us insist on using 🤷”
“That sounds more like user error than a fitting failure. Push-to-fit fittings are widely used and reliable when properly installed—cut square, fully seated, and secured according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Blaming the fitting itself without knowing how it was installed is a pretty big assumption.”
“Did you plumb the pex straight into the water softener? I heard using flex lines was better but I would personally like to use a threaded pex adapter.”
“Yea - even the ones that won’t come out - having a 1/8” or whatever size hole in the middle is tons more flow than the dozen or so microscopic holes around the o-ring.”
“Drain and vent will work fine. I despise the angle stops you used. They are absolute trash. I also don't like stubbing up with pex. Easy to bump with things you put into the space. I stub out with brass, but copper is fine too. Just make sure it's type L”
“Because my company does not tell us until the day of what is happening. The real reason is because I am low on supply lines and the contractor did not give us shower trim so when I come back to do the shower trim I'll install the supply lines. Edit: This is also a quoted trim out, so for the customer the price does not change”
“Coming back at a different date to install supply lines. submitted by /u/Ocala-Plumber17 [link] [comments]”
“Water is getting trapped beneath those tiles because the drain weep holes are likely clogged or the pre-slope wasn't done right. Maybe”
“If so, that's crazy. Every fitting is a chance to leak, not to mention a choke point that reduces flow.”
Someone probably crossed the lines or a shower valve/ mixing valve is shot
“https://preview.redd.it/gkrlqlg70jlh1.jpeg?width=1636&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2533acd59b20b01b28a3b48c995686f048a57478”
“Yup, this is the answer, can’t have the metal washers in the toilet tank Also you don’t need the rubber on the bottom side of the base, maybe if it’s holding the washer in place or giving the porcelain some type of padding,”
“Supposed to go before the last fixture on the water line. And you must have an access panel so you can swap it out when kneaded.”
“on one hand you got people praising them due to their simple design, on the other people are complaining about them leaking as soon as they're installed. Same deal with kohler and toto, some love them, others hate them”
“I have been having plumbing issues. So when I flush the toilet upstairs and drain the bathtub upstairs it comes through the downstairs shower . I had 2 plumbers come out with a plumbing snake and they couldn’t find the issue . I have also contacted my insurance and they told me to dig a hole outside . The insurance guy told me he got a camera but couldn’t find anything . These pictures are downstairs bathroom. What should I do? submitted by /u/willow_wayy96 [link] [comments]”
“As described in the video, our Cooper-Hunter mini-split suddenly began leaking today: by the time my wife and I noticed, it was dripping steadily from 2-3 points and had covered the floor below in water. Based on my initial research, it sounds like the most likely culprits are a dirty filter or a clogged drainage line. I'm going to try both cleaning the filter and clearing the drainage line with a wet shop vac, but based on this video, do you have any insight into what might be causing the p”
“Not up to code. The hot exhaust vent can cause a lot of heat to gradually melt that PEX fitting.”
“No it's not. Not supposed to run straight pex to the top of a gas water heater. Needs to be copper near the vent due to the heat.”
“hi saw these gaps and imperfections at the back of the toilet . are these cracks in the actual ceramic? pic 1 and 4 are of the same place. 2 and 3 are different places submitted by /u/Peytontx [link] [comments]”
“Alright so I’ve been having a weird, musty smell for a few weeks. Gets way worse in the afternoons when it’s hot out. Snaked everything I could, no blockages. Discovered vent pipe coming outta the roof, which was somewhat blocked with a wasp nest + dirt. Plumber poured water down that that resulted in a minor leak through the basement ceiling. Next step: plumber cuts holes in things until the problem reveals itself. The problem appears to be a (who knows how old?!?) 3” cast iron pipe with a bulg”
“I bought a house with a additional bathroom using a Saniflo toilet. We always had issue with water backing into the sink and it ruined the bathroom. I am currently working on the remodel but have some questions. The top left pipe that comes into the expansion is from our laundry. The washer empties into a basin, it runs into a 2” pvc that reduces down, then runs around the floor to the connection here where it’s made larger to go into the kitchen sink drain. The bottom left is the Saniflo toilet”
“My plumbing age is just over a month, how did i do? submitted by /u/Abdullah_1oz [link] [comments]”
“New construction on slab foundation. I noticed some scraping and a slight bend/kink (photos) on the PEX water supply to bathroom sink. Do I need to demand this be replaced? The PEX below is in the slab and they would have to remove some concrete slab to repair it. Is the repair more risky than the existing PEX? Please advise. https://preview.redd.it/gw284w3h0ikh1.jpg?width=960&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5607a9ce44af61a46628cbb401e52b5622aa8af9 https://preview.redd.it/z6tssw3h0ikh1.jpg?w”
“Lived here 12 years now. Always had a little bit of issues in these two bathrooms. Had plumbers out before and explained that the two toilets would back up and it would come up the tub and shower, but we could never recreate it when they were here and they couldn't figure out what the issue was. Then in the last month this has happened. Trying to get a plumber out, but unsuccessful and I thought I'd try myself”
“Moving toilet and want to make sure this won’t catch SE problems later? Was told it is an offset flange and ok if 1-2” offset. submitted by /u/GullibleTowel1242 [link] [comments]”
“Does this look ok? 2” wye is wet vent for lav that also vents toilet. IPC. 3” stack and wye will connect to horizontal drain. submitted by /u/Impressive-East-6878 [link] [comments]”
“Hello here are a few hairline cracks, my question is how bad are they? I’m a bit scared as I’m a big guy. Picture 1 is hallway bathroom and pic 2/3 are master. submitted by /u/Left_Entrepreneur918 [link] [comments]”
“Hello r/Plumbing I am currently building and we are in the rough-in phase. I am very interested in getting a pressure washing system on the pictured wall. I mentioned to plumbing where I wanted it but their concern was freezing. They recommended a different location which I am not a fan of. Question is what needs to happen so I can install the system here and not worry about freezing? The garage will be insulated if that is useful information. The other side of that wall is outside. Thank you in”
“So I f’d up and the shower base I bought it’s too close to the toilet. Is it safe to cut the shower assembly out and run some pex line to the other corner? submitted by /u/nurse_camper [link] [comments]”
“Oh I learned there was a bunch missing. I had already bought my own wax ring and there was not one in box along with a lot more items I just learned after looking at what home depot says is included”
“I'm hoping to get some feedback regarding venting in this small bathroom renovation. I'm including an image of the dry fit. I was hoping to just tap into the previous plumbing with updated fixtures, but the pre-exsiting plumbing was a nightmare and had to be removed. It also created structural issues, but that's a different issue. This is the best way I could think to plumb the drains, but I'm concerned about adequate venting. Does the shower and sink need a shared vent? Individu”
“100%. Just make sure you seal each extension to each other with silicone. If you don’t silicone the extension you can get water that weeps behind it and causes a leak”
“On that first picture I'm going to say there is a good chance at installation causing it. Second one probably manufacturer's defect. Simple fact is installed correctly toilets do not need caulk at the base of it. If they needed to caulk it, it was probably leaking at the base. The big gap between the floor and the toilet at the front of it, would seem to indicate that either the flange/sewer pipe was installed incorrectly and probably allowing for a slight almost unnoticeable rocking of”
“I recently had a shower installed and today I noticed this where the water pipe goes in is that safe? submitted by /u/Ok_Needleworker_1886 [link] [comments]”
“We'd rather not have this contractor back, it wasn't the most pleasant experience working with him. A good contractor would install it correctly the first time :(”
“if you end up solving your issue, let us know what the cause is! We're still discovering ours”