I tried to fix a leaky faucet with a YouTube video and ended up with a bigger problem

My kitchen faucet was dripping for a week, just a steady little plink every few seconds. I watched a 12 minute tutorial from a guy named 'Plumber Pete' and felt pretty confident. I turned the water off, got my wrench, and started taking things apart. The problem was, the video was for a different model, and I didn't realize it until I had three small washers and a spring sitting on a paper towel. I couldn't get it back together right, and when I turned the water back on, it sprayed everywhere. I had to call a real plumber, who charged me $150. The whole thing taught me that sometimes the 'simple' DIY fix isn't so simple if you don't have the exact right guide. Has anyone else had a home repair go sideways because of a bad tutorial?

4 comments

4 Comments

the_diana2mo ago

Oh man, that's the worst! Plumber Pete probably filmed that video while his cousin held the wrong faucet model off camera. I swear half those tutorials are just people guessing while they record. At least you only had to pay the plumber and not for a whole new kitchen ceiling.

danielnelson1mo ago

Remember my buddy who tried to replace a light switch after watching a video? The tutorial skipped the whole 'turn off the breaker' step. He got a real loud pop and a flash, blew the circuit for half his apartment. The electrician he called said the screwdriver tip was melted.

jade_jenkins2mo agoMost Upvoted

Feel your pain with those wrong tutorials. Watched one for a squeaky door that made the hinge fall off. Sometimes you just gotta know when to call for help.

violaramirez2mo ago

Oh come on, calling for help is the first step to giving up! Those bad tutorials are how you really learn, because you have to figure out the fix for the mess you made. My whole garage is a museum of projects that went wrong before they went right. If your hinge fell off, that's just a free lesson in door hanging, right?