Unpopular opinion: needing 4 hours to fix a leaky faucet isn't that bad

Everyone online acts like a simple washer replacement takes 20 minutes, but I spent a whole Saturday afternoon on mine after the handle seized up and the shutoff valve under the sink basically fell apart in my hand. By the time I finally got it done, I had made three trips to the hardware store and watched four different YouTube videos. Has anyone else had a "quick fix" turn into a half-day project or is it just me?

3 comments

3 Comments

ellioth371mo ago

Yo @miles_hall that rubber seal bit hit home hard lmao. I read somewhere that like 80% of DIY plumbing fails are just forgetting one tiny part and having to take everything apart again. That's basically my life story every time I try to fix something around the house.

miles_hall1mo ago

...and that's when I realized my Saturday was already gone. The funny thing is, I actually started out thinking, "This will be a quick little job, maybe fifteen minutes tops." Then the handle decided to give me a workout and the shutoff valve basically said "nope" and crumbled. Three trips to Home Depot and four YouTube videos later, I was knee deep in pipe dope and questioning my whole life. The best part? When I finally got it all back together, I realized I forgot to put the little rubber seal in the handle. My wife still reminds me about that one every time she turns on the sink.

miller.emery1mo ago

Man that rubber seal thing is brutal but come on, is a leaky sink handle really that life altering? People act like a plumbing fix is the same as rebuilding an engine.