I tried to fix a leaky faucet in my apartment last week and flooded the kitchen

I watched a few videos and thought I could handle it, so I turned off the water and started taking things apart. The problem was, I didn't realize the shutoff valve under my sink was old and didn't fully close. When I disconnected the supply line, a steady stream of water just kept coming out. I panicked and tried to reconnect it, but it was too late. Water went everywhere, soaking the cabinet and the floor. My landlord had to call a real plumber, who charged me $200 for the emergency visit. Has anyone else had a shutoff valve fail on them like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

davis.dakota10d ago

Testing the valve before you actually work on anything is the kind of lesson you only learn once. I always crack the faucet open after shutting the valve off to see if any water is still coming through, saves a lot of mopping. A little paranoia upfront beats a hundred dollar emergency visit every time.

samward1mo ago

Gotta test those valves first. Always turn it off and open the faucet to check the flow. Learned that the hard way too.

mason.faith1mo ago

Yeah the "learned the hard way" part hits home. I once tried to replace a shower head without checking the valve first. Ended up with a soaked bathroom and a very annoyed roommate. Water pressure is no joke when you're not ready for it. Now I test everything twice before I even touch a wrench.