I tried to fix a leaky kitchen faucet myself and ended up flooding the apartment below...

I thought I could just tighten the cartridge with a wrench, but I cracked the whole valve body and water sprayed everywhere for 15 minutes before I found the main shutoff, so my question is: when does a DIY project officially become a 'call a professional' situation?

3 comments

3 Comments

martin.dakota1mo ago

Totally agree, that main shutoff is the key. I did almost the same thing trying to replace a toilet fill valve. Ended up with a steady spray from the supply line because I used the wrong size washer. My bathroom floor was a lake for a good ten minutes.

kelly.emma23h ago

Julia says the line is not knowing the shutoff, but that feels like a low bar. Even Martin found his eventually and just got a wet floor, not a disaster. The real line is probably when you're holding parts you don't recognize.

julia8921mo ago

When does it become a call? Probably before you grab the wrench lol. The line is when you don't know where the main shutoff is, that's the real safety step. Save yourself the flood and just call someone.