c/diy-home-repair

My kitchen faucet handle snapped clean off this morning while I was doing dishes.

It's an old single-handle model and the plastic cartridge inside just gave out. I'm debating whether to try replacing just the cartridge for about $25 or if I should upgrade the whole faucet, which seems like a bigger job. Has anyone had luck with a cartridge swap on a Moen faucet that's over 10 years old?

3 comments

jamieburns•3d ago

Bought a $40 stud finder that just beeped at everything

I was trying to hang a shelf in my old house in Tacoma and thought a cheap one would do the trick. It went off over drywall, over a pipe, even over an outlet, so I ended up putting a screw right into a wire. Had to call an electrician for a $300 fix. Anyone have a stud finder brand they actually trust?

2 comments

lunah86•4d ago

Tried using a shop vac to clear a slow drain and it actually worked

My kitchen sink was backing up a bit, and I didn't have a plunger handy. I sealed the overflow hole with a wet rag, put the shop vac hose tight over the drain, and gave it a short burst. It pulled up a nasty clump of gunk on the first try. Has anyone else tried this method on a bathroom sink?

2 comments

angelab62•5d ago

Warning: My bathroom grout went from white to black in under a year.

It was a cheap, quick job I did myself with a pre-mixed grout from a big box store. The moisture in the shower just destroyed it and let mold take over. What's the most foolproof grout for a high-humidity bathroom?

2 comments

henrybaker•6d ago

PSA: Replacing a toilet fill valve is not a 20 minute job

Everyone online said it was quick. Took me over two hours. The old valve was stuck hard, had to cut it out. Then the new one leaked at the base. Had to shut the water off three times. Anyone else fight with one of these?

2 comments

lindagreen•7d ago

Finally fixed that squeaky floorboard in the upstairs hall

I had to choose between pulling up the carpet to shim the joist or just driving a screw down through the floor from above. I went with the screw method using a 3 inch deck screw and it worked perfectly. No more noise when I walk to the bathroom at night. Has anyone else tried this on an old house in Portland?

2 comments

diana_harris11•8d ago

Need recommendations for an "as-is" cash buyer in Lynnwood

My house has water damage and mold in the crawlspace. I don't have the funds to fix it. Who can I sell to that won't require me to remediate it first?

2 comments