Ran into a retired plumber at a diner and he fixed my leaky valve with a 30 cent washer

I was complaining to my buddy about this outdoor spigot that dripped no matter what I did, and an older guy at the next table just said "check the washer size, kid." Turns out I had been buying the wrong diameter for 3 months, swapping out parts I didn't need. Cost me a coffee and a handshake, saved me a $200 plumber visit. Has anyone else fixed a nagging home problem from a random encounter like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

dakota_patel9821d ago

That old guy probably saved you more than money, he saved you three months of frustration. Soap on a squeaky hinge works great too, but they say a little candle wax lasts longer since it doesn't dry out as fast. Have you tried that trick yet on your sticky doors?

the_mary21d ago

That bar of soap trick is honestly one of those things that seems too simple to work but then you try it and feel like a genius. I did it on my kitchen door that had been driving me crazy for like 4 months, and it was actually WD-40 that an old neighbor recommended first. But soap works better for sticky doors since it dries clear and doesn't leave that greasy residue all over everything. The candle wax idea is new to me though, i might try that on my bathroom door since it gets all humid in there and the soap probably washes off faster.

robertb4722d ago

My neighbor's uncle overheard me complaining about a squeaky door and showed me how to fix it with a bar of soap.