My attempt to fix a leaky faucet turned into a minor flood in my Phoenix apartment

I watched a YouTube video and bought a $15 replacement cartridge from Home Depot, thinking it would be a quick job. After I turned the water back on, the whole connection blew apart and sprayed water all over my kitchen for a solid minute before I could shut it off. I learned that 'just a simple washer' can hide a lot of worn-out parts you can't see. Anyone have a good plumber recommendation in the East Valley?

3 comments

3 Comments

loganl221mo ago

That $15 cartridge is exactly what a plumber would have used. The real problem is the old pipe threads or a bad shutoff valve, not the DIY attempt. I fixed my own kitchen sprayer last month with the same parts from that same Home Depot aisle. The flood happens when people skip the basic step of turning the water all the way off at the main, not because they lack a license. Most calls are for simple swaps a video can teach you.

paige4271mo ago

Can I recommend the guy who saved me from my own DIY shower disaster last year?

jordang321mo ago

Oh man, I saw a whole video about this! Some people try to fix a leaky shower head and accidentally crack the main pipe in the wall. Then they have to cut open the tile and everything. It turns into a way bigger job than just a simple drip. A pro would have spotted the real issue right away.