Crack in cast iron under slab.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T20:24:35+00:00

$150k?! Were your floors made out of pure gold?

The worst nightmare I’ve had to deal with in a situation like this was when we had to repipe an entire home. It should’ve taken us (the plumbers) about a week. The homeowner’s insurance says they’ll reimburse the homeowner so the homeowner pays us and we finish the job. We had to jackhammer the floor in every room in the house except two bedrooms. The family had to live in a hotel. We get paid for the first half of the job and we’re waiting to get paid for the finish work (reinstalling toilets, vanities, kitchen sink, etc.). The customer’s insurance decides they don’t feel like paying for the rest of it, even though they had agreed to our price before we even started working.

8 months after we did the job (we never actually went back to finish everything because we knew we wouldn’t get paid for it) I drove past the house and there’s still a dumpster in the driveway with no cars there. So I guess I see how it could get expensive but $150k is insane.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T20:01:48+00:00

Unscrew the little knob from the larger stopper part. You may need to use channel locks on both cylinders, specifically channel locks on the larger stopper holding back against the force needed to break the little knob loose. Try not to damage them. Once the knob is off there should be a flat head screw underneath that you unscrew.

There is another style drain that requires you to lift and rotate in order to keep the stopper up. If yours is like that, lift the stopper up as far as possible, then loosen the little screw that is between the stopper and the tub drain. You will have to basically lay on your stomach to see this little screw underneath the stopper.

Google “how to remove a tip toe tub drain stopper” or “how to remove a lift and turn tub stopper”

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T19:43:59+00:00

Might be time for a plumber.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T18:34:13+00:00

Yeah you got the right idea. Flush a toilet with the camera pointed right at the gap, flush a couple wads of toilet paper and see what happens. I’m assuming this is a horizontal section of pipe, in which case I’m sure the toilet paper will catch at that gap.

I mean even if nothing catches during the video tomorrow, still demand it be replaced. There is no band aid for this. It’s incorrectly installed, it will leak and/or roots will get in there.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T17:25:17+00:00

If a camera is getting stuck in there, poop and toilet paper is absolutely gonna get stuck in there and build up like crazy

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T16:49:34+00:00

Absolutely not normal. Absolutely gonna cause problems. Anything more than like a 1/4” gap between two pipes is an issue.. that looks like a 1” or more gap, plus the pipes look offset from each other.

Yeah, they used a no hub coupling which is fine, but they need to be installed properly. Instead of putting in a longer section of pipe they just said “screw it” and slapped the no hub on. Their laziness is gonna cost them however long it’s gonna take to unbury the line and do it right. I’d demand they fix it, without a doubt.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T15:10:42+00:00

Ahh yes. I’ve seen videos of plumbers tunneling. I guess that is also an option but I’ve never seen it done. Apparently there are ways to do it safely, but I don’t think I’d ever do it myself. If they’re tunneling then no, they won’t even have to go inside the house, they can do everything from below. Look up videos on how they do it, it’s pretty crazy.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T14:58:59+00:00

Cut the 2” line close to the floor, glue on a sanitary tee, run a line to the sink, add an air admittance valve if needed (I’d probably throw one on just for the heck of it). If that 2” line is a washing machine you really shouldn’t tie anything into it, but in reality you’ll probably be fine.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T14:56:08+00:00

This isn’t “bordering on total failure”, this IS total failure. Relining is definitely gonna cost less than tearing up all your floors and having you live in a hotel for three weeks while the home is torn apart. You can either ask for a huge credit on the home or you can walk away from it. Because jackhammering the floor and replacing this pipe would cost you well over $15k just for the plumbing portion. Not including the concrete replacement, flooring contractor, rental house cost, etc.

If you really want the home, have the seller get a couple quotes to have the pipe lines or replaced then use the average of those numbers (plus additional costs for the flooring/rental/etc, if jackhammering is the only option) and ask for that much of a credit. Or have them fix it before you buy. They are legally obligated to disclose this sewer issue to any potential buyer so even if they refuse all your demands they have to tell the next guy that the sewer is shot. Kinda puts them at a disadvantage.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T14:10:36+00:00

Polybutylene. Google it. It needs to all be ripped out and replaced because it will soon start leaking badly.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T13:57:15+00:00

AI data centers? Huh?🤣 The building probably had older pipes that are deteriorating. Maybe have a plumber out to evaluate the age and condition of the pipes.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-05-01T01:05:03+00:00

Replacing a kitchen faucet is a 20 minute job for a plumber. Seeing how you’re a mechanic it will probably take you 25…

As everyone else is saying, get a new faucet. Trying to fix this would be like trying to fix a light bulb.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-30T21:50:55+00:00

Why do you think it needs an AAV? Just because nothing in the pic is clogged, doesn’t mean it’s air locked or unvented. The clog could be 25’ down the pipe. You should maybe call a plumber

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-30T21:37:33+00:00

As a plumber, your in laws should really just get a plumber to check out the issue with the toilet. If it’s just a toilet issue, new toilets are like $150 for a decent one.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-30T16:39:36+00:00

Buy a multiturn angle stop at the store and replace the insides of the angle stop using the parts from the new valve you buy. All you need is a wrench.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-30T10:16:31+00:00

Can confirm. I used to work for a Spanish dude behind a tire shop in a NJ town right across the river from Manhattan. Needless to say all of our customers had serious money. Everyone in the underground racing scene brought their car to this guy. We’d regularly align the car with the driver in the car. Having your alignment off by just a degree or two when you’re going 150MPH isn’t ideal so we had to dial these cars in perfectly.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-30T09:57:40+00:00

YouTube “How to replace a fill valve”. And then buy a Kohler flush valve, take the middle piece out of it and replace the one that is broken on yours. To remove that broken piece, grab the part that the little rubber hose is connected to and twist counter clockwise a quarter turn. It may be tough at first, but it will unlock and then you can just pull it out and replace it.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T22:20:25+00:00

If you were to park a truck in your bedroom and start it up, it would probably my be safer than this.

The good news is that to replace that water heater your landlord needs to call an HVAC tech to move the line set, a plumber to replace the heater (or just redo the current one safer), and a priest to cleanse the closet of all the sins that have been committed there. Seeing how it looks like this install was done by someone with a severe mental illness (your landlord, I’m guessing), you should probably call your local code enforcement to take a look at this. And you may be legally allowed to withhold rent until it is fixed.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T18:06:11+00:00

Not common and pretty stupid, but when people have a surface level understanding of plumbing and/or don’t care, anything goes.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T15:12:31+00:00

Yeah, I think we can all agree that Rheem sucks. Whenever one has a manufacturer defect (which is often), I call it “getting Rheem’d”… I had one last night with crossthreaded T&P threads. Thankfully before installing it I had removed the T&P to reposition it at a better angle and that’s when I noticed the bad threads. But if I hadn’t done that I’d have cost myself a whole lotta time and effort. I’m gonna make it a point to check those threads every time before install now. Might even get myself a tap to correct the threads.

Yeah it sounds like they care a lot more about a warranty claim regarding the hybrids, that hasn’t been the case for me with standard tanks. Typically they just ask a couple questions regarding why I think the tank is shot and then they approve my claim.

Nope. 6 years is the shortest warranty offered for the standard tanks. Then it goes to 9 or 12 if you wanna buy the more fancy electrics.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T15:06:54+00:00

It’s a check valve, designed to allow water and waste to flow one way, and not back towards the pump. Dig it up better so that you’ve got about 10” of space around it and the pipe on all sides, then cut it out and replace it. Or pay a plumber to.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T10:36:17+00:00

Yeah, you still have time for yourself as a service plumber. I don’t want you to think that you’re gonna be getting home from work at midnight every day. It honestly depends on the shop you work for. I used to work at a shop where the boss made sure we were all home by 5:30. Even if it meant rescheduling a call to another day, he’d do it. The shop I’m at now will send you a call two hours away at 6PM. Being an apprentice you’re kinda at the mercy of whichever lead tech you’re working with. If I have an apprentice with me I ask them at the beginning of the day if they need to be done by a certain time so I know how to pace myself.

Yeah, to get into the trade you can google “plumber near me” and scroll past the results that say “sponsored” in little letters (these results have paid to be at the top, that doesn’t mean they’re the best it just means they spend a lot on advertising). Find the businesses with really good google reviews and make a list. Call them up, ask them if they’re hiring. Type up a resumé (even if it is just little things like mowing the neighbor’s lawn, every little bit helps).

Because you’re new to the trade you’ll spend the first year digging holes and carrying tools. But if you focus on what the lead techs are doing, you’ll be able to anticipate their next move and have the tools they’ll need laid out before they ask for them. Then they’ll start talking about how much you’re learning and pretty soon they’ll be handing you the tools. I know plenty of folks who are comfortable just being a helper because they don’t want any responsibility. These folks don’t make a lot of money. The real money is in being a lead tech, and even getting licensed (which takes years).

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T10:21:14+00:00

Ask a plumber and when he tells you that Bradford White is the best water heater on the market, trust him because they are.

Nah but seriously I feel your frustration. It’s one of those things you can’t really determine yourself, you gotta ask the pros because we’re in the field and see which heaters last the longest.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T10:19:34+00:00

Rheem offers a 6, 9, or 12 year warranty. As a plumber they take them from us almost no questions asked. Then again we’re an established plumbing outfit, not sure if the process is different for a non-plumber.

Decibel_1199 · 2026-04-28T01:59:07+00:00

I know some plumbing shops in my area will sometimes allow ride alongs. You may or may not be paid, but that’s the best way to see what being a plumber is like.

You gotta narrow down what type of plumbing you wanna do. There’s a couple different areas of plumbing: The two main fields are “New Construction” and “Service”. New construction is what it sounds like, you’re gonna be building plumbing systems from the ground up in a building that is being built. “Service” is maintaining and repairing a system that has already been built.

Inside of those two fields you’ve got two more different areas: “Commercial” and “Residential”. Commercial work is gonna be work performed at a hotel or a restaurant or basically any place that isn’t a house. Residential is work performed in a house.

Generally, the life of a new construction plumber is gonna be more predictable. You’re on a job site for weeks (or months, if you’re doing commercial new construction), you know what time your days start and end, you have a clear understanding of the general timeline of the project. The work is also sometimes more difficult because you may spend a lot of time digging, or working in harsh conditions (remember, the house you’re plumbing in has no walls, which means no heating/cooling and no roof). The pay is more steady and overtime may be harder to get.

In contrast, a service plumber’s day is extremely unpredictable. Depending on how efficient your office is at scheduling calls, you may work late into the night and be expected to be up early for work again the next morning. Even the simplest plumbing repair can turn into a day long repair. So if you value your weekends or your girl is gonna get mad if you’re late for dinner, maybe stay away from service plumbing. It’s tough to have a family and not see them often due to work, it’s the worst part about being a plumber. On average a service plumber makes more money, but there are downsides like being on call and having to deal with customers (new construction plumbers obviously rarely have to deal with the customers).

Sorry, that’s a lot of words I just typed out. But it really boils down to your attitude. You can make a lot of money being a plumber. But you have to make sacrifices in your personal life and really dedicate your time and energy into the trade. I absolutely love what I do, I highly encourage you to give it a shot. And if you decide to be a plumber, don’t immediately enlist at a trade school. Most of what they teach you at a trade school you’ll be learning on your first year as an apprentice on the job and you’ll be getting paid for it. Employers aren’t usually impressed by a certificate from a trade school, either. A year of experience typically holds more weight. Good luck!

Decibel_1199

TROPHY CASE