Other internet sites

Users who are viewing this thread

Jimbo

Plumber
Messages
8,918
Reaction score
18
Points
0
Location
San Diego, CA
Recently came across a couple of "interesting" places:
1) A plumbing forum strictly....might say viciously... for plumbers only. No DIY. Frankly, they grumble a lot, and don't seem to have a lot of fun!

2) A place where anyone can ask a question about literally anthing...from cars to legal to plumbing.....and an "expert" will offer to provide an answer....for a FEE! I am almost embarrassed to say that last weekend I paid $9 to find out how to get the power window back up on my Ford Contour. Went down, and stayed down. I was desparate! It only rains one day a year in San Diego, and it looked like Saturday night was going to be that day! Maybe I would have figured it out by myself, but just getting in there was a challenge. He detailed how to get at the motor and remove it...the push the regulator up by hand and wedge a 1X2 under it to hold it up until I can get my mechanic to fix the darn thing. I figure the 9 bucks was well spent. By the way, the forum "suggested" price range was 9 to 30....you offer what you think it is worth, and presumably get a faster or better response with more money! It is an honor system. You offer to pay, but the payment is not committed until you feel the answer is worth it, and accept the answer. You can say no.


I thought about it, and for 2 reasons, would not want to do the fee thing in the plumbing arena:
a) This is too much fun!
b) Who wants the liability that you give someone some advice, he screw it up and floods out a $10,000 harrdwood floor, or his water heater catches fire!

Anyone else has seen such forums? What do you think?
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,599
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
forum

If the plumbing forum is the one I think it is, one of its best contributors, at least in his own opionion which is typical of NYC people, and I have had some serious disagreements.
 

Taylor

New Member
Messages
145
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Northern Joisey
As a DIYer who recently took on more than he could chew, and managed to find a reputable plumber to help out, I have sympathy for the concern about DIY hacks.

But there are plenty of hack plumbers too, including licensed plumbers. I am thinking of the plumber who worked on this house before I bought it, who is unfortunately dead now so I can't sue his ass for all the problems he left me.

And just as there are hack plumbers, there are perfectionist DIYers who e.g. wouldn't dream of putting Type M copper in their perfect little houses.

I think forums like this that allow a dialogue between plumbers and DIYers can serve a useful educational purpose. They can educate DIYers on how to do something right, when something is out of their league, and they can also educate HOers to recognize hack plumbers. I understand of course that there is a line between dispensing advice and giving free consulting. Design of DWV systems seems like a good place to draw that line, if it seems to be getting out of hand. Just be aware that people are probably going to do it anyway, with or without your input.

I don't think dispensing advice on a forum like this sacrifices business. People who are going to DIY, are doing to do it anyway. Why not help them to do it right, to the extent that it's appropriate and they are willing to listen? If I were a licensed plumber, I wouldn't worry about losing business. This country has a lot of housing stock that is going to be depreciating for the next few decades, I see plenty of business for reputable plumbers. In my area, it's hard enough just getting an estimate from the reputable plumbers, and I stay away from the hacks to the extent that I can. Even when dealing with good plumbers (and electricians and masons and .....), they are sometimes surprised at things I have learned from forums like this. I am not trying to be smart, I just want the job done right, and I can learn a lot from sites like this.
 

Redwood

Master Plumber
Messages
7,335
Reaction score
13
Points
0
Location
Connecticut
I say argue your point with big box stores.
The monster has been created.

I firmly believe that the states that do not allow the homeowners to do their own work are in reality burying their heads in the sand.

Mass. for instance does not allow homeowners to do their own plumbing, electrical, and structural frame work. Do you think that all the sales at big box in Mass. for plumbing, electrical, and framing Items is to licenced contractors? I'll clue you in there isn't a snowballs chance in hell that it all is.

There is a bunch of illegal uninspected work going on!

In these forums DIYers come for several types of advice...

You have the ones that simply want to be informed consumers and want to discuss options and get opinions on fixtures etc. and how things should be done.

Then you have ones that want to try their hand at minor repairs.

The ones that want to try their hand at a big project.

The ones that I worry about are the ones that are trying their hand at the last 2 simply because they lack the money to have it done. They are desperate and will cut corners and cheap out to get by. This is the customer that you never wanted.

I have seen DIYers take the time to research how to do a job right and put forth a big effort to accomplish a huge job very nicely. These are the guys that usually come up with a nice initial drawing that is essentially okay with minor corrections. They ask what fitting is used where and why. They work to grasp the concepts of venting and how to best run pipes. They post pictures of thier work in process and ask how they are doing. They often do the work, have inspections, and pass on the first try. Those are not a loss. Those are a win. This person isn't going to quit the day job! They probably will be the first person to say to another DIYer, "Thats a big job! You probably want a plumber to do that!" "Do you have any Idea what you are getting into?""It took me 4 months every night and every weekend to do that job on the house I remodeled."

Simply said... "A man has got to know his limitations." ~ Dirty Harry in Magnum Force.

BTW I have a Lawyer surcharge in my price schedule! LOL
 

Redwood

Master Plumber
Messages
7,335
Reaction score
13
Points
0
Location
Connecticut
Actually I have to say that I get a lot of $$$ From DIYers.
I work Saturdays and quite often I get calls where they realized that they are over their head and the water is off until its done.

It's kinda like fishin in a barrel!:D


I'm not complaining,,, I manage to do pretty good! Service plumbing is still not bad.
I see a lot of guys rhat did nothing but residential construction hurting though...
 
Last edited by a moderator:

Terry

The Plumbing Wizard
Staff member
Messages
29,946
Reaction score
3,460
Points
113
Location
Bothell, Washington
Website
terrylove.com
Actually I have to say that I get a lot of $$$ From DIYers.

I often hear from homeowners, that they had no ideal how much was involved until they asked.

If anything, this type of forum gives plumbers and contractors more respect from homeowners.
 

Dunbar Plumbing

Master Plumber
Messages
2,920
Reaction score
10
Points
0
Location
Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Area
Website
www.KoldBreeze.com
I come here to read MACPLUMB 777's signature line!

Muwahahahahaaaaaaaa!!!!!!


Not too often you get to chat with a guy with a PHD of waterolgy and drainolgy :D I'm goin to his college next week. Tuition is a old drain cable and some rotted 3" galvanized ductwork off a 40 gallon gas water heater.

Wait, (clears throat) Hot Water Heater :eek:
3_3_24.gif

 
Last edited by a moderator:

Dunbar Plumbing

Master Plumber
Messages
2,920
Reaction score
10
Points
0
Location
Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Area
Website
www.KoldBreeze.com
Actually I have to say that I get a lot of $$$ From DIYers.
I work Saturdays and quite often I get calls where they realized that they are over their head and the water is off until its done.

It's kinda like fishin in a barrel!:D

I'm not complaining,,, I manage to do pretty good! Service plumbing is still not bad.
I see a lot of guys rhat did nothing but residential construction hurting though...



"Somebody" did a small, insignificant plumbing repair on their 600 series Delta faucet yesterday. Lady swore it's not a big deal.

Oooooooookay,

I told her in the same way it appears online, "Ma'am? Listen to me. You can make it sound as simple as you want it, but when you get done talking to 4 other plumbers all saying the same thing I'm about to tell you, I'm the only guy who will tell you that I can replace the faucet from the front without access to the back. No remodel plate either."


That was after telling her that the faucet is JUNK because they didn't use two wrenches to take the bonnet nut off. She explained the problem to a tee, I explained the fix to a tee. Couldn't get to her today so they patiently wait for me till tomorrow to go in and make premium pay to sit in a shower for a couple hours and master the DIY disaster.
 

Redwood

Master Plumber
Messages
7,335
Reaction score
13
Points
0
Location
Connecticut
I have a "Hot" Water Heater too!

If it was cold it would be a broken water heater!

A PHD of waterolgy and drainolgy and $5 will get you a cup of watered down funny flavored coffee at most Starbucks Coffee Shops.:eek:
 
Last edited:

Mike Swearingen

New Member
Messages
621
Reaction score
3
Points
0
Location
On Albemarle Sound In Northeastern NC
Website
www.albemarle-realty.com
I'm an avid DIYer from wayback with more than 50+ years of all kinds of DIY experience. Like most DIYers, my blunders have been one of my best teachers over the years. LOL. But listening to and watching pros do their thing is how DIYing really happens right, even if there is disagreement among the pros sometimes. As we all know, occasionally there is more than one way to do something "right". DIYers need to know.
I currently have a total of more than 14,000 posts over the years participating in a number of DIY websites as a member, moderator and even as a so-called super moderator at one time on the site mentioned by Cookie. (I have resigned everything now except as a "member" due to lack of time.)
I'm a real estate broker, and I have had several clients who had no clue that I was a DIYer but had seen my posts of various DIY sites and have asked me to help them solve their home maintenance problems first-hand. I had a local man just this week call me about installing a shallow well after seeing my name here on Terry's website. So this DIY thing is good for my business, too.
IMHO, any trade professional or experienced DIYer helping other DIYers do things right is good for anyone's business in the long run.
Terry, you have one of the best DIY websites that I've ever seen, bar none.
Keep it up! Thank you.
Mike
 

hj

Master Plumber
Messages
33,599
Reaction score
1,037
Points
113
Location
Cave Creek, Arizona
Website
www.terrylove.com
diy

We do not try to disuade DIY'ers in order to not lose work. Giving someone in ME advice about repairing a faucet is not going to affect the quantity of jobs available in AZ. BUT, I have seen too many DIY dwv systems which were completely screwed up and had to be totally removed and redone, EVEN though they had a very explicit drawing to follow. If they can do that with a drawing, what are the chances they will even start to follow a written description properly. THAT is why I do not even bother to try and design a complete dwv system for a house and sometimes even trying to tell how to revise it is useless. The same way with some faucet repairs. The one mentioned above is a very simple one, BEFORE, the homeowner/handyman tries to diy it. Afterwards it can be repaired without replacing it but it just costs a lot more than if I had been called for the initial repair.
 

Gary Slusser

That's all folks!
Messages
6,921
Reaction score
22
Points
38
Location
Wherever I park the motorhome.
Website
www.qualitywaterassociates.com
Dittos Mike. I too think Terry's forums are the best.

I also was a moderator on the site Cookie mentioned. I didn't like the Super moderators' heavy handed micro managing. Way too PC and anti-everything with personal ego driven control.

I believe Terry's forums are so popular because of his and the moderators' more or less hands off way of doing things and the quality of the 'pros' here and the advice they give.

Thank you Terry.
 

Jimbo

Plumber
Messages
8,918
Reaction score
18
Points
0
Location
San Diego, CA
I will toss in my 2 cents worth, which I have said before:

Many of the homeowners who come to these forums ARE GOING TO DO IT, regardless. We can try to help them do it right, or just let them charge ahead and do it wrong.

There is nothing wrong with offering the advice that a certain job is complex, and might need a professional on site. But we can do that in a non-confrontational manner. Any and all advice on safety and sanitation should certainly be welcomed by the homeowner. If they chose to ignore the advice, then Darwin will prevail.

For those that flat out don't want to talk DIY at all, there is always that other forum. ( Actually a family of forums. I was browsing around them this morning, and there were skirmishes broken out all over!)
 

Cookie

.
Messages
5,580
Reaction score
8
Points
0
Location
Home
In our schools we have the Dare program. It teaches why not to use drugs and to say, no. Then, in sixth grade we teach sex education, so they understand what sex is about to expel some myths on pregnancy and disease. It is far better to teach them than to let them go out and experiment and be a DIY'er.

http://www.columbiapd.com/cpd_023.htm

Just my 2 cents worth.
 
Last edited:

Geniescience

Homeowner
Messages
2,137
Reaction score
4
Points
0
Location
humid summers hot, humid winters cold
Link to a standard page showing risks -- how about it?

i wouldn't mind it if the senior people here pointed out to (some) new posters that
1. they may not be describing the right things, the right context,
---1.a. they may have missed a lot.
2. they may not know what it is that they don't know, and that they need to know
---2.a. no matter how much free reading they get here.
3. even if they got a professional to draw up a perfect diagram, the chances are high they will end up building it wrong, making a mistake.
4. along the way they can cause a lot of damage too.
5. an improperly built system can poison them later.
6. other risks apply, too numerous to mention.


Last year I sent $5 to an Appliance Guru site just so I would get their attention when I asked my first question there. It was a donation, not a fee.

If Terry doesn't want to start accepting donations, it could be because administering it would make things more complicated.

David
 

Cookie

.
Messages
5,580
Reaction score
8
Points
0
Location
Home
I think your post is very good David, but I know that those things are being done here at Terry's. Time and Time again, regarding drawings, more information is requested, additional drawings are requested to clearify... Possible mistakes I can read are pointed out to the posters, I see it time and time again from experienced people here regarding plumbing. I really think, the plumbers here are very meticulous in their answers to others, they really go out of their way most of the time to make sure they are right on the money; and what I find astounding, is the fact that other plumbers/their peers are also, either giving their opinions, too. Wow. Where else can one get that? That is amazing to me.

Grumpy was right on one thing for sure, where else can you go for free advice? Absolutely, right.

I can't imagine the amount of work and time, it must take Terry to do what he does with the site. I wouldn't have the energy.

Everything to me you posted is right David, but I think all those things have already been addressed to posters so many times. If Terry wants to add a page that is great, but to be honest, in my opinion, he doesn't need it. That could be also, just another thing he must take care of.

So far as the money, save Terry his time, and send it to me. :D
 

Master Plumber Mark

Sensitivity trainer and plumber of mens souls
Messages
5,533
Reaction score
354
Points
83
Location
indianapolis indiana - land of the free, home of
Website
www.weilhammerplumbing.com
you can get free advice anywhere..lets see some action.

Grumpy...how have you been??
have you been pretty busy this summer??


you can get free advice anywhere...
wether the advice is good or not is the real issue
I dont plan on takeing out my own appendix anytime soon..


if some sites dont want to give free advice to diyers becasue they feel it cuts into their income stream....
....so be it.....

Those sites come across with an air of
huffiness in my opinion....

these DIYers are going to forge ahead and do the job
wether it be new gas lines, drain lines, or water lines.....
and they will let the chips fall where they may..

if they blow themselves up or flood themselves out
it is the risk that they are willling to take....

I feel it is better to help them than not....


NOW....If steve or others truely have the real clout in your state like you claim that they do....

may I suggest that they go after the people at Lowes and Whirlpool and start another class action lawsuit

Whirlpool encourages anyone to break down their gas water heaters to clean and replace parts in them..they even send total amatures replacement parts by fed -ex every day... ( I have a few of the repair kits in my shop)

It would seem to me that companies that sell directly to the DIYERS are cutting into everyones income stream much more deeply than sites like this one....

expecting these DIYERs to make repairs to their defective gas water heaters is almost close to criminal...


I am sure that they are all just talk and credentials.
but if they really wanted to shut something down, or use their
clout to make some new state laws....

I would love to see that brand of water heater kicked out of the market..
 

Dunbar Plumbing

Master Plumber
Messages
2,920
Reaction score
10
Points
0
Location
Northern Kentucky/Greater Cincinnati Area
Website
www.KoldBreeze.com
In our schools we have the Dare program. It teaches why not to use drugs and to say, no. Then, in sixth grade we teach sex education, so they understand what sex is about to expel some myths on pregnancy and disease. It is far better to teach them than to let them go out and experiment and be a DIY'er.

http://www.columbiapd.com/cpd_023.htm

Just my 2 cents worth.



That system went belly up in my area. No funding. Kids are doing drugs just like they always do from generation to generation to generation.


And now that I have gray hairs growing everywhere they shouldn't, I'm wise to NOW see that those who "didn't" do drugs in high school....and took up the recreational habits later in life....like adulthood?


They are worse than a disaster because the system doesn't provide as much for adults with serious addiction problems as much as it is for adolescents.

I know a guy who has a 22 year old son that is literally costing him the value of a house to get him sober... if he was just under 18, most if not all insurance policies pick up under his own.


I still think kids shouldn't do drugs......but ffs! let them try them at a young age so they grow out of the habit NOW instead of later in life.

Some adult drug users I know are beyond hope....and they was clean as a whistle in school. Now they affect not just them, their family.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks