Spent 3 hours trying to fix a leaky faucet that just needed a $2 o-ring

I was all set to replace the whole cartridge under my kitchen sink, but after fighting with it for almost an hour I stopped and just swapped the rubber o-ring instead. Anyone else ever dive into a big job only to realize the fix was way simpler than you thought?

3 comments

3 Comments

butler.finley2mo ago

Did you also spend 45 minutes staring at the instruction manual before realizing you had the wrong page open? I had a toilet that kept running and I was convinced the whole flapper needed to be replaced. Took it apart, went to three different hardware stores, spent like 40 bucks on parts. Turns out the chain was just too long and getting caught under the flapper. Shortened it by about an inch and it worked perfectly. Now I've got a drawer full of spare parts I'll never use. Gotta love those simple fixes that make you feel like a genius for about five minutes.

dixon.spencer2mo ago

Honestly, @butler.finley, I read somewhere that most toilet problems are just a loose chain or a dirty flapper seat. My buddy spent a whole weekend on his toilet and it was just a piece of sediment stuck under the seal. Made me feel way better about the times I've overthought stuff like that.

terry_jones1mo ago

Three hardware stores and a drawer of spare parts sounds exactly like my life. I did the same thing with a leaky faucet, bought a whole new cartridge kit, then realized I just needed to tighten a screw by a quarter turn. Makes you wonder how many hours we've all wasted on stuff that simple.