This Guy Has Been A Plumber For 2 Years, And Here Are The Crazy Things He’s Seen On The Job (30 Pics)
Structural inspectors aren't the only ones who can tell if you're living in a shitty home. Plumbers can do that too. Recently, a plumber who goes by the nickname Bfizzle shared just a fraction of all the weird stuff he has seen on the job (unfortunately, Verizon lost a bunch of photos when he changed phones), but it's clear that too many contractors simply don't care what they're building.
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Your Sewer Is Blocked
What a crappy world. At least this plant found some cool moist fertilizer to grow from.
Load More Replies..."I'm 27 and live in the greater Seattle area. Been a plumber for 2 years and an apprentice 3 years before that," Bfizzle told Bored Panda. "I'd say one of the most common reasons I get called is because a house has cheap plumbing. For example, if you buy a $50 toilet, you're going to have issues with it in the near future."
Even a leaky faucet can become a big deal. For example, if it drips just once per second, it still can waste more than 3,000 gallons of water per year.
Candles Left On The Toilet Tank
Why exactly are people burning candles in the toilet in the first place? For some mood lighting when you're s******g?
Who the heck has plastic toilets? I've never had one that wasn't ceramic.
I've seen plastic toilet seats, but never a completely plastic toilet
Not all bathrooms have a vent fan or a window. Candles sometimes help. I lived in an apartment with a fake vent fan before. It just blew the same air back in the room like those cheap stove vents that do nothing!
It looks like the seat lid was up and it caught on fire first. If they had left the lid down they might have got away with it. Or if they had a real toilet.
"Another big thing is that home builders don't ever think ahead, I had to replace a shower valve yesterday and there was a fireplace behind it so the only way to access it was to smash the tile inside the shower," the plumber explained.
In A Chinese Restaurant
Plumbing? Who needs it when a bucket does the work. I hope they have a top for that 20+ gallon of pee they poor down the sink? And look next door, they have a toilet plunger just in case!
Load More Replies...That would seriously make me never want to eat there again- if thats the bathroom what is the sanitation in the kitchen like
According to the professional, the easiest way to make sure your plumbing is in good condition is to make sure it's up to code. "The plumbing code exists for a reason, and just because an inspector passed off on it doesn't mean it is. Inspectors don't go in your crawl space and aren't really even tested on their code knowledge. A certified plumber will know."
Reach For It
This is what happens when you make it wheelchair friendly.
Load More Replies...You're supposed to take as much toilette paper as you think you need beforehand. I saw these in some Korean bathrooms too. Although, the paper is bigger and more noticeable. However, it still sucks because most bathrooms have paper inside, so, as you're not used to it, you are very likely to end up without toilette paper anyway.
But what if things go wrong and you end up needing more!?
Load More Replies...How is this even possible??? Was it installed by a giraffe who has no idea of human biology???
I Guess It Works
lmao I can just picture a modern apartment complex putting these in for their bathrooms because it's "modern" and "trendy"
Load More Replies...If you have arthritic hands these could be an absolute improvement to what was there previously.
What Did You Eat Sir?
you realize that's a rat climbing from the sewer, up the toilet, right?
Load More Replies...Hell naw. My worst nightmare is sitting down on the crapper and having a rat come up the toilet waste pipe.
Rat: "You probably wonder how I ended up in this predicament" * Cue flashback *
Neat Tub Shower
Bang your head against them. But be careful, it's hazardous without the magical hat
Load More Replies...Philly has an amazing cocktail bar that has the foyer floor totally tiled in pennies, and the entire bar is tiled with nickles.
Tucson too- ( penny floor) in the historic Hotel Congress
Load More Replies...I helped friends do a backsplash in their powder room of pennies, because "penny tiles" cost about 30¢ each, but pennies cost a penny!
Well, if you ever need extra money, it's time to remodel the shower!
I have a cousin who did the floor of one of her bedrooms with pennies, it looks really nice.
Also Found Digging
I’m more interested in the story of how it got there, and how long ago it was disposed of that way.
Don't Like The Leak? Put A Cork In It
The Day After Taco Bell
Was just watching that show, had broken septic and a pipe broke in house and they never fixed it, it was horrific
Load More Replies...I assume someone had a PVC floor over the tiles without any protection against humidity, and that's the result after a couple decades
This is the result of a flood, or water coming up from the sewer. You can see there has been "waste" in the bath too :(
Load More Replies...Homeowner Did A Remodel, Needed To Downsize The Shower
Looks like a large sink! Bet ya can't bend over to shave your legs without opening the door!
Bet ya can't bend over to shave your legs without opening the door! Looks no bigger than a largw sink!
Now they don't have to get their hand wet when finding the right temperature
A Repurposed Toilet
If you cannot afford a gravestone, it's better than nothing there. I think it looks good x
Why Does My House Smell Like S**t?
It was leaking long before that pipe collapsed. It had to have been for the bottom of the supporting strap to rust out.
And what plumber is going to crawl in there in a hazmat suit to fix it?!
Load More Replies...My kitchen sink drain did the exact same thing. S-i-l said it was like a sewer under there :O, I didn't go.
Homeowner Fixed His Own Leak
Obviously this plumber was never in the navy. This is SOP for emergency leak repairs. (Though the Navy's is a water activated resin in fiberglass, rather than this DIY automotive glass and resin.)
That's a very similar material to instant-set casts for broken bones. You squish the liquid part inside the package (just like an ice-pack) and you have about 5 minutes to get it in place before it hardens.
Load More Replies...At least use plumbers putty. You can buy it for less than $5 At any hardware store.
What's plumber's putty going to do in this situation?
Load More Replies...That’s actually a decent fix for very short term... like a few days. It’s a fiberglass wrap. It works but no real plumber would be proud of it as a fix
This Is Why Your Faucets Have Low Flow
Looks like a kitchen sink drain pipe with a buildup of food/grease buildup.
Load More Replies...Is That from water flow INTO home? Or out.. feel like crying a bit...if that is into the house
I had a pipe on a NEW house rust like that. It was a small section leading to an on demand water heater, and it rusted through. Both the input and the output were replaced. The builder claimed that they were both new, and high quality. Note: if made in the USA to proper standards you would not see corrosion like that, ever. You only get this is an iron is used, not steel.
Yet Another Handyman Special
add a magnet to the side and it becomes a ring catcher.
Load More Replies...Okay. Dumb. But they actually sell that s**t to people with a straight face knowing this is what will happen...
Move funny things ? The tidy bowl man and his small boat, a whistle that mom threw down the toilet in a fit of can't stand Uncle Johns gift so going to give it to his brother. Match box car. Soda straws not used for soda, small plastic ring size bags with white stuff in them. More later or feel free to add funny stuff.
they used ducting meant for air (dryer, air conditioning) and using it to contain liquid. Even if you were intelligent enough to create a solution to the problem, you weren't smart enough to find the correct solution. As in taking measurements, lengthening the one pipe so that it's level with the other one you're trying to connect to and use a straight rigid pipe. What you've done here will be prone to at least mould if it doesn't bulge or burst eventually. Do the job right. Don't create problems for your future self
Big Apprentice, Small Crawl Space
He is in comparison to the crawl space entrance.
Load More Replies...That's Not How Grounding Works
Is it for an electric shower head? I can’t think of another reason why.
Another Repurposed Toilet
The heat would likely kill all the germs but I still wouldn't eat off it.
Load More Replies...The Handyman Special
Electrician's tape. Yes it is. I would have no problem using this as an emergency repair and I have a few years in the trades now
Load More Replies...Don't Flush Tampons
I was once digging a trench when the JCB clipped a sewage pipe. What flowed out can only be described as a tidal wave of tampons. They had all been bunging up this one pipe section for what must have been years. I did not finish digging that particular hole.
Flushing tampons does serious damage to creatures who live in the sea! Turtles choke on them & so do fish. Ladies, please NEVER flush tampons. Put them in a bin.
I know women who flush napkins because that's what their mamas taught them.
Load More Replies...Lots of things are flushable, doesn't mean you should flush them lol
Soaked used tampons? I could've gone my whole life without seeing that.
Lol I’m assuming you’re a guy. Those aren’t soaked, haha.
Load More Replies...This is the biggest issue we have at our facilities! Women are animals!!
I thought it was common knowledge to never flush feminine hygiene products?
Well mah toilet went crayyyzy yestah-day aftah-newn The plumbah he sezzzz, nevah flush a tam-pewn...
How Not To Stop A Leak
If its wrapped to stop a leak, if it isn't to bad,then tie a string around the faucet,(into the leak, and the water will run down the string into the drain!
No Words
The King Truly lived/died on the throne. We should all be so lucky! Ha!
Load More Replies...Appropriate: On August 16th, 1977, Elvis Presley died in his Graceland mansion on the toilet. (well, on the floor, after he fell off the toilet)
I never liked elvis... his smile LOOKS like something smells bad. so I guess this is perfect.
This Is Why Your Kitchen Drain Backs Up
Prevention tips: 1. Don't use a garbage disposal. They don't work well and people put stupid things in them. Especially vegetable peelings and grease. Wipe your plates/pots/pans out into the garbage. 2. Clean your kitchen drain/pipes with baking soda/vinegar once a month. Instructions can be found on the web. 3. After cleaning with baking soda/vinegar, dump boiling water down the drain, then tap water for a few minutes. Next, dilute half a cup of bleach into a gallon of tap water and dump that down. Your sink will not back up again. Source: 12 years using this method.
Baking soda and vinegar work a treat but check before using bleach. If you have an envirocycle system then bleach is a big no no!
Load More Replies...I've been using "Sani-sticks" or similar product in the kitchen sink - they're grease-eating enzymes that disperse over a month and then you put in a new one.
That did not work for us. Unsure if it's because we have hard water or what, but they did nothing for us.
Load More Replies...What? I thought everyone shat in their sink? The f**k am I supposed to do now? Use a toilet? I'd rather f*****g die. Ma'am that's a bit much, don't you thi- I SAID I'D RATHER F*****G DIE.
As Kate H says. Don’t use garbage disposals. The name itself is a misrepresentation anyway.
Tip #1. Get rid of galvanized pipe. Everyone here wants to play plumber but first off... update your pipes in the drain system. They rot from the inside and that pitted texture will only lead to further leaks and clogs. It as an easy solution. Cast is fine if it’s newer. Galvanized is never good
An Old Water Heater
Hah! That's what an ambulance man once said to me when a lorry hit my car.
Load More Replies...Water? Rust? What's not to understand? All appliances have a life span.
We had an oil hot water heater that happened to. It was being weird, and then we found out the issue was that the oil was leaking into the water... sooo.... I'm pretty sure that took a couple years off us.
Rusted and everything. Surprised but not surprised that they didn’t see or notice it.
That's Not How Venting Works
I’ll take how to give yourself carbon monoxide poisoning for $600, Alex. 🤦🏻♂️
Hose Bib Leaking? Slap Another Valve On!
I have a feeling that the original hose bib is the type which requires a key to turn on and off, this is a pretty easy fix for that inconvenience.
How Not To Stop A Leak
It won't stop the leak, but it will prevent it from spraying onto the framing lumber.
Load More Replies...In a rented apartment, there was one radiator that leaked ever so slightly, and only when the heating was on. A piece of fabric wrapped around the leak and with the bulk of it towards the radiator (for evaporation) took care of the problem for a full ten years!
Found Underground
It's full of urine and pins. To stop witches, apparently. The Muggle obviously doesn't know about apparition.
Load More Replies...That's One Way To Replace A Water Heater
I don't blame him for leaving it. Those things are really heavy when they're filled with sediment.
I suppose it may also be costly to dispose of. If the property is rented and the landlord refused to replace the heater, then it would be pretty dumb to not leave the original one in place.
Load More Replies...What? That's how kidney transplantation is done as well. They leave the bad kidneys in.
I'm almost positive this is my old house, if it is the first one was left because the old furnace was actually to close to it to get it out.
How though? They look like they’re over a foot apart. Building code doesn’t even require that they be that far. A plumber should be able to get this out
Load More Replies...A Homeowner Did His Own Bathroom
I did my bathroom. I went to the local home improvement store, bought some supplies and piped my new sink. Sent a picture to my cousin (a professional plumber) and he said I did a great job; used the purple plumbers glue and all (which is required to be compliance with building codes). Not all DIY projects are terribly done!
50+ Year Old Water Heater
A Valve On A Valve
if your first valve is leaky and you don't know how to solder copper pipe this is one solution.
It's not a question of soldering. The valve nearest the wall has lands for a wrench at the inlet side, which are absent from sweat-valves (valves soldered to copper pipe). Do you want to take a chance trying to un-thread that guy from whatever may be lurking inside the wall, or apply a fix on the outside of the problem? Personally, re-packing the original valve might have been the best option, unless the main shutoff is stuck.
Load More Replies...Plumbers do this all the time. Homeowners are cheapskates, and the union don't care.
Another Handyman Special
The cupboard under my kitchen sink looks worse than this - it was the previous owners handman special. As it works I'm ignoring it for now.
...and I bet a lot of those cleaning products are leaking/expired. Time to go to your town's Hazmat drop-off!
Try Digging Through This
I work in stage building for concerts, they sometimes have to be anchored to the ground. We use 1,30m nails that get pneumo-hammered into the ground. At one event area, there used to be a train station that has been demolished and covered with about 30 cm soil. Which means, after 30 cm we get to have fun with old brick walls and reinforced concrete. These stones shown here are some kid's sandbox against that.
That job takes not only technical skill but a strong stomach! I swear I could almost smell some of those posts they were so gross
People need to treat the skilled laborer with way more respect than they do for this very reason!!!
Load More Replies...Idk how plumbers deal with all this c**p...literally...sorry for the pun. But seriously, my landlord is also a plumber. He’s seen some toe curling things .
Post originally had 35 images. Why bother shortening it by 5? Just leave them all there. I can understand when you shorten 140 to 60, or similar, but this is silly.
I find the responses to 's**t like this happens in real life' hilarious. The 'wealthy', 'woke', 'educated' elitists and many normal everyday people as well tend to forget that the people who do the job of cleaning these messes are important as they look down at them from their lofty heights. In their push for everyone to be 'higher educated' (indoctrinated) they tend to forget that a) some people are not meant to sit in a classroom and learn how to manipulate others emotions... err, learn and b) the people who do your plumbing, building, garbage hauling, grocery scanning, farming, car repairs, bridge repairs, road repairs, welding and thousands of other under-recognized jobs helped to design, build, and continue to maintain this and every other civilized country in the world. c) They are worthy of our respect and acknowledgment. If you don't know who Mike Rowe is, now would be a great time to learn. :)
I don’t think “woke” fits in with what you’re trying to explain here. You need education to be a plumber, they have to apprentice and everything. Wealthy people love real estate and anyone in the business knows that plumbers make good money and are necessary to the process. I wouldn’t compare plumbing to grocery scanning. It takes years of training and skill to be able to handle these plumbing issues.
Load More Replies...I hate being a plumber. If I was one, I would only repair my own toilet.
That job takes not only technical skill but a strong stomach! I swear I could almost smell some of those posts they were so gross
People need to treat the skilled laborer with way more respect than they do for this very reason!!!
Load More Replies...Idk how plumbers deal with all this c**p...literally...sorry for the pun. But seriously, my landlord is also a plumber. He’s seen some toe curling things .
Post originally had 35 images. Why bother shortening it by 5? Just leave them all there. I can understand when you shorten 140 to 60, or similar, but this is silly.
I find the responses to 's**t like this happens in real life' hilarious. The 'wealthy', 'woke', 'educated' elitists and many normal everyday people as well tend to forget that the people who do the job of cleaning these messes are important as they look down at them from their lofty heights. In their push for everyone to be 'higher educated' (indoctrinated) they tend to forget that a) some people are not meant to sit in a classroom and learn how to manipulate others emotions... err, learn and b) the people who do your plumbing, building, garbage hauling, grocery scanning, farming, car repairs, bridge repairs, road repairs, welding and thousands of other under-recognized jobs helped to design, build, and continue to maintain this and every other civilized country in the world. c) They are worthy of our respect and acknowledgment. If you don't know who Mike Rowe is, now would be a great time to learn. :)
I don’t think “woke” fits in with what you’re trying to explain here. You need education to be a plumber, they have to apprentice and everything. Wealthy people love real estate and anyone in the business knows that plumbers make good money and are necessary to the process. I wouldn’t compare plumbing to grocery scanning. It takes years of training and skill to be able to handle these plumbing issues.
Load More Replies...I hate being a plumber. If I was one, I would only repair my own toilet.
