Moderately Confused by Jeff Stahler for January 07, 2023

Admittedly we DIY’s have done this a time or two…

If only he had stayed at a Holiday Inn Express last night

Hope you have the plumber on speed dial.

Dont knock it until you try it.

I fixed my snowblower that had a bad carb leak it gave me a step by step view of how to remove and replace the old carb with a new one my machine works like new now.

I repaired a sticky thermostat on a radiator thanks to a youtube video. Among other things.

Is it the one where they forgot to shut the water off?

On TikTok? Boo Hiss‼️

Careful – it’s a trap!

Been there, done that. Whatever you need to do, chances are someone has already done it and posted it on YouTube. Even if they screw it up, you can learn from their mistakes.

Yeah, i’ve heard of Lou Manfredini.

My problem isn’t fixing something—my problem is not breaking it taking it apart.

I’ve fixed a few things based on YouTube videos. However, I am smart enough to know when not to try something: I stayed away from the YouTube videos on how to do brain surgery for example.

When it comes to being a handyman, on a scale of 1 to 10, I am about a 6. This is not all of one piece. In some areas I do better than others. For example, for electrical stuff I am about an 8, for carpentry about a 5 and for plumbing a -3.

I have found that it’s best to watch more than just one video about the project that I am facing. It’s good to compare tools and methods.

I wouldn’t try to fix my plumbing, but I’ve fixed just about everything else in my house with help from the YT….

Maybe good idea to watch a couple of videos before calling a repairperson, just to be sure one knows what is to be done and how. Gives one a little help in negotiations.

Also recommend that when one asks for an estimate for work around the home, one should ask for an itemized list of parts and prices and a reasonable estimate of the time needed.

Why? I accepted a price-only estimate for deck and step repair from a repairman highly recommended by a neighbor. Later – too late – I looked at the finished job, which was mediocre and would need more work to get it properly done. Just to check I listed the parts and priced them at my local hardware store. Total about $250 – at a stretch. That left labor costs for 3 hours work – $1250.

So my neighbor, who I thought was pretty sharp, and I had been taken to the same cleaners. Lesson learned. Get the list, go online and check the parts prices, then find out what an approximate hourly wage is for that work. If the guy doesn’t want to give you an itemized estimate, then look elsewhere.

And, never ever, go with just one estimate. The outcome is in your hands, not theirs.

We reference it at work all the time for computer repair. At home I’ve used it not so much for repairs but moreso for basic maintenance of plumbing, auto, HVAC, lawnmower, etc.

Here he goes again……….?

Need to watch at least 3

Sadly this is becoming the way of the world. The trades are in desperate need of people coming in to learn the trades as the older workers continue to retire. When you run into that wall of “Well I guess I can’t fix it myself after all,” the cost and time it takes to get it fixed will be not only longer but more expensive.

I suppose it helps being innately handy and having experience doing almost everything construction-related, but generally, yeah: I watch one YouTube video and I get a new skill.

I’ve repaired my dryer belt, washing machine dogs, and toilet tank after watching YT videos. Also found certain obscure knitting stitches, crochet and other crafts. I’m grateful for the folks who share their useful knowledge with the rest of us.

Reminds me of a handyman van that said, “We can fix what your husband repaired”.

Typically when you hear the words ‘trust me’, you don’t.

M son has become disabled after agree 50. He keeps coming at me with everything from recipes to repairs telling me. “I watched it on You tube, is easy” I try to understand what is like to be an adult no longer capable of doing these things. But really. Making butter and fixing deaths are not easy. I’m 71, I can no longer crawl under a sink. And many of those videos edit out the time and energy needed.You tube can be useful, but if the repair is really important I’m going to call someone who can do it right. This is my home we’re talking about.And I have no intention of squeezing cheesecloth to make butter which is something neither of us should be eating in the first place.

It’s how most people learn things now. I learned to do a quilt and I often find helpful videos for issues in my website business. Hubby has done plumbing with YouTube too!

Make sure you turn off water supply lines big guy

Back during Covid, I would hear about nursing students studying remotely — not just meds or anatomy, but clinical work. I really don’t want medical personnel saying “I saw this on YouTube”.