If I’ve been silent for too long (I have), it’s because my house seems to be self-destructing at the moment. It’s a sturdy old place, built in the 1950s, but there are plenty of things you don’t want to remain vintage. Under-sink pipes and valves, for instance. When our kitchen sink began to endlessly drip, I took to YouTube to see how difficult the replacement would be. Honestly, it didn’t look that bad. Why pay for parts and a plumber when it’s nothing but wrench work?

On paper, there were no problems. The steps were simple, but their execution would bring only madness. First, I would need to shut off the water valves. Easy, right? It should be, provided you don’t also find 10 years of hard water buildup and corrosion under your sink. In hindsight, that would’ve been a good time to recognize possible difficulties and call a professional.

“Never!” I declared as I ran back to YouTube for solutions. I prepared a receptacle for runoff vinegar and put a bottle of CLR on standby. But before declaring chemical warfare on the stuck valve, I utilized a secret technique passed down for generations: wiggling the handle a bunch. Admittedly, it took a lot of wiggling, but at least that was one step complete.

Round two! As instructed, I laid down some rolled up towels for absorption and back padding and climbed uncomfortably deep into the cabinet. Unfortunately, the valve wasn’t the only corroded mess under there. Both hoses were fused to the old faucet with greenish-white crud and the mounting nuts were rusted in place.

For the hoses, I spent way too much time determining how much needed to be salvaged to keep our ice maker functional. I did what I could about the nuts with brute force and a basin wrench, but one of them proved immovable. The day was saved thanks to a handy tool I didn’t know existed until this week: the nut splitter. Brutal naming aside, this thing helped me deal with the only problem that had brought the repair to a full stop. The rest was just removal, disposal, and the installation of smooth, clean parts.

Sure I succeeded, but not without a great deal of stress and the loss of several evenings. But I assure you, I’m not just jotting all this down to complain. I come bearing the wisdom of experience. Firstly, turn your water valves off and on at least once a year to prevent buildup from jamming them up. You want them working when water needs to be shut off quickly. Secondly, unless you’re already experienced/equipped for pipe troubles, call a plumber.

I know it’s more expensive than doing it yourself. I do. But you know what? This repair included plenty of hidden expenses (basin wrench, nut splitter, penetrating oil, the new sink and hoses) and had me ready to commit violence. If a reputable plumber gets the job done in 30 minutes and then hands you a sizable bill, it’s okay. They just make it look easy. What they do for a living is hard… and gross. Trust me, they’re worth it. You’re worth it.