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Comment by howunfortunate | Hacker News Reader

Oh no my toilet broke, the hardware store is 45 minutes away, and I have work and kids. Don't worry, I don't want the replacement part overnight. It arrives when it arrives!

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If it’s a Lowes you can get the parts delivered next day. And you’ll know the threads are compatible. Most of the stuff I’ve gotten on Amazon technically fits NPT fittings but it leaks really badly unless you coat it with thread tape because the threads are the incorrect profile.

Lowes is even better than that - they'll often cancel your order the very same day!

Saves you the frustration of wondering if they'll actually deliver.

https://toolguyd.com/another-horrible-lowes-shopping-experie...

So weird to see this right after I had Lowe’s cancel my order the first time I bought something from them online. I didn’t even choose special shipping, I just wanted them to send me an item they had in stock.

let's be honest most people on here are buying USB cables, videogames and other non-essentials

Most people call a plumber.

Most wealthy people do. But there's a whole lot of folks who can't really justify paying $200 for a plumber service call to replace a $20 part in the toilet tank.

> But there's a whole lot of folks who can't really justify paying $200 for a plumber service call to replace a $20 part in the toilet tank.

You guys are hilarious. Where are you going to get such cheap plumbers?

I just had a plumber out for nontrivial work. Definitely over $200 per hour!

(Although I will say: If you have CPVC pipes, best to call a plumber and tell them up front you have CPVC and let them take the liability...)

It's not a class thing: Poor folks get stuck with bills for high-priced services too just like the rest of us. Outside the HN commentor demographic, most people do not know how to fix a toilet and cannot or actively choose not to learn.

I suppose most homeowners would do that, but since I am a tenant in a rental, I contact my landlady, file a normal maintenance request, and then stop worrying about it.

Repairs and maintenance of all standard appliances are included in my rent. That's the deal. It's amazingly worry-free, as long as we can choose a responsible and reliable landlord. Homeowners need to worry about every little detail at their own expense. I could never imagine such hassle. I worry enough about health care!

Eh - most toilet repairs are doable with the help of Youtube videos (the primary benefit of Youtube for me).

I agree, and I do all of my own toilet/plumbing repairs because I'm a DIY type. I'm just saying most people are not DIY types and hence call a plumber for basically any issue with their plumbing or fixtures.

This guy DIYs

I ain't waiting overnight for a toilet part. If it isn't in my plumbing box, we're taking a trip.

Your nearest hardware store is 45mins away and you dont have the tools on hand to fix a toliet?

You keep all the parts for toilet repair around just in case? Do you live on a navy vessel?

Most toilets are not mil-spec. "All the parts" can be one universal Fluidmaster universal toilet repair kit, $25 at any home depot. I have one on the shelf in my garage.

Actually, yeah. Wax rings, gaskets, supply lines, maybe a flap. Maybe not an entire fill valve, but they're available at any small hardware store.

Yes… because places like Amazon mean I don’t have to :) that’s the point!

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