Everyone says to use a stud finder but I think they're a waste of time

I was hanging a heavy mirror in my living room and decided to just tap the wall to find the studs, which worked fine for years. This time I hit a pipe behind the drywall and caused a small flood that cost me about $300 to fix. Do you guys actually trust those electronic stud finders or do you have a better method?

3 comments

3 Comments

shane_rivera1mo ago

You hit a pipe? That's my nightmare right there. I used to be the same way, thinking I could just knock and guess. Then I put a screw right into an electrical wire behind my bedroom wall. The bang and the flash scared me half to death. I bought a decent stud finder the next day and I won't even hang a picture frame without it now. Those things aren't perfect, but they're a whole lot better than causing a flood or starting a fire.

wyattbaker1mo ago

Ever figure out what kind of wire you hit? Just curious if it was a live line or something low voltage.

angelapalmer16d ago

People skip the right tool because they've gotten away with it before. They'll change their own oil without a drain pan, then act surprised when the driveway is ruined. They'll wire a plug without turning off the breaker until they get a shock. Your flood is just the home repair version of that. A stud finder is cheap insurance against a way bigger bill.