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IrishAyes

(6,151 posts)
4. Oh, I'm more than willing to go straight to the pros - when they're available.
Sat Jan 17, 2015, 09:27 PM
Jan 2015

Such is not always the case, even at a king's ransom. Which I simply don't have.

At least plumbers putty never hardens and you can always find a good use for it. As for the rescue tape, it did help a lot.

Update: I finally reached a guy who's head of the maintenance dept at the hospital- he does all sorts of things on the side. Since he works just about 24 hours a day, he can be impossible to get a response from. But last night I actually found him at home when I called, and he answered even though he knew it was me - which made me feel good.

He came out and checked everything over this morning before going back to the hospital on an emergency call. Looked under the house and still no water on the ground. When I told him how suddenly the cold water had stopped, even on a warmish morning, he said he was almost sure that a piece of ice had broken off and created a clog. If I hadn't been able to reach the water department to come shut off the main so quickly, he said the ice clog would've melted soon and I'd probably have had full service yesterday afternoon.

BUT he is going to come back Monday after work and replace the last of the pvc with pex pipe, increase the insulation around the pipes, and put a whole-house shut off valve for me in the laundry room because that's where all the water branches out to other destinations. Then if there is another emergency, real or just apparent when the water dept can't be reached, I could be sure to stop a flood inside the house even if water was gushing underneath. He's going to bring insulation he had left over from another job so I don't have to buy that.

Sadly it's against the law to put my own shutoff valve this side of the city shutoff valve - have to do it AFTER the city main goes under the house. Far as I'm concerned I should be able to shut OFF the city valve to my own property if I wanted to. I'm sure they're more concerned about someone who hasn't paid turning it ON. What do you want to bet I could find out how to do that, though? THEY wouldn't know unless my meter read activity after they shut it off for nonpayment - which won't happen.

Back to the news: the pastor called and said the church would fund my plumbing costs! The lady who thought my dissatisfaction with sponge baths was silly, started hauling water for me until I can get my plumbing straightened out. Another lady finally called and said she'd take me to her house for a shower. I'm clean now! Actually happy, I dare say.

I've even been given referral to another young man just starting out as a handyman. But he's learned the skills at his father's knee, so age doesn't count against him. And he doesn't believe in robbing the poor. At least for now, he's willing to work for $10 an hour. If he comes over for a job and does it quicker than anticipated, I'll still give him a bonus if his price is less than his quote. I play fair as possible.

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Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Frugal and Energy Efficient Living»When you have a slow leak...»Reply #4