So, Saturday Night At 11 Pm, I Was Finished
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 5
From: Pflugerville, TX
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
My wife said she had meant to tell me a few days ago...
That the side yard was squishy...
The spinning water meter, with the house shut off: not a Good Thing.
The valve to shut the supply by the meter: dripping. Tightened the packing and it stopped.
The copper line running from the meter: being impinged upon by the concrete meter pipe, but not broken yet
The PVC feed from the water softener to the house: dripping from a cracked elbow and spraying in 3 places from a broken adapter.
Note to the previous homeowner: when you splice a repair into the downpipe, add length so the horizontal bits stay buried to avoid freezing in the winter. Also, if 3 feet of pipe has 4 splices and an unnecessary part, consider replacing the whole thing (like I just did last night).
If you ever have to dig out pipes that are buried in clay, backfill it with sand, not the old clay and the next time somebody is down there they will be thanking you as they dig out wet sand instead of wet clay that you can't even get off the shovel with another shovel.
Thank God, I saved about $500 in plumber's bills because the total repair cost me $0 and about an hour by myself and 5 hours donated by two of the brothers at my church, who also happened to have all the appropriate fittings but one. I was able to custom fabricate the one we needed. B.R. and D.R., thanks again.
fing02.gif
Monday: to Home Depot to get the parts required to eliminate all the unnecessary splices and bury the main line from the street, as well as sand to fill in the holes.
That the side yard was squishy...
The spinning water meter, with the house shut off: not a Good Thing.
The valve to shut the supply by the meter: dripping. Tightened the packing and it stopped.
The copper line running from the meter: being impinged upon by the concrete meter pipe, but not broken yet
The PVC feed from the water softener to the house: dripping from a cracked elbow and spraying in 3 places from a broken adapter.
Note to the previous homeowner: when you splice a repair into the downpipe, add length so the horizontal bits stay buried to avoid freezing in the winter. Also, if 3 feet of pipe has 4 splices and an unnecessary part, consider replacing the whole thing (like I just did last night).
If you ever have to dig out pipes that are buried in clay, backfill it with sand, not the old clay and the next time somebody is down there they will be thanking you as they dig out wet sand instead of wet clay that you can't even get off the shovel with another shovel.
Thank God, I saved about $500 in plumber's bills because the total repair cost me $0 and about an hour by myself and 5 hours donated by two of the brothers at my church, who also happened to have all the appropriate fittings but one. I was able to custom fabricate the one we needed. B.R. and D.R., thanks again.
fing02.gif
Monday: to Home Depot to get the parts required to eliminate all the unnecessary splices and bury the main line from the street, as well as sand to fill in the holes.
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 11,992
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From: Washington D.C.
Vehicle: Hyundai Tiburon FX
yeah those jobs can be a pain, but well worth it when you do them right. luckily our house was built in the 60's when "Made in USA" actually stood for something.
good you saved some cash too! i think everyone should know a thing or two about home repairs. i know enough, but not as much as i'd really like.
good you saved some cash too! i think everyone should know a thing or two about home repairs. i know enough, but not as much as i'd really like.
Thread Starter
Super Moderator
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 10,795
Likes: 5
From: Pflugerville, TX
Vehicle: 2000 Elantra
Repairs: try it, you can't make it better without trying and it was already busted anyway right?
God gave me a good mind for figuring stuff out, and my dad was handy too, so that helps. Home Depot has a big book of home repairs that you might have a look at if you want to build confidence. Full color glossy pictures and e'rythang.
God gave me a good mind for figuring stuff out, and my dad was handy too, so that helps. Home Depot has a big book of home repairs that you might have a look at if you want to build confidence. Full color glossy pictures and e'rythang.