Plumbing Day

[[JiF][AARP]Tissueman]

Yesterday was plumbing day. After many weeks of ignoring the wife's requests to fix the leaking toilet and lavatory valves I finally decided to tackle them both in one day. I hate plumbing repair most. You have to shut off the water then take something apart that just doesn't want to come apart. Then you fumble through those giant packs of miscellaneous washers to find the right one.

I decided just to go to the supplier that we bought the stuff from and pay the premium for GENUINE parts. First, the toilet. I replaced the flapper and now it is leak free. Next came the leaking valve. It just dribbled out of the top of the valve stem. I wasn't quite sure how to take it apart, but finally figured it out. Since it is a 'washerless' faucet, you don't replace the washer (duh). You get to buy a whole new cartridge. I put the old wrench to the cartridge and the whole assembly started to rotate. I got another wrench and a flash light and crawled under the sink. I positioned the wrench then carefully moved out so I could put the other wrench on the cartridge. Now I've got both arms at just about full extension and can generate absolutely no torque. I can't generate much under ideal circumstances so this is not good.

I leave for a while and think. Maybe some liquid wrench will help. Apply liquid wrench. Wait. Try again. Think of plan C or D or E. Finally after about three more attempts I decided to just wait until my wife got home and get her to hold a wrench. It didn't work any better. The only person who generates even less torque than me is her.

I finally figure I'll have to wait for a son-in-law to show up so I just put the whole thing back together. Guess what? It doesn't leak any more. And I only had to go to the hardware store once after I bought the parts because my plumber's putty was now plumber's rock. I used less than 1 percent of the new supply I bought. I'm sure it will be hard as a rock the next time I need it.

Anybody need a brand new cartridge? It's shiny.

[[JiF]Lt Gav]

Oh the mad mad world of you retirees!

Fair play to you Tissue. If I have any plumbing jobs I find it much easier to pick up the phone. I don't do fiddly domestic stuff like that. Never was too much good with jobs that required hands & patience. My model planes all used to end up with a frosted glass cockpit where I managed to get glue everywhere.

[[JiF]Stepovich]

I could have used you yesterday Tissue-
Water heater in our "new" house went, had to pop a new one in.
I went with Bruno, my trusty plumber- I can do just about anything
in the house, but I draw the line at plumbing and major electric

[[JiF][AARP]Tissueman]

I was brushing my teeth this AM when the toilet made that little fill noise indicating it is leaking. Fortunately this is not the one I fixed, but I'll have to run back to the parts store and get another flapper. No sooner did that happen when I turned on the cold water tap and it leaked at the top again. I'm not sure how long it will take my wife to notice, but I'll have to try to fix it when my son-in-law is around this weekend. He has muscles. Sigh.

[Sir Die-a-lot]

I'm not sure how long it will take my wife to notice, .

Faster than you can say 'Oh hon, use the other bathroom'

[[JiF][AARP]Grimp]

I had one of those cartridge ones and it became welded together. I just got another faucet. It was easier than trying to cover up all the channel lock pliers marks Of course then I had to lay on the floor which is always requires a 911 call to get me back up

[[JiF]Stepovich]

I had one of those cartridge ones and it became welded together. I just got another faucet. It was easier than trying to cover up all the channel lock pliers marks Of course then I had to lay on the floor which is always requires a 911 call to get me back up

That would explain those long spawn times

I watched my plumber put in the new hot water tank, I told him it looked easy and that I'd be putting in the next one.
"Go ahead" he replied, I thought he might fall over laughing.
How insulting...

[[JiF][AARP]Grimp]

I have done plenty of electric hot water heaters. It's really not hard at all, but that's a lot of voltage. Not to be messed with if you don't know what you are doing. Same with gas. Easy if you know what you are doing. Bad if it kills you or takes out half your neighborhood

[[JiF]Stepovich]

Oh, absolutely!
I don't mess with n.gas- which is what mine is.

It's a running joke with my plumber, he just installed all the
fixtures after the renovations so i told him I was only paying
50% for the stuff I could have done myself
He and i go way back, so I have to keep him on his toes