January 1, 2011

First post of the year.  I was hoping for something spectacular to say but haven’t got anything.

I replaced the faucet and drain in the downstairs bathroom.  I had to make only one trip to the hardware store.  Whenever you do plumbing, the broken part is always connected to something else that is about to break.  I had one spare part in the basement, but had to go out for another.  Faucet and sink working now.  No more dripping.

I also fixed a pin-hole leak in a water pipe in the basement.  It was very strange.  My son found a giant puddle on the floor and I thought we had leakage from outside.  There was water all over the wall and on the workbench.  I couldn’t figure it out.  Then we heard this strange hissing sound.  It was water hitting a plastic bag on the workbench.  I followed the water up to the pipe with my hand, because the spray was too fine to see.

I didn’t have parts to fix it right then (have bought spare pieces since then), so I hooked up a plastic bag around the leak, with a hose running from the bag to a bucket on the floor.  The bucket was filling at a rate of about 1 gallon every four hours.  So I could empty it when I went to bed, when I got up, and then when I got home from work.  Although, we had to empty it during the day because it was getting too full.

I ended up fixing it by just cutting the pipe at the hole, and then reconnecting the two ends with a union joint.  Soldered correctly the first time (in tight quarters too), with no swearing.  A first for me.   :)

Today its 50 °F outside and I am going for a run.  I don’t have long before I have to leave for church, so I will need to hustle and get my butt outside.  I may wear shorts and long sleeved shirt.

I hope everyone had a safe New Year’s Eve.  Hoping you all have a great 2011.