Still, No Running Water

Discussion in 'Home Improvement' started by Frank Sanoica, Sep 30, 2019.

  1. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    10,619
    @Thomas Stearn
    Yes, we think it did. Suspect the leak was slow at first, slow for a long time, then suddenly the fitting failed, and my wife heard the gushing sound. The past month's usage was only slightly more than the same month last year. Our water usage varies month to month with the great variation we see in temperatures. Lowest usage in winter, highest in summer, when the plants and trees need water more often.
    Frank
     
    #16
    Thomas Stearn and Bobby Cole like this.
  2. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    10,619
    Today we got water! A nice half-price buffet lunch first as motivator, then tore into it. Had to go in and out twice, each trip merciless by way of groveling on hands and knees over the same rocks as seen on the rest of the property, and skinnying under a low-hanging pipe about 14 inches off the ground. Called out to my wife who exercised a vigil in the bedroom above the hole. Turn on water for a few seconds; some visible in the tubing, "turn on full blast"! She did. No leaks. But the weight of the heavy fittings sagged the tubing down more that I liked, so I crawled painfully out, made up a support in the shop, went back in and supported them. Here are the tools I "drug" under with me:

    [​IMG]
    The failed parts are at the bottom.

    My replacement parts are of this type:
    [​IMG]

    There was even humor extant. Asked my wife to bring my towel, I was all wet outside having hosed the dust off my coveralls........ready to shower on the patio! She laughingly said, "You a-hole"! You shower in the shower inside! Maybe I blushed! 34 days without a running faucet, or filling toilet, shoulders aching from carrying 5-gallon buckets of water daily, many trips. I wondered about how many people worldwide, perhaps a billion, who live this way (or worse) constantly.

    We are fortunate! Me especially! I can say with pretty good assurance that my repair will not fail.
    Frank
     
    #17
  3. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    Congratulations on a job well done, Frank. I know both you and your wife are thrilled to have water again.
     
    #18
  4. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    10,619
    @Beth Gallagher
    Thank you kindly! Thrilled beyond measure!
    Frank
     
    #19
  5. Thomas Stearn

    Thomas Stearn Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2018
    Messages:
    2,690
    Likes Received:
    2,530
    That must give you a great deal of satisfaction, Frank. Really well done.

    The new parts look solid. Where did you get them from? Did you know what exactly you'd need and bought them in advance? Why did the old parts fail and what did you do to prevent that for the future? How high is the water pressure in your home?

    I don't see a saw so I guess you cut the pipe with that boxcutter. Did you seal up the pipe?
    Any idea what a professional plumber would have done differently? Would he have accepted the job at all?
    I know, quite a few questions. :D Take your time to answer them and only do that when you're in the mood.
     
    #20
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2019
    Frank Sanoica likes this.
  6. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2015
    Messages:
    6,508
    Likes Received:
    8,960
    I think that's a pipe cutter underneath the vise grips.

    @Frank Sanoica the image doesn't show for me just now. I try again later.
     
    #21
    Beth Gallagher likes this.
  7. Bobby Cole

    Bobby Cole Supreme Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2015
    Messages:
    13,054
    Likes Received:
    24,629
    Great move with the shark bites @Frank Sanoica !
    They’re expensive but I have never had one fail so I truly believe you’ll never have to go back to that union again.

    Now, how much muscle and joint pain reliever have you had to use since the whole episode? I was thinking of giving you a figurative pat on the back for braving it out and doing it yourself but there probably isn’t a good spot to pat that wouldn’t hurt.
     
    #22
  8. Von Jones

    Von Jones Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2015
    Messages:
    6,508
    Likes Received:
    8,960
  9. Bess Barber

    Bess Barber Veteran Member
    Task Force Registered

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2019
    Messages:
    3,760
    Likes Received:
    7,600
  10. Beth Gallagher

    Beth Gallagher Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2018
    Messages:
    20,311
    Likes Received:
    42,316
    I imagine that your neighbors are glad you're not showering on the patio anymore, too. :D
     
    #25
    Frank Sanoica likes this.
  11. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    10,619
    @Beth Gallagher
    Only the satellites know.......
    Frank
     
    #26
    Thomas Stearn and Beth Gallagher like this.
  12. Frank Sanoica

    Frank Sanoica Supreme Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2016
    Messages:
    9,297
    Likes Received:
    10,619
    @Thomas Stearn "The new parts look solid. Where did you get them from? Did you know what exactly you'd need and bought them in advance? Why did the old parts fail and what did you do to prevent that for the future? How high is the water pressure in your home?"

    I buy such material from a local Ace Hardware, 2 miles from our home. Yes, I had looked over the situation first, and knew how to approach it, and what parts I wanted to use. The splicing was done using "PEX" plastic tubing which is made from High Density Polyethylene, very rugged and strong.

    "Why did the old parts fail and what did you do to prevent that for the future? How high is the water pressure in your home?"

    The failure resulted from improper positioning of the clamps installed by a Plumber about a year ago. The replacement fittings I used, as described by @Bobby Cole are very durable and strong, though costlier, and are also prone to difficulty due to improper installation. Our water pressure is decidedly higher than needed, running about 70-80 pounds per square inch. We are considering installing a pressure regulator.
    Frank
     
    #27
    Thomas Stearn and Bobby Cole like this.
  13. Thomas Stearn

    Thomas Stearn Veteran Member
    Registered

    Joined:
    Apr 21, 2018
    Messages:
    2,690
    Likes Received:
    2,530
    Thanks for your answers, Frank. Interesting read. My water pressure used to be less than 50psi maintained by a pressure regulator. PEX tubing is probably a good choice in your situation which does not necessarily require metal tubes. So enjoy the comfort again and for ever. You'll be somebody's hero again. I'm sure.:D
     
    #28
    Frank Sanoica and Bobby Cole like this.

Share This Page