VACATION TIME AGAIN

Yeah, I know.  I listed this under irritations.  Where else would I put my vacation time?

Know why?

Other than the previous mentioned happenings, the vacation seems to fit the mold (what an appropriate term), of what I have become accustomed to, as far as vacations go.

Worked on the first day.  Though I did enjoy a fantastic meal afterward and visit with CK and Chew.

Then had a tooth go crazy on day two.  But not until AFTER I messed with the lawn (shouldn't complain about that though, it needed it and I would have hated to do it with a tooth gone bad first).

Wiped out from the tooth and the dentist on day 3.  Nuff said.

Still sore with the tooth and ended up spending all my functioning time chasing parts for the projects at home.  (which still needed to be done.)  And so ended day 4.

Felt pretty good on day 5 and tackled the plumbing projects I had lined up: replace the water hammer arrestor on the water heater, the smaller arrestor for the dishwasher, rebuild the kitchen faucet, repack the outdoor faucet, and price water softeners.

In the process of trying to get the larger water hammer arrestor off, I couldn't.  The union holding it had corroded solid.  OK.  Torch time.  But first...off for more parts.

Got the parts and in the process of tearing into that, I noticed I had a leak at the shut-off valve in the same line (the one going to the water heater).  Alright.  First the tank, then the leak.

Tank done, I attacked the leak.  Took off the water supply line to the humidifier and lit the torch.  Problem.  We had the heater replaced not too long ago.  Looked like it had been tight and stable at the time, as in...NO LEAKS VISIBLE.  However, the problem is, it seems the solder the plumber used is of a higher melting temp than the torch I own can handle.  If I hold the flame on "one" spot long enough, that spot melts, but not the rest of the joint.

After using up most of a tank of gas, it became apparent that the entire run would have to be replaced.  I had to go to one of the joints I did lo-o-o-n-g ago when I put the arrestor in the first time.  Terrific.  Back to the store to buy more parts.  But not till tomorrow as we needed water to survive the night.

As I cleaned up the mess I created so far, I noticed one of the joints on the arrestor was leaking.  I used Teflon paste on the threads, following directions, but I guess our water pressure exceeded the 10,000 lb. range the stuff was good for.  I mean, after all, it leaked!

And by the time I finished checking that out, the water line to the humidifier decided it wanted to join the party and leak also.

OK, fine.  Eight hours working on a ladder, making coffee from water pitchers, and all I have to show for my efforts are three leaks.  (don't even ask about what I did for other uses of water...if you catch my drift.)

ARRRGGHHH!!!...More tomorrow.

Home-projects happens.

Comments

[bod]

hmmm it's never dull in your house is it?!

[bogie]

I should have told WS to head your way for a while - he could help you break, er, fix stuff.

[CK]

And the tradition continues... Another vacation down and thousands of dollars spent! Good luck.