small rant about plumbing breakages & their timing

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Why does it always break, or at least get noticed, AFTER the hardware stores close?...

here i was about to wash a sink full of dishes, and I notice the rug in front of the sink is wet. open the cabinet front, there is a standing puddle that has made it's way to the front of the cabinet.
start pulling all the [censored] out from under there to see if i can see the leak. finally see a drip off the bottom of the trap, and what looks like fine food particles on the outside of the trap. So grab a drip pan, and start pulling things apart (plastic pipe w/ compression fittings) notice all sorts of tan "build up" in the threads. so off to the bathroom sink to scrub-a-dub the ends so we can get a tight seal, and while doing so what do i see, but cracks in both ends of the trap right though said threads.
and of course i notice the cracks @ 10pm. and the 24 hr stores around here have cut WAAYY back on their plumbing suplies. I might be able to find a toilet kit, or a bathroom sink drain kit, but a 1.5' p trap? no siree bob.

and we are getting our first real snow of the season tonight, calling for 2-4"( to which people around here act like the world is ending - anytime there is more than an inch of snow in the forecast, "OMG I have to run to the Grocery and stock up NOW in case I'm stuck in the house for a couple days!!" - EVERY TIME) so first thing in the morning, clear the driveway, then off to the hardware store.

now i just need to remember to stuff a rag in the open drain line....
 
Originally Posted By: earlyre
Why does it always break, or at least get noticed, AFTER the hardware stores close?...

Because we are using those sink, bathtub, shower ... after dinner and at that time we discover the problem(s) and at the same time the stores are closing.
 
I always have spares for kitchen sink drain basket assembly.

Came to save the day many, many times so far, so having a spare on-hand proven to be an invaluable lesson for me so far.

Also: stock up on Delta kitchen faucet rubber cups (bought a large bag from ePrey sometime ago), saved the day again last week when I serviced the single handle monitoring shower valve assembly.

Q.
 
Originally Posted By: earlyre

and we are getting our first real snow of the season tonight, calling for 2-4"( to which people around here act like the world is ending - anytime there is more than an inch of snow in the forecast, "OMG I have to run to the Grocery and stock up NOW in case I'm stuck in the house for a couple days!!" - EVERY TIME)


crackmeup2.gif


Off topic a bit but we got snow for the second time this fall/winter recently, and the same exact thing happened around here. It was this huge deal that we were going to get between dusting to 2"-3" of snow. It never fails, anytime there is snow in the forecast, the bread aisle at the grocery store is wiped out.
 
Things like to go wrong on Friday night. That way, even if Home Depot is open on the weekend, the store that carries the specialized part that you need won't be. Saturday night is even better, since even fewer stores will be open Sunday.
 
Originally Posted By: earlyre
Why does it always break, or at least get noticed, AFTER the hardware stores close?...

Murphy's Rule Number XX.xx

Quote:
here i was about to wash a sink full of dishes, and I notice the rug in front of the sink is wet. open the cabinet front, there is a standing puddle that has made it's way to the front of the cabinet.
start pulling all the [censored] out from under there to see if i can see the leak. finally see a drip off the bottom of the trap, and what looks like fine food particles on the outside of the trap. So grab a drip pan, and start pulling things apart (plastic pipe w/ compression fittings) notice all sorts of tan "build up" in the threads. so off to the bathroom sink to scrub-a-dub the ends so we can get a tight seal, and while doing so what do i see, but cracks in both ends of the trap right though said threads.

1. Wrap the threads in multiple layers of teflon tape. But not so much that you can't screw the nut back on. You could also use silicone or painters caulk in a pinch. No worries.

Quote:
and we are getting our first real snow of the season tonight, calling for 2-4"( to which people around here act like the world is ending - anytime there is more than an inch of snow in the forecast, "OMG I have to run to the Grocery and stock up NOW in case I'm stuck in the house for a couple days!!" - EVERY TIME)

I thought you yankees up North laughed at winter weather? Sounds like you've been invaded by wusses who panic first without thinking, much less prepping.

CLS: Chicken Little Syndrome

Same thing here except they either drive WAAAY to slow at the slightest HINT of sleet or they're flying down the freeway doing 70mph like it's July. Same song for rain...they feel invincible in their 4-wheel drive SUV/truck/whatever and drive through flooded low-water crossing, take sharp turns at speed, all the while talking on the $%^# phone. They're either spun out in the median, off in a ditch or dead after being washed down the now-flooded-creek.

Idiots.....
 
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