total backtrack
The valve under my sink where I had fitted an outside tap decided to leak last night. I came down to a big puddle on the kitchen floor, and everything under the sink was soaked.
This is pretty funny, (if you enjoy laughing at yourself). When I wrote about it last I had been talking about standards and specifications (in web development)and who needed them. If something works then that's what most people want.
Well it looks like standards and specifications would have been useful for my tap. I probably should have got a plumber out in the first place.
The system I set up worked for a month or so, but has started to leak. This has resulted in me shutting down the system (isolating the water), putting a fall back system in place (bucket under the valve) and doing a big mop up operation. The one good thing I suppose is that the experts (the plumber) will get a nice juicy contract to fix my botch job.
Perhaps getting something 'just to work' is not such a good thing after all.
:-)
Comments
Tell me, how's that flower-bed coming along? And what about those bannisters, done any more work to them?
I'm now concerned for Rebecca's safety...
Posted by: Duggie | June 9, 2003 04:39 PM
The flower bed collapsed into the mine shaft I uncovered when the new foundations I was digging collapsed. The bannisters disappeared when we had that fire, when I had the accident with the meths and the heat gun.
Faithfully Yours,
Frank Spencer
Posted by: jaffs | June 9, 2003 06:09 PM
I know someone who tried to fix a leaking tap and ended up breaking the sink.. Not that I am naming any names, Duggie :)
Posted by: Stephen McCullough | June 10, 2003 01:35 PM
That's funny especially after that cocky post from Duggie earlier.
Posted by: Andy | June 10, 2003 02:11 PM
Incidentally how do you break a sink?...Duggie?
Posted by: Andy | June 10, 2003 02:11 PM
Okay, here's the thing...
The hot water tap in the bathroom developed a drip. I didn't mind this too much because we didn't have hot water at the time (or any heating for that matter! but that's another story...)
Just before Christmas, we got a new heating system installed. The washer in the hot water tap was so old and dozed that it fell apart when the hot water ran through the pipes. A new washer costs about 24p, so, not wanting to waste money unnecessarily, I thought it best to fix the 'constantly running at full power' hot tap.
The tap was about 50 years old and I had a bit of trouble taking it apart to replace the washer. In trying to remove the tap, the basin cracked into several parts. But it did mean I was able to remove the old tap!
I replaced the tap and a section of water pipe, (£5.75 + VAT) but I wasn't able to disguise the broken basin. I went to the plumber's merchant to see about getting a replacement basin. They cost about £70 + VAT so I decided not to bother. The basin still worked, it just meant you couldn't put the plug in and fill it with water because it would pour through the cracks. But it wasn't so bad because you could always use the bath instead!
We lived with it like that for a good five months. I fixed it last month with grip-fill and a fine bead of silicone. You would hardly know that it had ever been broken ;-)
Philippe Starke must be shitting himself.
Posted by: Duggie | June 10, 2003 02:59 PM
Gripfill...Duggie you have to be taking the piss.
I hope that the smiley at the end is an ironic one.
Although in an old student house of mine, I once fixed a door handle with 'No Nails'.
Posted by: Andy | June 10, 2003 03:15 PM
No, grip-fill really did work. I've seen builders using it to secure plasterboard to steel beams running across a ceiling (well, you can't use nails!) - it's an incredibly strong material.
I ran silicone over the crack afterwards to make it a waterproof joint. It isn't a pretty job but I had to do something to fix it - Jaime was growing tired of filling the bath just to wash her face!
Posted by: Duggie | June 10, 2003 03:32 PM
Must resist joke.. must resist... must resist....
Posted by: Stephen McCullough | June 10, 2003 05:17 PM
BAH.. Looking back at that I see that my last statement was very unfair.. Jamie is a great looking girl, how Duggie got her I will never know.
Posted by: Stephen McCullough | June 10, 2003 05:22 PM
This is why I like your blog.
Posted by: Carrie | June 10, 2003 10:33 PM
Thanks Carrie, I always enjoy a good slagging.
But back to the point, this quote is legendary...
'The basin still worked, it just meant you couldn't put the plug in and fill it with water '
How many functions does a basin perform? What other functions did the basin perform that gave the impression it was working?
Posted by: Andy | June 11, 2003 10:21 AM
Yeah Andy, I don't know how I got away with leaving it like that for so many months! You know, we also went for six months without heating - the six months during winter - although that wasn't really my fault. The plumber I wanted to use was very busy. Having said that, I should have left the old heating system in until I knew he was coming...
Posted by: Duggie | June 11, 2003 11:09 AM
Is this the same plumber you stalked? You told me that everytime you drove past his house his van was there and then you would phone him, and he said he was on a job. You scare me Duggie, you really really do.
Posted by: Stephen McCullough | June 11, 2003 11:11 AM
What other functions did the basin perform that gave the impression it was working?
A good phrase for this sort of question is : It was dead on until I tried to use it.
Posted by: Duggie | June 11, 2003 11:11 AM