Plumb amazing

 

1. when something isn’t working right, take it apart, clean it up, lubricate it if necessary, and put it back together.

   Just did that with my wife!

   Posted by Christopher       07/07/2014  at  12:06 AM  



2. Only the kitchen sink backs up in the laundry room - a plumbers snake and a homemade unclogging brew - did a good job - looks like we will have to do the brew again - perhaps daily until we figure out where the clog is. But at least I’m not having to do the dishes in the bathtub anymore.

   Posted by wardmama4       07/07/2014  at  06:36 AM  



3. Wardmama - dishes in the tub - reminds me of camping! 

   Gallons of boiling water often does the trick for slowly running drains; most of the clogs are from soap or from cooking grease, both of which melt in boiling water. That, and a modern design well made bellows plunger - 3 times better than the old “suction cup” style plunger, but good luck finding one with a solid sturdy handle. The only trick is to make sure you’ve got enough water in the sink/tub to be pumping water with it, not air. Hydraulics, not pneumatics. 4 pumps and the clog is almost always gone.

   Posted by Drew458       07/07/2014  at  09:50 AM  



4. Wardmama the “brew” I use is just sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Pour a big slug of powder followed up with hot water (not boiling and make sure you wear safety glasses) and it usually clears out any obstruction. Its the same stuff they sell in stores minus the aluminium flakes but at a fraction of the cost.

   Posted by LyndonB       07/07/2014  at  12:55 PM  



5. Lyndon - thanks for the idea - but we had to put in a new connection after the tree in front damaged the pipe to the street - and we have to be careful on the caustic stuff - hubby says that was one of the things mentioned. I thought it might be that damn tree again - until I realized it is only the kitchen sink (no tub, no washing machine). So since this homemade brew, hot H2O and the snake got it almost completely -so I don’t have to do the dishes in the tub - we will do it again and again and again - until it runs fine and clear.

   Better than what happened in our home in KY - I was attempting to fix a drippy cold water knob - and the rusty thing popped and I had a gusher. It would have been funny but when I went to turn off the water - that one was rusted open. Had to call the town water guys to come shut ‘er down outside. Lucky they came quickly as did a real plumber.

   It’s what I always hated about being in the military - having to crap shoot every new contact in a new town. In KY one of my friends was great at sniffing out the good ones. But here I’ve been disappointed - even with recommendations from friends who have been here for their entire lives - very disappointed with a number of important recommendations - and then I have to go search on my own. Same with Docs now - we have been dropped twice already (in a mere 10 years). Never happened before - I only had one Dentist retire - and I liked the guy who bought his practice more than the old one.

   We are both kinda of handy - my d-i-l is a whiz (her Dad made her work for him - as does her Mom) - and my son took after his Dad (my ex) and is totally clueless on how to even start.

   Oh well - we will muddle through - always have, always will.

   Posted by wardmama4       07/08/2014  at  10:54 AM  

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