My plumbing adventure (w/ a cycling tie-in)

[mdeth1313]

Ah, it's been awhile, so here's my latest distraction from cycling--
last tuesday when I got home from work my wife said,"I need to show you something." Downstairs, a "soft-spot" appeared in the ceiling, directly below the kitchen sink and dishwasher. I pulled the soft ceiling down (about 6 x 8 in area) and pulled some wet insulation out to reveal the abs piping that leads to the septic. It had some water on the outside, but not much. It was wet in there. When I ran the kitchen sink, there was a trickle of water coming out. So, I pulled out the dishwasher and there's the drain pipe- about 8 inches had fractured on two sides, 180 degrees apart- when the water came down and hit the joint and started to turn 90 degrees, it was leaking- fortunately, these are drainage, which means no pressure.

So, off to the hardware store- while I was at it I installed a compression valve for the dishwasher so the rest of the house could continue to have use of the hot water. ABS couplings, pipe, cement, silicone tape and off to work-- it took a couple of hours because I had to cut the pipe in tight spots, but wasn't a terribly difficult job, other than working with ABS cement in tight spots (think liquid electric tape on steroids). Left the dishwasher out overnight with a fan running to help dry everything out- and then put it all back in. FIXED- better than new- downstairs I have to find a cover because I want to leave access to that area.

Here's the cycling tie-in--- I told me wife,"If we had to call a plumber it would've cost 300-500 dollars. That MORE than covers the cost of my retul fitting!

HAH!

I'm telling you- after they find a way to fire all the teachers, I'm going into plumbing so I can make some real money!

[pritchet74]

Man, that's so damn smooth of you. See, you are just saving her money in the long run with the Retul fitting.

Makes me wish that I could have found the electrical problem with my wife's Sequoia. I found out that one of the CPU's got shorted out. It was full of water! It looks like when her windshield got replaced they didn't do a good job with the seal. If I could have figured out that problem I would have saved ~$500. Then I would feel better about the Corima disc wheel I just bought. Wait - I got such an awesome deal on it that I don't feel bad.
Especially since last month I changed the belts on my Benz by myself.

[Juanmoretime]

You should check the air in her car tires and tell her you possibly saved her life and that's priceless. Unlimited bike budget then.

[mdeth1313]

Just keeps getting better here-- this morning I set out to ride 3 hours on the computrainer. Shortly after the 2 hour mark my rear tire blew. A continental trainer tire-- changed the tube, went to re-inflate the tire and a large yellow bubble was coming out of the sidewall (tire is yellow). No more computrainer tire. I decided it was time to ditch the 1990 cannondale bike- the wheel is shot from years of use on the computrainer and the rear wheel spacing is for 6 speed. I had a wheel built within that spacing that could handle an 8 speed cassette, but I'm not going thru that, so I pulled an old steel frame from the garage and started switching a few things over- I have a set of iso3/ultegra wheels w/ 36 spokes- perfect for a trainer. I was getting along fine w/ this when I heard dripping into the bucket I left under where the leak occured (just in case).

So, pulled the dishwasher out and nothing wrong w/ my plumbing- the water was coming from ABOVE the kitchen drain-- it's pouring out- I get a ladder and go up to look at the vent and sure enough- the gasket failed- how convenient- first the pipe fractures- fix that, now the gasket fails-- so, plastic wrap, a plastic bag and packing tape and we're dry again- gaskets are easy- I just need to get a new one and replace the failed one.

Now I need to get back to the bike.

I want a nice quiet day- just one!

[pritchet74]

Man, it just ain't your week! Bad things come in threes though, right? So you should be ready for a string of good luck now.

And I don't see how you can do 3 hours on a trainer. Sooooo painful.

[mdeth1313]

Man, it just ain't your week! Bad things come in threes though, right? So you should be ready for a string of good luck now.

And I don't see how you can do 3 hours on a trainer. Sooooo painful.

Computrainer and itunes! I was doing just fine-- nothing like the Ironman Arizona w/ scenery from Seattle! twisted, besides, I don't have much of a choice- the weather has not been cooperating as of late and the roads just suck w/ the winter we just had and everyone cutting govt spending.