WARNING: this blog contains potty talk ;-)....
I wonder where this blog is going for me... but i took the plunge this weekend.
The toilet in our bathroom has been running for much too long. Of course we have one of those "pressurized" toilets - so i have no idea how to fix this (not that i know how to fix anything...). So it finally drove me crazy enough to fix (but not call a plumber - i must be getting cheap in my old age).
So i found out the brand/model (flushmate) and found the company's website. Found the .pdf owners manual for our toilet and located the needed part ($30). I figured if i broke the toilet i could call the plumber on monday and have them fix it - so i went for it.
Long story short, bought the part at a wholesale supply store, spent 30 minutes installing the cartridge and to fix the tank seal to the bowl (a different leak) and then cleaned the bathroom.
All told - 1-1/2 hours (including getting the part), less than $25 for the part (apparently they charge more when you buy direct from the company - channel protection i guess).
So i was totally stoked -- i don't think i have ever fixed a real plumbing issue (hey - i know it was simple - let me have my moment!!).
So my ususal -- what is the lesson? The Internet is pretty amazing. Locate manufacturer, read thru the FAQs to indentify the problem and potential solution. Then review the owners manual (all online), locate a place to buy the part (zip code lookup of local resellers) - or buy it online. The power of information - available all the time. So in contrast to my last post - technology can even enable people like me to do real work...
so cool, so cool...
Monday, September 17, 2007
Saturday, September 1, 2007
honey do's... and hot water
So very rarely my wife gives me honey do's. But she gave me a few simple ones this weekend (Labor Day weekend as a kid was "hey kids, why do you think they call it LABOR day?" -- and we worked). So the honey do's: replace lights in the garage cause they were out and fix the kitchen sink -- cause it isn't giving her hot water. lights done friday eve, simple home despot trip -- under $10. second one -- don't know why -- hopefully i just have to tighten something (the extent of my plumbing knowledge).
so saturday morning -- lazy days. I'm suppose to help a friend with his water system plan for his backyard (cause between my two and my brothers -- i've learned all the stuff i'm NOT supposed to do). as i'm taking garbage out thru the garage i notice water... not just a little water... a lot of water... yes -- the hot water heater gave up the ghost, thank goodness not all 50 gallons, but a lot. Fortunately, with a few exceptions - all my stuff on the floor of my garage is in plastic (costco clear, blue lid bins -- stacked a mile high ;-)... but i have a lot of removing and cleaning and getting water out ahead of me.
i call a plumbing service (after the 1 minute internet search) - hot water heater replacement.com or something like that... I'm thinking -- labor day weekend -- that's a laptop (side note - i'm kinda twisted but i measure everything expensive in laptop units or family trip to disneyland units -- ie the cost of a new laptop or the cost of a family trip to disneyland). so after the call i go to a neighbor's house to talk with the neighborhood handy man (mind you NOT the handyman's house - he's working on a neighbor's bathroom). ask him what i should look out for if this guy is gonna hose me on $$. He tells me i'm gonna get hosed... it is Labor day weekend ;-). ouch... good point -- tripple time city.
So Rob (the handyman) offers to do the job - i feel bad cause he never has time for himself - but he is willing and its hard to say no to someone you know who can do it and does things fast too. plus i might learn something. so i go buy everything at despot, bring it home, we start draining the hot water heater and away we go. other than making Rob have to replace some sheet rock (cause i rip it out without thinking), buy a 2nd hot water heater (cause we got one too small) and having to find an extra nut for the earthquake strap (seriously have no idea where it went) -- the install went well. and Rob doesn't let me pay him enough, but that's a different rant.
okay -- so the point (not that i need one for the therapy). BUT... if hot water doesn't come out the kitchen sink OR your dishwasher didn't really clean the dishes last night OR your hot water heater is over 10 years old -- its time to replace your hot water heater. i won't even charge you for that one -- free advice (of course, it is probably only advice if you need it -- i know i did).
one more thought: technology is great, the internet is great. but man -- nice to have people like Rob that understand plumbing and don't mind working for real (unfortunately i think Rob buys band aids by the case....).
so saturday morning -- lazy days. I'm suppose to help a friend with his water system plan for his backyard (cause between my two and my brothers -- i've learned all the stuff i'm NOT supposed to do). as i'm taking garbage out thru the garage i notice water... not just a little water... a lot of water... yes -- the hot water heater gave up the ghost, thank goodness not all 50 gallons, but a lot. Fortunately, with a few exceptions - all my stuff on the floor of my garage is in plastic (costco clear, blue lid bins -- stacked a mile high ;-)... but i have a lot of removing and cleaning and getting water out ahead of me.
i call a plumbing service (after the 1 minute internet search) - hot water heater replacement.com or something like that... I'm thinking -- labor day weekend -- that's a laptop (side note - i'm kinda twisted but i measure everything expensive in laptop units or family trip to disneyland units -- ie the cost of a new laptop or the cost of a family trip to disneyland). so after the call i go to a neighbor's house to talk with the neighborhood handy man (mind you NOT the handyman's house - he's working on a neighbor's bathroom). ask him what i should look out for if this guy is gonna hose me on $$. He tells me i'm gonna get hosed... it is Labor day weekend ;-). ouch... good point -- tripple time city.
So Rob (the handyman) offers to do the job - i feel bad cause he never has time for himself - but he is willing and its hard to say no to someone you know who can do it and does things fast too. plus i might learn something. so i go buy everything at despot, bring it home, we start draining the hot water heater and away we go. other than making Rob have to replace some sheet rock (cause i rip it out without thinking), buy a 2nd hot water heater (cause we got one too small) and having to find an extra nut for the earthquake strap (seriously have no idea where it went) -- the install went well. and Rob doesn't let me pay him enough, but that's a different rant.
okay -- so the point (not that i need one for the therapy). BUT... if hot water doesn't come out the kitchen sink OR your dishwasher didn't really clean the dishes last night OR your hot water heater is over 10 years old -- its time to replace your hot water heater. i won't even charge you for that one -- free advice (of course, it is probably only advice if you need it -- i know i did).
one more thought: technology is great, the internet is great. but man -- nice to have people like Rob that understand plumbing and don't mind working for real (unfortunately i think Rob buys band aids by the case....).
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