Plumbing Update
Well, I was right to wait, because nothing surrendered to anything smaller than the 18-inch pipe wrench, and the union that supposed to make this quick and easy, still didn’t surrender.
Instead of 15 minutes, it took an hour and a half, not counting going to the hardware store for a new union, and some new pipe. In the cold, nothing wanted to move because of the contraction, and the heat gun didn’t convince it.
Fortunately there was a convenient bit of pipe to cut through, and an added set of hands to convince parts to line up so they could be tightened.
The valve broke internally, which is sort of weird to see a ¼-in brass rod just snapped off like that, although I do remember seeing a large pair of Channel-Locks in the hands of the computer tech, and I don’t think he uses them for setting DIP switches.
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The problem we have here in DC is that the maze of underground water mains are fifty years old or more. Once one bursts, they can repair it and put in modern pipes, but they don’t have the money to replace the entire system. So we deal with at least fifty main breaks a year, sometimes more.
.-= last blog ..After a Time, All "Victories" are the Same =-.
Parts of the DC water system are older than that, and they still have a lot of lead pipe in the system, which is a major health concern. Plumbing was introduced early in the Distract and many of the parts used are flat dangerous. No one knows for sure how many houses and building are still connected to the water mains with lead pipe, but you can see the results in widespread testing of the tap water.
This is why I absolutely don’t do plumbing. Once I managed to install a newer, supposedly more reliable toilet mechanism, and ultimately it proved to be so… but when I installed it, the old pipe didn’t quite extend as far as it should have, and inexperienced plumber that I was, I spent close to an hour managing to force it to fit. Not knowing WTF I was doing didn’t help my confidence, although given the circumstances, the landlord agreed I had done the right thing… small comfort to me. No plumbing for me… ever again, if possible.
.-= last blog ..Bill Bates At 90 =-.
Tried DIY serious plumbing once years ago at my house when the water heater died. Got the new one home and amazing but fittings and connectors are not always in the same place! Dad to the rescue.
Plumbing is a skill that often isn’t given enough credit. Toilet fittings and sink drains are manageable, but when it comes to water heaters and softeners and running new lines, I call someone with experience.
.-= last blog ..Chicken Cacciatore with Polenta =-.
I know how to both cut/sweat copper pipe and cut/glue PVC pipe, but if it’s galvanized or iron I won’t touch it, period. There’s a reason why plumbers exist…
.-= last blog ..War on… what again? =-.
Ahh sounds like fun. I’m a former plumber so I’ve been there done that. Good luck with any future plumbing projects and remember it does get easier with repetition.
.-= last blog ..Atlanta Plumber Reviews =-.
Carson, I’m happy being a computer guy, and wish things would get back to normal so you could get hold of a regular plumber to do things like this, because they take less time, and have parts with them that I have to go and buy. I don’t want to become proficient, I want to pay a professional for his/her knowledge and experience.
Oh, yes, Badtux, copper and cpvc are a lot easier to deal with, and you don’t have the hassles caused by cross-threading, but, when these places were build, copper was too expensive and the plastic didn’t exist. The other benefit is that you don’t have to worry about the black pipe gas lines if you are working with copper or plastic water lines.
LadyMin, the flexible copper unions for installing water heaters are a wonderful thing. They eliminate a lot of the aggravations associated with the process.
Ah, yes, Steve, the toilet tank – where the art of ceramics meets the needs of plumbing. Stock sheets of rubber gasket material can be invaluable in dealing with them. When it comes to toilet tanks, the one-size-fits all is a dream unrealized.