A Tale Of Woe (long)

[DRR-24V]

Wife was complaining of a leaking shower nozzle. Wondered why I had bought a new truck if I had to work on it for 3 days. (Gauges and Pac Brake) Said the drip was "Annoying". Today she presented me with a Delta Shower Rebuild Kit before leaving for work. Never slow to catch a hint, I told her I would fix it today. Had I been a fortune teller that Puppy would drip for Eternity!. The valve had been undisturbed for 20 years and resented my efforts. Channel locks gave no results. Bigger Channel locks gave no results. Small Pipe wrench gave results, twisted off three 1/2" copper pipes inside the tiled shower wall. (a joy untold) A Policeman's vocabulary consists of about 1/2 the "F" Word. Since retiring I was trying to quit. Today I WAS A COP AGAIN ! In 59 years I have never made just one trip to a plumbing store and got everything I needed. Today I Did. ! Reason= I bought almost everything in the store. ! That sorry ass drip had now killed a $100 bill. Well, they have not made a valve like mine in 20 years so I had to cut off three 1/2 copper pipes 1". Noway can you get a tubing cutter in a 6" tiled hole so I got to do it the FUN way, with a hacksaw blade with a Duct Tape handle and a 1" stroke. ! Found out the edges of that tile was sharp. Was able to sweat on the 3 pipes without setting fire to the wall. (water from Smoke's water dish helped) By this time my left hand looked like a Band Aid commercial, and the right had some great blisters due to the propane torch. Turned on the water And No Leaks! See What Prayer Will Do? I thought ,I am going to drink about 6 beers and check out the TDR. ! The worst day working on my truck was better than today. It's Over.

 

[Ethdee]

Good story - thought I was the only one! I assume the wife was happy after all was said and done.



Guess I'll add my latest tale of woe:



A few months ago, the wife decided she didn't like the way the screen door closed, and bought a new one.



The way our front door is built, there is very little clearance between the door and the screen, so when I originally installed the screen door, I had to rout a circular depression to clear the doorknob. The new screen door was built with screen in the same area, and my experience is that screen does not rout well.



So, after much research on the Internet, I determined that a certain model of Weiser lock would clear the screen without routing. I traveled to Lowe's (30 miles away) and ordered the entry set. The sales person said it would take four days for delivery. I prepaid.



Four days turned into four weeks, which turned into four months. Finally, the entry set arrived. I opened it up to make sure it was antique brass, a special order color. It was indeed antique brass, but it was the wrong model.



I wasn't going to wait another four months for the right one, so I decided then and there that bright brass wasn't so bad, after all. The only problem was that the garage entry door is next to the front door, and if I replaced the front door hardware, I'd have to replace the garage entry hardware as well. All this, just because the screen my wife liked is built differently than the old one. I had everything re-keyed alike so I wouldn't have to increase my key load. Returned home to do the deed.



Garage entry door went well; everything looked good. Installed the deadbolt on the front door, and had to modify the jamb a bit to have it fit. Started to install the knob, and determined that the (original) holes in the front door are drilled so closely together that the escutcheon for the handle interferes with the deadbolt. I'd always wondered why everyone else's house in the neighborhood had nice pull-handles and mine didn't. Now I know. It wasn't going to fit. Ever.



Removed everything I just installed. Re-installed everything I'd originally removed. Repackaged everything, drove back to Lowe's, and got a refund. Tried to return the screen, but they balked, as they said it was sold too long ago. Forced them to listen to the ENTIRE story (even after they said, "Okay, okay," I continued until it was all out of my system), and they refunded for the screen as well.



Spent $3. 00 for some new hinges for the existing screen door. Installed them and the door now closes properly and the wife is happy.



And, after all, isn't that what counts?



Ethdee

 

[Fireman Dave]

Man, I guess that first oil filter change on my Cummins wasn't so bad after all! You guys deserve Purple Hearts after those experiences. OK, I'm gettin' outa here, now - before I start to remember similar painful events of my past. Home improvement - gotta love it.

 

[Runaway]

Wow!

As long as mamma's happy, we're all happy. Mamma's almost happy, I almost have her Martha Stuart potting shed (Storage Shed by any other name) done. If I ever get my hand on Martha, I am going to, well...

 

[EMDDIESEL]

I have huge "to do" list for my house but right now its all on hold untill the fuel pump problems are taken care of.

 

[AYSCII]

Don, when the wife handed you the shower nossel kit, should have told her "Great!, but wrong type", and then go order the shower nossel injectors for the truck!



Came home today after a 12 hr and my son told me the clothes dryer wasn't working. Sure enough, wouldn't come on. Went to the breakers, I had bumped it putting the cover on yesterday after tripping one. Easy fix, better yet, my son had been doing laundry!

 

[merryman]

I thought that was just the way a homeowner's day went!



Last friday afternoon, after using the toilet, it would not flush!

Got that sorted out and walked outside. I noticed the garage door was up about 2 feet; checked to see why and found the bracket connecting the automatic opener to the door had pulled out of the door, screws and all. When I went to the shop to start rounding up stuff to work on it, the lights in the shop would not turn on!

Honest guys this is true.

Finally got the lights on, and worked on the garage door (did not finish); went back to the shop to wash up and found there was no water-------pressure tank gauge showed 0 psi. Pump would not come on.



Ran a hose next door to my sons place and hooked up to his water; came in and had (one) beer.



Its all fixed now but the next time friday comes on the 27th, I am staying in bed.



Vaughn

 

[Bigsaint]

Don, looks like you are born again hard back into the brotherhood, not that you really ever left. I'm interested, what excuse do you use for 'choir practice' once you have retired ?



Scott W.

 

[DRR-24V]

Big Saint,

I need an excuse? I'll tell you one thing, If I was a plumber I would be an alcoholic !

 

[Bigsaint]

Don, yeah, but you would be a happy plumber



Scott W.