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Feeling of triumph!
Apr. 22nd, 2014 05:30 pmLast night on a whim I googled "kitchen valve won't shut off" and found the advice to get a compression valve. I looked up a picture, and it was, of course, the knob thing you see in the kitchen. On looking at installation instructions as posted on forum boards, I realized it was a non-welding process. I went to home depot.
Today after work I scooted to my house. I've noticed where I live in Arlington is my "home," while my property in dc is my "house."
I turned off the water and tried to install the thing, but with my grippy pipe wrench it didn't seem to be taking (this is the short version - there's actually a long turning tugging version). Then I got really desperate and realized there were instructions on the box. I turned until I got the "bite," and then tried to get a 1/2 turn more (I am not sure I did, but I did make it very tight). I'm staying a couple hours to make sure, but as of now the kitchen is either not leaking or not leaking enough to be relevant.
Frankly I think experimenting with valve installation was a bit on the risky side; mistakes could mean flooding.
Then I tore into the ceiling in the basement under where I think a hole was patched with spackle. Turns out there was indeed a hole through the floor, and it looked like it was from water rot...GROSS among the dust that came flying out was a toilet paper roll. Did I mention water rot? However the rot looked old and the flood had been patched with plywood.
Per one of the first issues Jordan identified, there was some sort of wood that was upright where there is sagging in the house, but I didn't see where it had been attached to the beam. If anything it seemed more like it might be an old door frame, and right beside it was the bottom of the new door frame. When the light is on downstairs you can see through the floor a little bit.
Now to play video games until I'm sure rush hour is over, check the water again, and head home. From house.
Today after work I scooted to my house. I've noticed where I live in Arlington is my "home," while my property in dc is my "house."
I turned off the water and tried to install the thing, but with my grippy pipe wrench it didn't seem to be taking (this is the short version - there's actually a long turning tugging version). Then I got really desperate and realized there were instructions on the box. I turned until I got the "bite," and then tried to get a 1/2 turn more (I am not sure I did, but I did make it very tight). I'm staying a couple hours to make sure, but as of now the kitchen is either not leaking or not leaking enough to be relevant.
Frankly I think experimenting with valve installation was a bit on the risky side; mistakes could mean flooding.
Then I tore into the ceiling in the basement under where I think a hole was patched with spackle. Turns out there was indeed a hole through the floor, and it looked like it was from water rot...GROSS among the dust that came flying out was a toilet paper roll. Did I mention water rot? However the rot looked old and the flood had been patched with plywood.
Per one of the first issues Jordan identified, there was some sort of wood that was upright where there is sagging in the house, but I didn't see where it had been attached to the beam. If anything it seemed more like it might be an old door frame, and right beside it was the bottom of the new door frame. When the light is on downstairs you can see through the floor a little bit.
Now to play video games until I'm sure rush hour is over, check the water again, and head home. From house.
