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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 11, 2017 12:48:18 GMT
I returned home today with a bit of trepidation since I was not in Paris for the huge storm the day before yesterday. One month of rain fell in one hour and flooded 20 metro stations (the stairways became waterfalls), so you can imagine how cellars and low streets fared... not to mention leaky roofs. Without this incident, I might have continued my trip for another day or two.
So anyway, I got home a little while ago. The attic room seems completely fine -- no visible wetness anywhere. Downstairs, a corner that had leaked in the past when the gutter was plugged was totally dry, too. However, something happened in the kitchen, and I'm not sure what. I have a little rug in the middle of the floor, covering some damaged tiles, and it was sopping wet. I immediately checked under the kitchen sink -- nothing wrong there. I keep my (unwrapped) stock of paper towels where, at least half a dozen rolls, so I would see immediately if even one drop of water fell from the water pipes or the drain. Opened the freezer and the refrigerator to see if either of them had decided to unceremoniously stop working and release the result of defrosting onto the floor. That leaves only the vent under the window. Kitchens have to have vents in them; it's the law even if you don't have gas. I figure the storm hit from the west, and the water must have come in there. The floor was all dry except for that rug, but that's no surprise since it was so hot -- the floor would have dried very quickly except where the rug was. That sent me running into the bedroom. Even though it doesn't have a vent, it does have a wall on the west. No trace of any problem there. To finish my investigations, I went back up to the attic room with a flashlight to check the dark corners under the eaves. All dry. I hate missing storms and not being sure of what really happened.
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 11, 2017 13:22:54 GMT
Whew ~ what a relief! Kerouac, I had a leak somewhere under the kitchen sink for ages which persisted through many attempts of the plumber to fix it. I bought one of those square plastic dish pans and snugged it up to wall on top of some other stuff so it would be high up under the drain pipe & the water pipes. It's a way to check for leaks, plus protects anything else under the sink if there is a leak. (eventually changed plumbers & the new one fixed the problem instantly)
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 11, 2017 13:52:39 GMT
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 11, 2017 14:41:31 GMT
Wow. They obviously don't know the plastic dishpan trick!
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 11, 2017 16:13:45 GMT
My trauma has grown. After mopping up the wet spots from the storm in my kitchen, I thought everything was fine. And then I returned to the kitchen where water was beginning to pool on the floor. No storm today... I tracked it to the cutoff valve in the most inaccessible part of the kitchen. The little faucet was quietly dripping... drip drip drip. I turned it to cut off the water completely to give me time to collect my thoughts, and that's what caused it to start spraying everywhere like in those ha-ha funny TV commercials containing a plumbing emergency. Thank god we got new water metres with cutoff valves installed in the hallway last month, so I ran out into the corridor and cut off the water there. Then I returned to my apartment to begin panicking slowly about what to do next. I was about to phone the black work plumber when my doorbell rang. It was my downstairs neighbour. "You have a leak in your apartment," he said. "Uh yes. I just got back from a trip this afternoon and discovered it." Well, to cut to the chase, he actually knows how to do things, and we just spent two hours fixing it. I ran to the hardware store to get a new cutoff faucet, but it turns out that 21st century standard faucets are not the same as 20th century standard faucets, and there are no adaptors, as least in a normal store, to make them fit. And this was a giant 'Home Depot' type store. I ran to get the employee twice to make him admit that he was lying, but he stuck to his story and then I examined the whole wall of every type of valve and faucet and joint and was kind of forced to come to the conclusion that he was telling the truth. I did buy the new faucet, but we did not open the package so I will return it tomorrow for a refund. In the end I spent 2 euros for a package of 10 washers. My neighbour replaced two washers (entry, exit) on the old cutoff valve since the old ones were completely decayed, but it turned out that the leak was coming not from the joints but from the cutoff faucet thing itself. He scraped it a little and sprayed on some calcite remover and tightened it and now it is all dry. I made a little nest of paper towels around the pipe to be able to control its proper functioning. What kept this from being a major trauma is the fact that it happened on the day I returned home and not on the day I left on my trip...
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Post by patricklondon on Jul 11, 2017 16:28:17 GMT
What a homecoming, poor you. I had an expensive lesson in plumbing recently too. The night security staff actually woke me in the early hours of one Sunday to say there was a leak from somewhere in my end of the building, but I couldn't see any water loose in my flat (and certainly not from the most common cause in our water heater pressure valves) so I sent them away. It wasn't until the water people told me I seemed to be using far more than usual and it was going to cost me [far too much] that I looked into things more closely and realised that the background whooshing noise in the pipes was coming from the inlet valve in my loo, trickling into the tank because the seal at the bottom was letting it all trickle out again straight away into the overflow system, which presumably flows out into the drains somewhere at the bottom of the building. So no damage as such anywhere, apart from the financial, once I'd called the plumber in and the whole internal flushing mechanism needed replacing (so that's another [far too much] gone). Oh well, it's only money. My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by whatagain on Jul 13, 2017 11:18:49 GMT
My in-law went to a loo that we never use at home. For some reason I had one installed when I enlarged the garage, so it is actually outside the house. He washed his hands and left the valve open. We don't kow how long ... However I hardly noticed it when I had to pay the bill, so ... I now blocked all water to htat loo. And nulock it the days we have a large party that may use the outside loo. Meaning never ;-) Why did I let build a loo there ?
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Post by bixaorellana on Jul 13, 2017 12:40:59 GMT
he actually knows how to do things, and we just spent two hours fixing it. What a good neighbor! The only plumbing/good neighbor story I know in that league is something that happened to a friend of mine. He had an upstairs apartment in New Orleans, a water bed, and an "illegal" cat. (you can see where this is going, right?) He came home from work one day and the downstairs neighbor met him at the door. The cat had done that kneading thing on the bed and water was dripping through the floors into the neighbor's apartment. The neighbor broke into my friend's place, stopped the leak and cleaned up the mess -- all so the landlord wouldn't find out and evict my friend. So no damage as such anywhere, apart from the financial, once I'd called the plumber in and the whole internal flushing mechanism needed replacing (so that's another [far too much] gone). Oh well, it's only money. Oh, you should have called me -- I'd have done it for free! I've installed more than one of those and also fixed a running toilet for a challenged next-door neighbor. We lived in a duplex and she was crying to me over her huge water bill. I pointed out to her that her downstairs toilet had been running for some time, but she sobbed that she couldn't afford a plumber. I went & looked inside the tank & it turned out that the float was an egg-shaped one that was in two parts screwed together. Over the years water had seeped into the seam. I unscrewed the egg, dumped out the water, and reassembled the float. Problem solved. But then I called my neighbor to come look. That way, if it happened again she would know what to do. Her response? " I'm not putting my hands into the toilet tank!" Why did I let build a loo there ? Actually, it sounds like a handy place to have an extra bathroom. In line with what your in-law did: I worked in a library with an upstairs meeting room and adjoining restroom. As is common in Oaxaca, sometimes sinks have no water because the reservoir is empty, but will fill later. (everyone here knows this!) Anyway, the AA had their meeting one evening and someone used the restroom, saw there was no water coming from the tap, so didn't bother to turn it back off. (something you would think would be almost automatic!). Next morning the restroom and the adjoining storeroom -- the one with the boxes of books all over the floor -- was completely flooded. Grrrrrrrr!
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Post by questa on Jul 13, 2017 12:47:17 GMT
a) It seemed like a good idea at the time? b) Someone told you that it would increase your property value? c) You have deep unconscious yearnings to be a multi-loo family? d) After reading about Bixa's abdominal problems recently you saw the virtue of a spare loo...just in case? e) Everyone needs a private place to hide at times, this can be yours.
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Post by patricklondon on Jul 13, 2017 14:32:20 GMT
He washed his hands and left the valve open. We don't kow how long ... However I hardly noticed it when I had to pay the bill, so ... I now blocked all water to htat loo. And nulock it the days we have a large party that may use the outside loo. Meaning never ;-) Why did I let build a loo there ? Outside loos can be useful if you're working in a garden or garage. You could get one with an integrated washbasin which cuts off the tap water - like this (not cheap, but I've seen and used one in the UK) My blog | My photos | My video clips"too literate to be spam"
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Post by rikita on Jul 13, 2017 23:28:10 GMT
it's strange how people can leave teh water running and not notice, but it has happened to me, too ... and the flushing at our loo does not always (or ever) stop properly. instead of just flushing and going away, you have to flush and then pull the flushing handle back up. for us it is quite an automatic movement by now ... for visitors, even when we tell them before, they always forget. and strangely most don't seem to notice that the toilet is still flushing while they wash their hands and then leave the bath room like a minute later ...
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Post by whatagain on Jul 15, 2017 10:10:10 GMT
I must have replaced a dozen flushes in half a dozen toilets But no toilet ever leaked after I took care if them. I am close to being obsessed with toilets in particular and washrooms in general. They must be clean, devoid of limestone running properly etc My second obsession are LEDs. I install them everywhere. I just replaced all my outdoor spotlights. Went from 1000 watts to about 50. With 8 cats constantly roaming around the house and triggering the detectors it is best to have those. I wonder what I'll be like when I am old. Err older.
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 15, 2017 10:13:39 GMT
I know that in large apartment buildings, people like you roam the basement levels constantly, checking on the cars and individual cellars.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 15, 2017 10:45:40 GMT
Wine cellar definitely. Cars ?
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Post by patricklondon on Jul 16, 2017 7:39:26 GMT
I know that in large apartment buildings, people like you roam the basement levels constantly, checking on the cars and individual cellars. On our estate, the new manager is beefing up the admin systems to make sure no-one's sub-letting garage spaces outside the rules, or storing bbqs there, or sub-letting on airbnb, or giving keys to the swimmingpool to non-residents. It all has its justification but all at once it feels a bit much. And for my personal pain, my travel computer is sulking and either refusing to recharge or doing so so slowly as to be really frustrating. I probably overstretched it making my video of Friday's parade. There's only so much I can do on the phone. harrumph.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 16, 2017 8:40:55 GMT
None of these seem particularly petty imo....Kerouac plumbing problems are invariably terrifying...I know. My beloved has decided to remove the bath and replace it with a walk in shower...It involves things like stench pipes...anything that involves stench pipes worry me. He's not starting until our son leaves for Finland on Tuesday (visiting his GF) and reckons we will be without a bath or shower for two weeks! He has to do exciting stuff to the floor (the tray is slightly smaller than the bath), take off the old tiles, replaster, knock a hole in the outside wall for the new fan, put up the new tiles,attach an extension to the stench pipe to fit the new shower drain, fit the tray, fit the glass panel and sliding door, fit the flooring....I suggested getting in an expert to do the job but he does love a project. My petty personal trauma is genuinely petty Ever looked at something and thought 'that looks easy enough..I can do that' ? Well I've been looking at crewel work/needlework thinking same. It's not. And I can't (yet)
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 21, 2017 9:11:31 GMT
On Tuesday my beloved took out the bath and shower so that he can replace both with a walk in shower...we never use the bath and its unlikely that we will move now unless we come into money so it makes sense to make the house more comfortable for us two as we 'mature' Jeff loves a project...and is charging around with buckets of plaster, tile cutters, drills, power saws etc...happy as a pig in s*** and whilst I am very grateful I haven't had a shower since Wednesday morning.....and he says it will be another TEN DAYS or so..now I'm a two showers per day girl and I'm wretched...tomorrow I'm going over to my sister's house for a shower. I remember a time when I was a girl...we had a bath once a week and I survived...but ew. Wash basins are too small altho I can get one foot at a time in there......sigh...
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Post by Kimby on Jul 21, 2017 12:56:19 GMT
Cheery, while your bathroom is being deconstructed and rebuilt, can you get a trial membership at a gym and shower there?
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Post by Kimby on Jul 21, 2017 13:03:33 GMT
Summers in Montana used to be absolutely gorgeous, but in recent years are being spoiled by smoke from so many wildfires. Even ones hundreds of miles away deposit stinky smog in our valley, dimming the views of the mountains. Whereas a "bad fire year" used to happen every six years, with global warming (less snowy winters, hotter and drier summers), it's now a rare summer that doesn't become unpleasantly murky. What's this world coming to?
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Post by questa on Jul 21, 2017 13:44:08 GMT
Karma, Kimby, Karma.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 21, 2017 14:13:44 GMT
Are you saying we Montanans who endure brutal winters for the privilege of enjoying lovely summer weather are somehow deserving of this punishment? What are you saying, questa?
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Post by whatagain on Jul 21, 2017 21:26:40 GMT
My daughter smokes.
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Post by rikita on Jul 22, 2017 0:09:58 GMT
coming into the bed room and finding your child crying and her face covered in blood. just a nose bleed - but a lot of it ... and mr. r. made an annoyed sound and gave me the tissues and then went back to sleep, so i was sitting there with her, holding one tissue after the other under her nose and a wet cloth on the back of her neck, and trying to seem all calm while wondering if i should wake mr. r. so one of us can google what else we could do ... well, a. calmed down well though and we had a little chat about how the minions on her pyjamas looked like they had been in a battle (had the light on so i could see when the bleeding stopped) ... hope it won't start bleeding again - she has these nose bleeds once every few months, but this is the worst one so far ...
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Post by questa on Jul 22, 2017 2:21:33 GMT
You have probably read up on it by now, rikita, but here is my 2 cents worth.
Use a damp cloth rather than tissues which stick and prolong the bleeding.
Sit up (supported) with Agnes on your lap facing away from you. With a single layer of the cloth, pinch her nose closed in the hollow where the bony part ends. Lean her upper body forward and head looking down so she doesn't have blood run down her throat Now HOLD THAT POSITION FOR 10 WHOLE MINUTES. Be careful not to let go to see if it has stopped bleeding or you will start the blood flow again. After 10 minutes gently release the pressure but don't remove the cloth. If no further bleeding occurs, remove the cloth but don't try to clean her up or touch her nose. If there is any more bleeding you may have to repeat the procedure. It is good if you can stay calm and tell her a story or sing to her. Don't read or she will want to see the pictures and wriggle around.
Nosebleeds are scary things at night, if you can't stop it at all go to a hospital. They are usually caused by nasal mucus drying out. You can use a saline spray in each nostril at bedtime to prevent them. Don't use aspirin or ibuprofen for fever or pain for her, they thin the blood. As she has had a few bleeds, it would be good to check with your doctor.
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Post by Kimby on Jul 22, 2017 3:25:59 GMT
(And from a non-medical standpoint, I would ask if you have warned her of the dangers of picking her nose?)
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Post by questa on Jul 22, 2017 5:53:17 GMT
In most cases the picking is a response to the dryness of the nostrils. Allergies, air-con and dry winds help make nostril lining swollen and itchy, as can some nose sprays. Nose picking is instinctive...all the apes do it as it also moistens the nostrils. You can try a saline spray or even a thin smear of Vaseline and see if that helps. Of course cigarette smoke will irritate her nostrils as well.
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Post by rikita on Jul 22, 2017 7:19:06 GMT
thanks ...
she had another nose bleed in the morning apparently but that time she and mr. r. were up already and did not wake me ... for not the nose bleed seems over ... but she still has elevated temperature and now also a tummy ache because she is constipated ... so i am all torn what to do - we were so much looking forward to our trip to the alps, and i don't think it'd be possible to follow a few days later, as the train tickets are very expensive on such a short notice ... and she might wake up in the train tomorrow and be all fine, but that is not sure of course.
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Jul 22, 2017 8:02:10 GMT
A GYM? eek.
Been 'just dropping by' relatives and friends houses with my washbag and towel.....yesterday it was my niece's this evening my sister's place...so far everybody has been very nice (and I take flowers)
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Post by kerouac2 on Jul 22, 2017 11:35:58 GMT
I hate receiving an electronic speeding ticket for 72km/h in a 70km/h zone. Another 45 euros down the drain.
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Post by whatagain on Jul 22, 2017 16:08:09 GMT
Small player. Got caught doing 90 in a 50 zone. Had to go to police station and will have to go before the judge. Will most certainly lose my license for ? Weeks.
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