LJWorld.com weblogs autie
Posted
by Autie
January 10, 2010 at 3:35 p.m.
Ever have a busted pipe when it is -9 degrees outside?
So throughout all this cold spell, we got along just fine. Just a few minor problems of living in a drafty old 100+ year old house. Until this morning when the thermometer dipped as cold as it has this entire episode. It was -9 degrees. Until now, the washer on the utilty porch had not frozen at all. Usually about twice a year I have to put the blow dryer in the little supply line chase I built with out incident. Except this morning, the first time it froze this year. In about two minutes of blow drying, I hear the heart breaking "Whoosh". Immediately sprinting to the scene of the noise to see water cascading out of the elbow. Quick as flash, slip on the tennis shoes (with no socks) and still in my flannel sleepwear, a hoodie and out the door I go. I ran to the truck to get the shovel and start searching for the water meter. Once found and cleaned of ice, the lid is popped open. Then back to the truck where I knew there was a shut off wrench in the back. Except the back end of the truck is full of ice/snowl/stuff. If my neighbors saw me, they would know I was friggin crazy, beating the shovel in the back of the truck as though I was pocessed by demons. Once the water was off, I could calm down and plan the repair attack, which wasn't a big deal after the store opened. But it was with such clarity and purpose of movement one can react in such critical times. It all happens so quickly that Mrs. Autie was no exactly aware of what the hell was going one until I came back in the house with frost bitten hands and frozen snot in my moustache. But it is all good now. A few new fittings and couple of inches of pipe and we are washing clothes again. Now they know why I get all OCD and wierd when the temperature goes into negative numbers.
and 6 others
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Comments
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Irish (Leslie Swearingen) says…
At least you know what to do and what to do it with. What about those who don't have a clue as to what a water meter is or how to turn it off, or when?
What is it that Red Green always says, a woman don't need a man that's handsome, she needs one that is handy?
autie (anonymous) says…
Being handy,....well...it comes in handy sometimes. But jeezzuss...everyone should know where the meter is and how to turn it off. Even my cuzins know that.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
Nothing has froze up yet, but am having some problems with discoloration and flow. Not sure if I have the right tool. What do you suggest?
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…
I'd be installing a shut off valve in the house.
And, yes, video would have been appreciated.
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…
A solution of saltwater that is 23.31402% salt (by weight) will keep your bong on the porch safe from freezing down to -5.980000000000004 °F.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
see me an cuzin ned wuz werkin unner his hous wich is reelly too housses as bak in 1923 they draggeded a hous down over the hil an putted them togethar with the hous whut was allreddy ther but innyway we taked the weldin torch unner ther an gots the watter runnyin so i sed we gotsa innsellate so he sez he gots bout 200 bales uv straw uppin the barn we cudd put round the fondashun so i sed not till we shut off the cuttin torch an the rest i dont wanna tauk boutit
ldvander (anonymous) says…
Yeah I left warm water at a trickle all night last night. Did not like wasting water but sure did not wanna deal with a busted pipe. Open the cabinets under sinks and pray. With the washer, that's a sucky problem. I try not to wash clothes under twenty degrees now. But when it froze I began adding cool, then luke warm water to the wash drain and prayed the pipe did not bust. It worked. But, yeah, no washing clothes for me until it's over 25.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
i usually don't open the cabinet doors till it gets below zero..
sometimes i like to have something warm in my drawers...
acg (anonymous) says…
Why yes, I have had pipes freeze and burst when its -9. Friday, actually. What a sucky way to end a long, cold, sucky week, eh?
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Roe,
you are an arteest cuzin!
LOL!
And, yes, video would have been appreciated.
you guys are viscious, or viscous.
hey Autie, you cud'a set that derned couch onfire out on the portch to keep em warm out thar. then, just keep the car idoling and the exauste wud hep warm the portch.
***
yes, last night was very cold. and today we *celebrate* because it got all the way up to a balmy 29F, where's the bikini-clad girls on wesco beach? where's the naked homeless womyn diving into the river? I mean, it's practically summer out thar!
autie (anonymous) says…
Multi said: Autie, have you considered hanging another tool somewhere besides the truck?
By the door you'd be going out? In a drawer there? (I kept clean tools in the kitchen..yes, I hear woman gasping)
You could put one by the meter..you're smart enough. Just think.
autie says: un-huh...at least I knew where it was. Now this thing is bout four foot long, with a handle on one end and the notch to fit on the meter on the other...un-huh, keep one in the kitchen drawer....Yes, I heard a woman gasping. And a shut off in the house would be nice. Ain't got no basement...can't say I never seed one in an old house. Logistics...I'm trapped by poor logistics. I'll think about that again...probably in June. I cud thanked of them hey bells round the foondations but them dogs wud get in ther an dig er up an have puppies or somethin an them neigboars wud get to wunderin what we was doin agian an them ain't been the same sense the still blowed up. an we burnted up the couch last week keepin the dish washjer from freezin up..an he sleeps out on the porch an it were coldter out ther two.
The_Original_Bob (anonymous) says…
"A solution of saltwater that is 23.31402% salt (by weight) will keep your bong on the porch safe from freezing down to -5.980000000000004 °F."
This man speaks the truth. Bonus points... it clears up your sinuses.
Autie - Didn't think about the no basement angle.
RoeDapple (anonymous) says…
A man with a four foot tool oughta be able to hang it anywhere he wants....
http://www.toolspotting.net/images/pi...
classclown (Class Clown) says…
Is that what the kids are calling it these days?
bearded_gnome (anonymous) says…
Dernd couch, wen its bernt its bernt, but I ain't talkinbout it animore!
But hey! Cuzin Autie when ya bernt it, did ya find all that mony stuck down in thar whut ya caint get usual? did ya find the special goodluk coin? or that Obama inawguration coin? cuz I done lost it ovr yer house in that couch!
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…
No basement, smasement.
Turn me loose in that shack with my electric demolition hammer, maybe a low grade thermochemical detonation, and we will have a valve installed inside in no time at all.
.
T_O_B,
Some kids will always say "Why the hell do I need to know how to calculate molar freezing point depression? I'll never use it again" but the knowledge stays with you...
.
Forever
autie (anonymous) says…
I ain't never had no molar freeze before. Had one pulled one time. That dentist said it was my wisdom tooth but I didn't get no dumber not havin it.
Yes sir, that's right. Nothing like a super cold day to jar us out of our complacent thinking from June. Like the time we talked about getting around to tuck pointing that old foundation in some spots and adding some more insulation to the part of the house. It always reminds me of when Ms. Rudolph the voodoo lady told Toodlum to bring her a goose or a turkey come Thanksgiving. And he thought that was fine by him cause it was June then.
prospector (anonymous) says…
Yes I have. I had the fortune of it being on the other side of the meter though. I watched by the fireplace, drinking a beer, watching KU B-ball on a Saturday night as the water dept. guys dug up a big chunk of the yard in a sideways blizzard. I did not want that job that night.
Autie, if you have a catch drain at the washer connection, loosen the hose slightly so it drips. Unless it is rusted and you fear breaking it or creating a permanent drip. If the washers in there as old as your daughter, you might want to replace them. You were lucky you were home and awake.
Anudder reson for momma to tellin folks your woth a keepin.
autie (anonymous) says…
I was not the lone ranger. The official low was -10. When I was on a parts run, there were a number of people doing the same thing I was. One guy just had two dresser sleeves..the quick easy fix for non elbow break...He said he would do the regular repair after it warmed up more. Then Mrs. Autie went to a baby shower that afternoon and broken pipes and emergency repairs seemed to be the dominant topic of conversation....a bunch of women sitting around going, "ohhh, that is so cute, that is just precious" while the men folk are out there in the wet and the mud or under the house doing their fixes...Not our typical Sunday.
autie (anonymous) says…
Dang it what a difference a day makes. I had to tell the gals in the office that those brown patches out in the yard is what we used to call GRASS....and those things splashing on the cars in the parking are puddles....
RETICENT_IRREVERENT (Ronaldo Ignacio) says…
autie,
Brown patches?
I just set the burn barrel ablaze (the fun way) after trudging the trash through 1-1/2+ feet of drifted snow.