Are they still called “pipe dreams” when you are dreaming about actual pipe?
Ch&t and I cleared out the front of the yard to prepare for the big girders coming in next week. The bougainvillea was a bit of a bear to remove. That thing refuses to die. But I eventually had a pile of thorns to show for my morning.
Ch.t spent the morning channeling his inner gopher. He was searching for the sewer line in preparation for rerouting the sewer. He must have dug twelve different holes. We finally found it and decided how we’ll reroute the sewer.
We then sat in the shade and leisurley discussed the short list of things to do before the house movers arrive (that would be TODAY). The water heater suddenly came to mind. We were planning to move it this weekend. We went down into the basement to measure its location relative to where I thought the cribbing stacks would be. Sure enough it was in the way. Really in the way. So at 2:30pm in the afternoon, we determined that it would have to move.
We did a quick think through and made a list. While I was at the hardware store, Ch.t removed and plugged the gas line, removed the water lines, moved the water heater outside, and finished draining it. I dropped off supplies and went to pick up the girls from school. Fortunately for us, Papa & Tata are here. They saved our bacon by taking over girl duty after I brought the girls home.
Papa had planned a lovely homemade pasta dinner so we wanted to get water and gas back up. We plumbed valves into each line and by 5pm or so had water and gas back up in the house. Then we triangulated the new (outside) water heater location between the gas line and hot water (galvanized) line. Got the water heater in an approximate location and plumbed the hot water line. Plumbed the gas line. Then plumbed a PVC cold water line. Refilled the water heater and waited for the water to charge the lines again. And waited. Fiddled with the faucets upstairs. And waited.
Crikey. We had water in the front bathroom and kitchen, but not in the back bathroom. Then no water at the front bath sink, but toilet and bath still working. We couldn’t check be back bath because the chicks are in it. Then the kitchen sink stopped working.
Papa said it must be scale knocked loose and blocking a pipe or valve. Ch.t thought the water heater had to be lit. It started looking like some wierd air in the lines problem. After an hour of puzzling over the whys and hows and questions of scale and vapor locks, I called our house mover who has a plumbing genius living with him. He said scale in the fixtures. I unscrewed the aerator on the kitchen sink and found scale plugging it. The water was flowing fine from the uncovered faucet. Same in the bathrooms. Hooray!
Chet got all the water heaters lit again (two in the guesthouse) and after a bit of a trial, the main house one that is now sitting in the side yard. We pounded 2×4 stakes around the water heater and I’ll sheath it today, build a little roof for it, and strap the water heater to it’s new home.
Now you know why I dreamed about pipes last night.
The neighbors are asking if we’ll bring out our washer and dryer next.
