I now have two large holes in my dining room ceiling, a hole in the bathroom floor, and another in the floor of the closet. We won't even begin to discuss the sinkhole in the bank account.
The Pesky Plumbing Problem has been identified and solved. At last.
After four hours of replacing the old galvanized pipes to the tub, the sink, and the commode, success was declared (prematurely) and the water was turned back on at the meter. The plumbers ran a "test", filling the tub with a small amount of water and letting it drain out. Which it promptly did, through the recently repaired dining room ceiling and onto my favorite piece of antique cherry furniture.
To quote one of my favorite episodes...."What a revoltin' development THIS is...."
After a lunch break, they returned with a ladder and a tarp and a sheet rock saw.
Lo and behold, an ancient, handmade, LEAD drain, leaking like the proverbial sieve, was revealed. (Along with a lot of rotten wood, but I digress....)
Four more hours later, all new pipes and drains and all the accompanying accessories are tested and deemed "up to code".
In addition to Real Electricity, cable tv,and DSL, I now have Real Indoor Plumbing, and a migraine.
Tomorrow I will begin the attempt to get on the waiting list for the sheetrock repair guys. Sheetrock dust and I have a *history* which almost always results in a trip to the Emergency Room for the Breathing Therapy. My friendly neighborhood Family Physician informed me last time that challenging my lungs again could be Even More Serious. I don't want to know about ANYTHING more serious than not being able to breathe while the Intake ER Nurse looks horrified as I pass out BEFORE filling out the required paperwork...Nope. Been there, done that, have the t-shirt. Waiting list, here I come.
Thanks to all of you who nearly simultaneously diagnosed my inablity to post pictures as a Browser Issue.
I was on Safari, when I should have been Exploring...
Of Course.
Oh my, what a mess! But at least you got the problem fixed. I know all about that sheetrock dust. We had a renovation a couple of years ago, and I'd come home to find drifts of it in corners everywhere - despite the fact that they'd promised to vacuum it up every day (they never did.) I hope you are able to get your repair done without it affecting your lungs! As an asthmatic, I can definately relate. Good luck with future photo uploads.
Posted by: Jane | March 28, 2004 at 07:12 PM
Migraine! Breathing problems! Don't let me have to get bossy back with you! Oh, dear. Lots of quiet if you can get it, LOTS of liquids to ease the head pain, lots of deep, easy breathing to help both. And lots of love sent your way.....
Posted by: Rachael | March 28, 2004 at 07:30 PM
Oh, Lordy, love, when it rains it pours, and literally! I hope the cherry piece survived the dousing. We're ready to be your harbour, as needed. Not exactly convenient, but maybe the sheetrockers will want to come when you're off to MS&WF . . .
Posted by: maggi | March 28, 2004 at 10:32 PM
WOW~ What a nightmare! I sure hope everything resolves itself. Just stay out of that sheetrock guys/gals way. We don't want you in the hospital nor in distress.
Did the cherry furniture survive?
Posted by: Cathy | March 28, 2004 at 11:38 PM
Can someone else come in to supervise the sheetrock minions? As someone who has had the "one more exposure" sermon when it comes to sheetrock, drywall and anything else that makes that fine dust as well as new carpeting, cubicles and other items laden with formaldehyde and chemicals, glues, etc...please be careful. At the very least, wear a mask. The best would be the kind that actually blocks everything and supplies oxygen, but I'm not sure you would have access to such. Take breaks away from it, somewhere the air is free of the floating particles. Truly the best alternative is to let someone else handle that part for you, including any cleanup. I sympathize with the house woes that drain the bank account. There are times I was sure we had moved into the "Money Pit".
Posted by: Bliss | March 29, 2004 at 08:05 AM
That sucks. I hope you can find a way to get through the sheetrocking. Our house in London, had plumbing like yours. It dripped right through the ceiling and into the dining room. I hope your piece of furniture survived. Hang in there.
Posted by: Kathleen | March 29, 2004 at 09:43 AM