Bob the Plumber

First the toilet leaked from underneath. I fixed that with a new wax ring, then it leaked from two places on the tank - tank to bowl bolt and the ballcock valve.

Apparently all the rubber seals dried out when I emptied it of all the water and left it lying on its side for a day. It's amazing all the little parts and seals you can buy individually to repair all this stuff for like a $1 each or entire kits for just $10. I opted for the entire ballcock kit and tank bolt kit. Turned out to be a really good move as the ballcock kit included pieces I was apparently missing.

The install was easy though I had to go through the pain of draining the tank again, which gets water everywhere.

The new stuff screwed right in, sealed itself and I was done.

It's like a new toilet.

Now onto the fridge water line.

- b

Backed Up

Got the flange fixed on the toilet.

They have these nifty metal rings you install over top your old flange and you're on your way. The toilet doesn't even rock.

But it's not fixed.

I guess while it was sitting on it's side, the weight of itself stretched the seals around the bolts between the tank and the bowl.

Now the tank leaks, but only enough for a towel and bucket to keep it from becoming a complete mess. Not sure when I'll get around to completing this one.

Next I took a little time to at least figure out why the water line to the fridge was leaking. My first suspicion was the coupling between the new line I put in a little while ago and the line from the fridge. I had some problem with it the first time. I figured it finally gave up. Turns out that wasn't the case.

The copper line itself gave up. I realize we have hard water (at least going through this line), but I'd expect the line to last a little more then a year or so. So it's off to Home Depot to find something stronger and replace all this.

- b

Toilet Flange

Our toilet rocks.

Literally, it rocks, which means it now leaks.

Well, it did till I took it apart.

A little wobble overtime will cause the wax seal to fail and the toilet to leak. That's why it leaks. The next question is why does it wobble or why does ours wobble?

Could it be that the flange is somehow installed incorrectly? Could it be that somehow the closet flange bolts aren't in their normal slots (which are broken, the slots, not the bolts), but have been drilled through the flange which causes irregularities in the flange surface (the bolt slots are recessed for the bolt heads. The manually drilled holes for the bolts are not recessed), thus causing the toilet to rock?
Though you can't see where the flange rises above the height of the floor at the bolts, you can see where the bolts have been manually drilled and pushed through the flange. How this was done, I have no idea. The flange doesn't just pop off the pipe and pop back on.

The correct fix for this is to cut the pipe, remove the flange, and put a whole new assembly back in its place. The problem is I have two layers of vinyl flooring in this bathroom I'd like to replace with tile, which could change the level of the floor. If I replace the flange now, which has to be flush with the floor, it could be off once the tile floor goes in. Better to wait for the heavy work until the floor is right.

For now, I'll return the "extra thick" wax replacement ring I bought (which has longer screws that I can't replace because of how the above screws were installed), get a regular ring, then use caulk around the base of the toilet to stop the wobble. Of course if it ever leaks again I'll never know as the caulk will keep the water under the toilet and rotting through the floor. One day I'll go to sit down and fall right through to the basement as the weight of me and the toilet crashes through the rotted floor.

Joy.

Is it too late to rent?

- b

One Guy and a PBR

Got the new dresser moved up to Abigail's room.

It's a behemoth, and I couldn't figure out how to get the drawers out of it.

The easiest route was out through the garage, around the back yard, up the deck and in through the sliding glass doors. The dog leg into the room made me a little nervous, but we made it without a scratch.

If ever it needs to come out of that room, I'll be sure to pay someone.

- b

Tree Damage

Spent most of yesterday afternoon cleaning up some tree damage at Jen's mother's house.

I swear White Pines aren't indigenous to this area considering how poorly they do in wind and heavy snow.

Her township has a chipping program. The plan was to make a pile of what could be chipped and make a pile of what couldn't (8" diameter limitation). The chipping pile is supposed to be at the street, but considering the chipping appointment (chipping is free, but you need an appointment) might not be for another month, I kept it back behind the house.

For now the pile that can't be chipped is under the deck. Some point soon, I'll need to go back and haul that off myself.

Should make for nice bonfire wood.

- b