Dis nag!

To all proud home owner out there.
I suggest the acquisition of a little emergency tool box and an assortment of hardware at home. Last night I spent some three hours under the stars playing Mr Fixit. The situation facing me required the lifting of some precious paving, digging with bare hands and at the same time, trying to stay dry. The neighbours must have been deep into dreamy dreamland because no one came out to enquire on my nocturnal scufflings.
Here, midnight, at No: three FM street, the world is quiet. Unlike some four years ago, when the neighbours at number six where still 'gooing out' some recreational beverages at all hours of the night. So, it is this rather newfound stillness that allowed me to hear the ominous hissing of something amiss. At the corner of the garage door laid a puddle of water. An odd time to be noticing some dog's territorial marking fluid I thought at first. However , this puddle seemed a bit too big for any normal domesticated animal. So with with the combination of this constant hissing in the tranquil evening, I suspected some untimely maintenance work ahead. At first I thought,'let's leave it till tomorrow' but something just told me that I may end up with a big crater in the yard the next morning. So after scratching out a few cobbles, there before me very eyes the wet sand starting popping up like jungle oats on a hot plate. I had work ahead of me to enjoy that both the tenant and my young family has bath water the next morning. Off I went , digging with my hand, on hand and knees hoping to find the leak in an accessible spot in the pipe. After much labour on my knees and sometimes prostrate in fresh H2O, it was confirmed. The damaged pipe was indeed of the dreaded polycop family, and a three quarter of an inch pipe ,as well. And so here is where the need for a very important, carefully stocked tool box becomes essential. Do not get caught in a serious, drought threatening plumbing situation at midnight on a Wednesday/Thursday, without the basic equipment.

Fit yourself out with a medium size shifting spanner, water pump pliers, some hacksaw blades. The normal size hacksaw may not fit into the average toolbox that you want to store inside the kitchen cupboard, there is a something called the junior hacksaw. This is very neat little tool, it works well when space is limited where a leak needs fixing. Of course, you don't really need a hammer for plumbing, but when a wall or floor needs chopping up, a nice four pounder comes in handy. Spanners, saw and of course an extension lamp for the midnight emergencies. The flashlight is also an important item in that box; keep them batteries fresh.

Now don't think you are fully equiped just yet. There is still the question of fixing the problem. So it goes without saying that a few plumbing fittings will help. Get clued up on the various fittings out there and make sure to stock up on the most common and easy-to-use item. Conex fittings work well, no special training required. And remember to buy some extra olives, these boys are good currency in those plumbing emergencies. Remember also a quality thread tape. Mr. S introduced me to petroleum jelly as an essential plumbing 'tool'.

Stocked up on fitting and tools? Good. This will of course count for nothing if you find yourself rushing around, searching for that tap, the one that switches off the water. KNOW the location of the main shut-off valve to your water supply people. Clean off the long grass overgrowing it. Dig up that paving now rathe than later.

Be prepared! Boyscout.

balckie