The summer from Hades

last year

July in particular, but now coming into August. The beginning of July was my ER visit and subsequent MRI and extensive bloodwork. Then our landline phones weren't working at the exact same time our router died . We had no internet till Verizon sent us a new router and landline was disconnected at the base, probably from a cat. Speaking of, Willie the cat I rescued from under a shed April '24 wasn't eating, so a $1000 trip to the vet and two weeks later, he's eating and drinking but living in the basement alone. As many of you can attest, July was really hot, especially when nighttime temps never went lower than 76. So then our house's central air broke. It was leaking coolant so they gave us enough to get us by till we bought a new Bosch, which was installed last week. We had problems with the new thermostat, so they came back and replaced that. Sunday, I was doing a wash when the machine flooded and the powder room toilet overflowed. We have enormous trees all around our house, and roots get in, but usually with some warning. We have a contract with the water company to unclog it for $50 plus $17 a month on our water bill. It is 24 hour service but that didn't happen. Three days later (today), they showed up and could not unclog. So we had to call another company who responded quickly and couldn't remove it either. They could, but then they might destroy the 120-year-old terra cotta pipe doing it. So tomorrow we're getting a whole new plastic pipe installed to the tune of $16,000. Worse summer ever!

Featured Answer

dedtired

last year

Lily, my ancient Kitchen Aid fridge is built into the cabinetry. Most new frideges are a bit taller. Thank heavens there isnt a cabinet above the current fridge.

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Comments (25)

OutsidePlaying
last year
last modified: last year
You win. And I’m sure the rest of us hope this is no contest.

I’m so sorry. I know that sometimes it seems like every other day is a new ’something’. That costs $$$$.
lily316 thanked OutsidePlaying
nicole
last year
Your over your three things limit...it can stop raining on you NOW! I'm so sorry!
lily316 thanked nicole
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Is the bathtub drain vented or near the main vent stack? That may be why it doesn't have any problems. Every drain in a waste water system needs to be vented. The symptoms you described in your original post are classic for a venting problem. I'm not a plumber, but as I understand it, water running at full strength can overwhelm the drain. when that happens air can't escape from the drain line and a bubble builds up in the drain pipe. The bubble tries to rise up through the pipe, but increasing pressure from water building up in the drain and sink won't let it clear and may even push it back down the line. The bubble has no place to go for escape, except through the drain opening, but the pressure created by water passing through the drain and into the pipe is pushing down on the bubble, keeping it in place. Even after the flow of water into the sink stops, the weight of the backed up water is bearing down on the trapped air bubble. Until enough water can trickle past the bubble to lighten the load holding it in place....the drain is stopped up. Once the pressure from trapped water lessons enough for the bubble to push past it and escape (it's sort of like a burp), the drain will flow freely. A properly vented drain won't have this problem. The displaced air will be able to escape through the vent line which won't have any oncoming water or pressure in it to impede its escape. Here is a link that might be useful: Wikipedia - Plumbing Vents
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schoolhouse_gwagain
last year
Terrible luck. Sorry you had to go through all this.
lily316 thanked schoolhouse_gwagain
sealavender
last year
I was feeling distressed about two recent unrelated expensive plumbing issues, but your run of luck makes that look cheap. I'm sorry.
lily316 thanked sealavender
palisades_
last year
Indeed! Makes my miserable summer heat feel like a breeze. Tree roots are like time bombs but the new PVC pipe will keep them out for good. Hope it all smooth sailing from now on for you.
lily316 thanked palisades_
lucillle
last year
Lily I'm so sorry. I hope that soon you will get a run of GOOD luck.
lily316 thanked lucillle
roxsolid
last year
Oh wow 😕

I hope things get better for you.
lily316 thanked roxsolid
Olychick
last year
Wow, that is WAY too many things all at once (or close to each other). Hopefully, you'll get a long disaster free period to follow.
lily316 thanked Olychick
aok27502
last year
I think I would just cry. The universe can stop piling on just any time now.

I hope you said "rabbit rabbit" a few days ago!
lily316 thanked aok27502
Suzieque
last year
So sorry for all that you're going through! May the rest of the year bring all good things.

(Why is the cat living alone in the basement?)
lily316 thanked Suzieque
lily316
Original Author
last year
I did say rabbit/rabbit both July and August so... I did it for fun not ever believing in old wives' tales.

The cat, Willie, has some kind of undiagnosed problem I guess and wants to live in the basement on a high stone window sill. All the litter boxes are down there, and many old cat perches and toys. He's very healthy looking and eats, drinks and has just turned weird and wants to stay down there. There is obviously a problem, but he's up to date on everything and received meds at our $1000 visit. I can't deal with him right now as I have many men at my house right now making a ton of noise and inspectors checking everything out. I'm a basket case. When will life be normal? ( I just noticed Willie ran away with the "0" on my keyboard. New computer is the next thing.
hobbitmom
last year
oh yuk, Lily. That's horrible! Hope things settle down.
lily316 thanked hobbitmom
maire_cate
last year
Oh how I wish I had a magic wand to make those horrors vanish!

So sorry you had to endure all of that.
lily316 thanked maire_cate
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
last year
Oh boy! Seems like you hit the cr@p lottery - my condolences.

Hope things improve quickly...
lily316 thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9/10
chartreuse scorpion
last year
Oh man. That is a LOT to deal with. Hope that cloud moves on, and soon!
lily316 thanked chartreuse scorpion
Fun2BHere
last year
Oh, @lily316, that's way too many things to handle at once. I hope you are able to get through them all without pulling out your hair and have some months of peace afterwards.
lily316 thanked Fun2BHere
petalique
last year
last modified: last year
Wishing you cool breezes, all repairs done swiftly and a peaceful week, Lily.

Ya know, Willie Cat might be onto something. Go hide out in a cool calm place.

And the city is tacking on $17 per month for tree roots? How’s that? Whose trees? Are they going to come out for free to unclog the root invaded water pipes? Are they willow trees? Willow tree roots seem to be particularly intrusive. They’ll probably go through deserts.

Maybe when you feel stronger and refreshed, protest that additional fee.
lily316 thanked petalique
happy2b…gw
last year
It is said that bad things happen in threes but you have gone for the record. Having clogged drain and back up is no fun. This summer has brought a number of unexpected expenses and challenges for me too. The cooler weather will bring lighter breezes and a welcome change in our prospects.
lily316 thanked happy2b…gw
lily316
Original Author
last year
The guys have come and gone and we have water which we have had, just not today while they were cleaning the roots and replacing the pipe with plastic since the 110 year old terra cottas were cracked and then imploding the rootball might have damaged the pipes more. We all speculalted that the extreme rainfall in June excacerbated the condition. No we voluntarily added that to our water bill and for years had roto rooter guys clean it every year or two. The problem is a giant 85 year old maple tree which hovers over the house.
jrb451
last year
Ouch! Sorry to be hit with all these things so close together. So, about that contract with the water company to remove clogs, are they paying anything at all to the other company that opened the clog, or the drain replacement costs?
lily316 thanked jrb451
chisue
last year
I hope it helps a little to share all this GRIEF! What a circus -- an expensive circus.

We've also had an unending few months of money flowing O-U-T for stupid stuff.

And...and...I just spent $104 for nothing at the grocery store. Driving there and back, it looks like a neutron bomb exploded here -- the kind that evaporates only the prople, leaving structures intact? Everyone is hiding from the heat and the choking air. (I see the US may start assisting Canada in fighting forest fires -- not before time as we all suffer!)
lily316 thanked chisue
lily316
Original Author
last year
jrb...The PA American Water Company did refund the $50 and are considering whether or not to reimburse more.
dedtired
last year
Lily, i finally had the main drain from my house replaced a few years ago after years of having roots from a maple tree cleaned out of old terra cotta pipes. Wasnt cheap but so glad to have one headache solved.

All my appliances are old and i cringe every time I hear a funny sound.

Yes, July was a weather horror show and now the smoky skies. Heres hoping for bettter things to come.
lily316 thanked dedtired
lily316
Original Author
last year
I couldn't agree with you more, dedtired. This total blockage never happened so quickly before but now it will never happen. And all of my appliances are old too and I worry most about my Jenn Air side by side which is 23 years old and is wood paneled. Washer/dryer are even older.

The summer from Hades

dedtired

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