Plumbing problems suck.

[delightfulstar]

My toilet tank had a slow leak, so I did what you're supposed to do, which is to shut off the water with the valve. Except...the valve broke off when I turned it. Then it started to spray water...I tried to tighten down the nut on the supply line to shut it off, and the whole line gave way...it turns out it was one of those soft metal lines that they don't even use anymore (my house was built in 1989), and it completely blew out, and water started shooting all over my bathroom. It took 20 minutes, two mains and help from the neighbor to finally shut the water off, which we had to do at the street. All hell broke loose, in the meantime...my bathroom ended up with 1-2" of water, and despite towels, a shop vac, and trying to shut the water off as quickly as we could, it managed to trickle under the door, and into my hallway, part of my dining room, and into part of two other rooms. So we not only had to call a plumber, we also had to have a restoration company called out - they extracted a good amount of water from our carpet, and had to tear out the baseboards where it flooded (they were soaked, and NASTY). I never knew that a stupid ½" water line could cause all of that, but it was full house pressure, and you can imagine the amount of water that would come from that. The plumber said that the valve and supply line were both bad, and could have gone at any time, and that there wasn't anything else we could have done. We were lucky that we weren't away when it happened, or we could have lost everything. Still, it was a very scary experience. Our house should be put back together in a few days, the damage appears to be fairly minor, and thankfully, everything is covered. If you have the "soft metal" style plumbing lines, I would ask you to PLEASE consider getting them checked and replaced with the newer stainless steel type, so that you don't go through what we did last night. It was not fun.

[Tobin S.]

1. I hear you.

Makes me want to get my house inspected.

[Tuesday Afternoon]

2. tell me about it. I have had More than my share. You have my sympathy.

:hug:

[Curmudgeoness]

3. I sympathize. What a mess! I have had two flood events

in my lifetime and know what a nightmare water can be. One was a repair I tried to do to the washer when I was not thinking properly---don't ask, but let's just say that there is a tremendous amount of water in a full washer tub. The other was major with a pipe breaking over my kitchen, and I was out of town. My neighbor called to tell me water was pouring out the front and back door and he had turned the water off at the street. That was a time when homeowners insurance was greatly appreciated.

Please watch for mold growth, especially around the lower parts of the walls. That was my major ordeal.

[delightfulstar]

4. We think this has happened before...

When they pulled the trim in the bathroom, we saw what looked like remnants of mold from a possible prior flood in that room. Luckily, the restoration company is coming back over the next few days to spray with mold inhibitor/antimicrobial, and we'll assess what needs to be replaced and repaired. Right now, my house is full of blowers and dehumidifiers...a little loud, but livable. Like I said, it could have been much, much worse. I feel for those of you have been through this - it's not fun at all.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Dang! Sorry to hear that happened. :^(

[stuntcat]

6. 'lucky you weren't away when it happened'

That's what you have to keep in mind! how much worse it could have easily been..

This kinda stuff SENDS me.

[pscot]

7. I hate water events.

And I'm not too crazy about plummers.

[Badfish]

8. Sounds like a nightmare.

Anytime you try and turn a shutoff and it doesn't spin easy , you are flirting with a disaster, always locate the main shutoff for the house before forcing one of these valves.