How to save yourself a $1000 plumbing bill

[irish]

Joe, from one MInnesotan to another I have to say that you sound like a lot of others around me. It is like we are born to remodel. If you would tell my hubby it wasn't possible be prepared to watch him do it. Must havae something to do with the genetics in this neck of the woods.

an is a much better woman than I would ever be cause I would not have been able to handle a jackhammer. I have gotten to the point where I would not even complain if we had to raise chickens and sheep and cattle. I couldn't manage to do it, but I would not complain one iota the second time around. Being on disability and unable to work is just the pits. I will never get used to it. I still plan and dream in my head and that is about as far as I can go these days.

Anybody else do that? IRish

[Cassi307]

Irish, I am new to this board but this post cracked me up. I can so totally relate! We have had a slow moving tub drain for awhile and my budget isn't what it used to be so the plumber was out of the question. We tried all the usual stuff from snakes to all the caustic stuff that doesn't work. One day, my teenage son who is the king of showers who hates having a hairy chest used some Nair and would you believe that after he was done with that shower we had a clear drain??? Who knew this was a multi-purpose product!

Joe Boy, do I ever hear ya. I am a woman but I married this farm raised kid and we did everything, wired plumber, moved septic tanks, moved big shed, ran cement flooring in sheds, carpentered, butchered hogs, beef, chickens, etc. I could run a skill saw and rip a board---not as good as a man, but I could do little projects around the house without waiting for hubby to come home.

Now, I can't eat and meal and then do the dishes right away. It takes me hours to cook, eat and clean up the mess. Instead of being able to invent some way to rearrange things or make things different in the house I just move things around which is an exercise in futility.

I will add that I have had a sluggish drain for several years in my bathroom sink. I don't use a lot of the store bought drain removal stuff cause it can be hard on the pipes. In my own funny thinking mind I have come up with ways to help nurse the drain along. I have used old orange juice, pepsi, and carbonated water, hydrogen peroxide and any other product that I can come up with. The best thing I have used is a couple of tablespoons of soda followed by a couple of cups of hydrogen peroxide. About 3 weeks ago I let it sit longer than I planned on and then I left the hot water running longer than I planned on. Guess what! The drain is finally not plugged.

I think I soaked it and fissed it so much that the blockage finally broke up when I ran the hot water.  Some days you "do get the bear" as the old saying goes.

Sounds like you are going to be a busy bee at your place Joe, Try not to do yourself in or you will be too pooped to enjoy the summer. Irish

[susanep]

Hey, I have been reading all this, and thinking I just have a small bathroom sink that has leaked, and I need to know how to make sure the pipes underneath the sink are fixed right together or what to do.

I don't know anything about this, and can't afford right now to call anyone out. My husband can't get down to do it. It's up to me, but if I only knew what I was doing.

We live in a manufactured home, and they never fix them securely.
Help!!!!!

I have also got to try and paint our front porch this spring. I am going to use a long handle with a roller. Only way I can stand to do it, and live. hehe.

susanep

[Joe S.]

A handyman or husband-for-hire as some call themselves now may be your cheapest option. Manufactured homes are notorious for cheap plumbing fixtures. First determine where the leak is coming from; drain, hot water, or cold. Some times the joints just need to be tightened. There is a special wrench to use that makes the job easier to tighten the drain and a different one for the hot and cold. Turn water off before working on hot or cold. I have trouble crawling under sinks to do this since an auto accident in 1983. Jan does this with work for me by using a couple of pillows before laying down under the sink. A good flash light Helps to identify what is leaking. Sometimes a younger neighbor may do the job to be kind.

[Cassi307]

I fixed my toilet by watching a video on you tube! As for painting I barely have the energy to do more than go buy the paint. I can't use my teenager to do this because he is the messiest painter ever! I like the idea of husband for hire. I think I need to check that out.

Hey, I have been reading all this, and thinking I just have a small bathroom sink that has leaked, and I need to know how to make sure the pipes underneath the sink are fixed right together or what to do.

I don't know anything about this, and can't afford right now to call anyone out. My husband can't get down to do it. It's up to me, but if I only knew what I was doing.

We live in a manufactured home, and they never fix them securely.
Help!!!!!

I have also got to try and paint our front porch this spring. I am going to use a long handle with a roller. Only way I can stand to do it, and live. hehe.

susanep

[irish]

Leaks also respond well to a well positioned pail under the sink!!!lol IRish

[susanep]

irish that is funny!! Joe thanks!!  I will probably have to put a few pillows under the sink, and take my flashlight, and see what damage I can do. 

susanep

[quietdynamics]

DH has been fiddling with the master bedroom toilet ...I could hear water running? beyond the tinnitus (which does sound like water running through a pipe.. ).
So the toilet has not been in use for a long time...to be fair we did have other 'life events' happening.

We do not really use the dinning room that much. I put paperwork on the table to organize and I happen to look up and I see a perfect straight line of water damage...I found a plumber (a referral) for work on my Mothers' home and we hope to get them here this April. They will be working a new construction site in our area.

*** How to save $4-6000+
Our heater went out. We called the outfit that serviced the unit last.
Tech came, spent a few minutes in the basement. He went out to the van and came back with flyer and finance contract for a new unit.
My alarms were going off, (didn't seem he spent anytime trouble shooting),  he would not leave the information with us.

Called a friend, HVAC  referral came out. He checked the unit and went to Home Depot, bought two items for $15, one to replace, one extra which he showed us how to put in...and the service charge.

We called the outfit that first came out to complain...and we were told that they had complaints about the tech and he was known for doing that?

[slccom]

We called the outfit that first came out to complain...and we were told that they had complaints about the tech and he was known for doing that?

So why is he still employed? I'd call the local District Attorney and complain. If they know he is doing this and they still send him out, that strikes me as fraud.

Sharon