Tuesday, January 22, 2008

That odor can't be good news

It might be argued that an old house homeowner hasn't truly lived until suffering the horrors and indignities of a sanitary waste line clog and consequential backup. Well, dear friends, let me assure you that we are living large. With bonus points for weekend timing and extra credit for it being a long holiday weekend!

I'll spare you the grim details. Suffice it to say we're grateful to Steve and Joshua of Steve's Comfort Systems -- local heating, cooling and plumbing experts of the highest caliber -- for coming to our rescue. Today, Liane and I are genuinely appreciating something we all too often take for granted. Clean drain pipes.

This episode only confirms what we already suspected. We're on borrowed time in the waste line and vent stack department. Stay tuned for a future update on the plans to replace all of the four inch output infrastructure, Hopefully, we won't have to dig all the way to the street, but we will have to get underneath the basement's concrete floor. Makes wallpaper removal look absolutely delightful, doesn't it?

Here's a picture of the intrepid Joshua controlling the mighty Spartan drain auger.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Ah the pleasures of new/old homeownership! Fond memories myself of finding all the hidden treasures and being on a first name basis with the hardware store staff. Best to you and keep up with the honey-do list. EVERYTHING takes five times as long as one thinks it will. As an example look at how long I have been in law school!
Love to you and Liane and the doggies.
Margaret

John said...

On page 46 of the current issue of Harper's magazine (on the rack at the public library) you'll find an article that puts this particular situation in a favorable perspective. (It could be worse.)