Year and years ago my brother and I had to go to my parent's cabin because they had just been there and noticed a small leak outside. We turned the water on, found the leak and went to a local hardware store to get the copper line we needed. We walked in and being a teenager I noticed a pretty young lady behind the counter. She took my brother to the copper fittings and also sold us a length of copper. She asked if I knew how to solder and I told her "Why no I can't". She said "It's easy" so she gave me a quick lesson. I paid for the parts and free instruction and headed back to the cabin. My brother looked at me when we got in the truck and said, "You know how to solder a copper line." I told him I did but a refresher course was always nice to receive especially from a pretty young lady. He just shook his head.
This cracked me up! My husband, bless his heart, has struggled with plumbing for decades, starting with our home in Truckee, which was built in happy-hands-at-home fashion by a know-it-all engineer. We soon needed to replace the plumbing under our kitchen sink. You're right. It took three trips to the local hardware store. By the end of that particular job, people would gather 'round when Jeff came back to the store for more items and advice.
This year, I told him all I wanted for Christmas was a new kitchen faucet. I was tired of being squirted in the face. He said he'd always hated that porcelain sink and would give me a new sink as well. I was thrilled. We both went to Lowe's a couple of times just to buy the sink and faucet. ($400+) Once home, he girded up his loins to tackle the job, knowing he'd have to make several more trips to finish it. After looking at the tangle of plumbing in our present home, he opted to call a plumber, which itself was a challenge in these non-worker times. At last, an earnest young man appeared at the door, spent an hour trying to remove the disposal, and said he'd return in a few days. The box of sink and faucet remained on the dining table for over a week. Two days later, TWO earnest young men, one with prison tats, appeared at the door. Our first friend brought a buddy to help him navigate what turned out to be his first job replacing a two-drain sink. Prison Tats knew his stuff and was a congenial fellow ... thank God. And our first plumber made three trips, as a gofer, for parts that are no longer included in the box when you buy a replacement sink from Lowe's. God bless America. We need all the help we can get.
Tweren't me. The plumber made the choice and asked him to help him with the job. And frankly, I'm assuming he was in prison. A couple of tats were suspect, but I really don't know. He had a really kind face, so I'm probably wrong. A person doesn't come out of prison with that kind of face.
I had to replace a double valve faucet (over 60-years old) with a new single-arm one. Should have taken about an hour; it took the better part of two days because the old nuts underneath corroded into place and I had to use an old screwdriver and hammer to rotate the nuts. My trip #2 was for a penetrating lubricant that may have loosened the nuts a bit be did not lessen the amount of time required significantly. No one had any of the old wrenches used in the day to apply or remove those nuts.
Put that one in the win column Kent. Running toilets are the hill that I almost always perish on. Turning the water inlet too tight, crack the porcelain of the tank $15 repair zooms to $150 for new toilet. Live and learn. Still didn't call a plumber. Gotta own those things. Nice post
Wait until you have to replace a leaky shower faucet - need to shut down the whole house. Never understood why this has always been the case for homes. And "YUP!", third time is the charm!
Year and years ago my brother and I had to go to my parent's cabin because they had just been there and noticed a small leak outside. We turned the water on, found the leak and went to a local hardware store to get the copper line we needed. We walked in and being a teenager I noticed a pretty young lady behind the counter. She took my brother to the copper fittings and also sold us a length of copper. She asked if I knew how to solder and I told her "Why no I can't". She said "It's easy" so she gave me a quick lesson. I paid for the parts and free instruction and headed back to the cabin. My brother looked at me when we got in the truck and said, "You know how to solder a copper line." I told him I did but a refresher course was always nice to receive especially from a pretty young lady. He just shook his head.
Being able to maintain and repair things yourself is a great skill!
Faucets aren’t the only modern day appliance made to be replaced and not fixed.
This cracked me up! My husband, bless his heart, has struggled with plumbing for decades, starting with our home in Truckee, which was built in happy-hands-at-home fashion by a know-it-all engineer. We soon needed to replace the plumbing under our kitchen sink. You're right. It took three trips to the local hardware store. By the end of that particular job, people would gather 'round when Jeff came back to the store for more items and advice.
This year, I told him all I wanted for Christmas was a new kitchen faucet. I was tired of being squirted in the face. He said he'd always hated that porcelain sink and would give me a new sink as well. I was thrilled. We both went to Lowe's a couple of times just to buy the sink and faucet. ($400+) Once home, he girded up his loins to tackle the job, knowing he'd have to make several more trips to finish it. After looking at the tangle of plumbing in our present home, he opted to call a plumber, which itself was a challenge in these non-worker times. At last, an earnest young man appeared at the door, spent an hour trying to remove the disposal, and said he'd return in a few days. The box of sink and faucet remained on the dining table for over a week. Two days later, TWO earnest young men, one with prison tats, appeared at the door. Our first friend brought a buddy to help him navigate what turned out to be his first job replacing a two-drain sink. Prison Tats knew his stuff and was a congenial fellow ... thank God. And our first plumber made three trips, as a gofer, for parts that are no longer included in the box when you buy a replacement sink from Lowe's. God bless America. We need all the help we can get.
That's so nice that the ex-prison guy got a chance to prove his worth thanks to you ,💕
Tweren't me. The plumber made the choice and asked him to help him with the job. And frankly, I'm assuming he was in prison. A couple of tats were suspect, but I really don't know. He had a really kind face, so I'm probably wrong. A person doesn't come out of prison with that kind of face.
Three trips to the hardware store and Kent spent no gas on any vehicle.
That's what we always said at the store I worked at - all plumbing jobs will require at least 3 trips to the store to complete.
Today above freezing the sky IS the faucet!
Fantastic photo of the inside of Menards. I always think pictures like this will be of immense value to historians in the future.
Every once in a while, I snap a photo of the inside of the supermarket just to document it. The products! The colors!
I had to replace a double valve faucet (over 60-years old) with a new single-arm one. Should have taken about an hour; it took the better part of two days because the old nuts underneath corroded into place and I had to use an old screwdriver and hammer to rotate the nuts. My trip #2 was for a penetrating lubricant that may have loosened the nuts a bit be did not lessen the amount of time required significantly. No one had any of the old wrenches used in the day to apply or remove those nuts.
I love the Austen reference, and I have made the acquaintance of many a faucet over the years.
A prophetic and always-timely repair!
"But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." (Amos 5:24)
Looking more closely at the photos - ultra joy is certainly a festive holiday wish!
Oh,to have such a handy man around,worth their weight in gold
Put that one in the win column Kent. Running toilets are the hill that I almost always perish on. Turning the water inlet too tight, crack the porcelain of the tank $15 repair zooms to $150 for new toilet. Live and learn. Still didn't call a plumber. Gotta own those things. Nice post
Plumbing is scary and can be treacherous.
Wait until you have to replace a leaky shower faucet - need to shut down the whole house. Never understood why this has always been the case for homes. And "YUP!", third time is the charm!
I notice the color coding on the faucet has Republicans to the left and Democrats to the right.
So are my hearing aids colored, blue and red.