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Projects | Replacing Blown Valves or "Thar she blows!"

Not too long ago, I decided that the drain pipes in one of too many bathrooms was looking a bit corroded.  After a serious glass of wine, I decided that yes indeed, this was a job I could handle, but not right then because we had a meeting to attend.  It was a costly meeting. 

 While we were gone a window blew open and caused our wash machine cold and hot water pipes to freeze and burst.  The hoses to the machine were in pretty bad shape too.  It was so cold in the washer area that the water leaking from the copper pipes actually froze before making its way into the basement below. 

I hit #2 on the speed dial (number 1 is our insurance agent) and Joe the Plumber came right over.  He knows that our calling him is equivalent to a 911 call for anyone else. 

He replaced the pipes and then installed an electric operated valve for both hot and cold water.  The electric valves only open when the wash machine is operating.  In other words, the hoses to the machine could fall off, blow up, whatever and no water would gush from the main pipes as long as the wash machine was off.   Joe also added stainless steel hoses from the water pipes to the wash machine as an extra precaution.  Joe knows us.   And I caulked SHUT that nasty little window above the washer that blew open to cause all this trouble.

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