5.04.2010

about plumbing

There is a lot of plumbing in a house. A friend of mine who maintains summer cottages once told me about a unit that was trashed because the automatic ice maker in the refrigerator broke. The water for those things has to be plumbed in. I didn't get one of those refrigerators.
But I do have six bathrooms, two dishwashers and kitchen sinks, two outdoor showers and two hi-tech septic systems to worry about on Block Island. And town water, ironically, costs a lot there. A drip equals big bucks.
Let me just say this: Toto. Very good toilets. No problem.
However, there's the hot tub I bought over the web that has to be unplumbed to change a light bulb.
And the chrome-plated mixing valve (that cost as much as the hot tub) for the antique tub that has always leaked.
The septic system that needed a pump fixed.
The septic system with the computer that sets off an alarm in the middle of the night.
The leaky shower stall.
The leaking faucet that needs to be switched out (again, a very high end one).
There are a couple of plumbers on the island. Neither one will show up in an emergency.
Two options are left: a) Import talent. What with the hours on the ferry and the truck reservations you're heading towards a thousand dollar day for a couple leaks. b) Fix it yourself.
Don't forget to buy everything you need while you're on the mainland.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh Claudy Girl,
The pipes, the pipes are calling...

otra rubia said...

Anon, you should get a job writing headlines at the NYPost. Seriously. You're missing your calling. It would be fun!

Claudia said...

You're right, OR!

Stephen said...

Very important to have all the tools on the island. There is nothing worse then getting a project 90% done and you don't have a specific tool to finish!