h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Otherwise we'd be the ones having to pay the plumber

Woke up a bit before 8 this morning, and headed to the bathroom so that I could use it before Tom hopped in the shower. The hall carpet was soaked, and the bathroom floor had standing water up to the top of the carpet edge And the toilet was running--evidently since Tom came to bed just after 3:30. So I got out the vacuum. I've got a Rainbow, so at least I can suck up water, but the tank's only 2-3 gallons, so it needed a lot of emptying. Since I couldn't pour the water down the toilet, I had to take it outside.

Called the property management agency when they opened at 8:30. Got a call from Roto-Rooter about 9:30, and was asked when good time would be. I told them ASAP, which apparently translates as within the hour... Got a call between 10 and 10:30 that the plumber was on his way. Somewhere in there, hydraulic pressure got the better of me, and I ended up perching on the edge of the tub. Have tried to drink very little today as closest available toilet is at the park a couple blocks away, and I had to stay here for the plumber, who informed me soon after his arrival that the problem appeared to be with the main drain, not the toilet itself, so no water could be run into any of the drains (so no more perching) and I couldn't use the spin cycle on the washer to wring out the towels, because, of course, that water goes to the only drain...

Was asked several times if I was sure nothing got dropped into the toilet, as the snake kept getting stuck right near the toilet, both when it was the long electric one from outside or the manual one inserted into the toilet. I was sure, because there'd been no problem when I went to bed at 12:30, and Faith had gone to sleep in her nice confining crib 4 hours before I had. And there's nothing near enough to the toilet for Tom to have accidently knocked anything in before he came to bed.

When the toilet was taken up and the camera was fed through, it was seen that there was something wrong with the sump pump, which is why everything was backing up. Just like this past summer... The thing was just replaced about 6 months ago! Turned out it was the switch (overheard plumber guy and 2nd plumber guy talking while I watched the monitor screen--was very cool when the water drained past the camera!)

So, it is now just past 6 pm, the sump pump is fixed, and the toilet is being put back as I type. I hope it doesn't take much longer--I could definately use it soon! But at least I'm not going to have to cook--Tom's going to bring something home, since I've been vacuuming the hall off and on all day, and have some mud to clean up in the bathroom (as well as a final vacuuming--finally decided that trying to get everything perfectly dry while there was still water running wasn't very bright...)

Having to find a plumber is a bummer.

Update, 6:45:

Toilet's all done, and I feel MUCH better!

As well you should!

Oh my. Just about all day without a toilet?


I think I'd have found a bucket. Or *something*.


The plumber has some nerve telling you that you need to stick around all day. You know how they leave the house claiming to "go for parts"? In reality they just want a working toilet to use.

awww...hope everything will be ok now

...be glad it was only one day. we had go to neighbours empty house* for a week, because plumbing under the floor was no longer correctly there. the toilet was one gaping hole .

one fun thing tho they had make holes with diamands drills and gave very artistic end product: a stone collum. I had one for years in my bedroom.

* the house empty, because they sold their house.

Well, actually, the plumber never actually said I had to stay, but I'd much rather do so, since he never left! If anyone had been home upstairs, things would've been much easier this morning while I was waiting for the phone--I could've taken the cordless with me. Like I said, I did empty my bladder before hegot here, so I didn't start feeling uncomfortable again until after dark. Even though this is a good neighborhood, I still didn't really want to take Faith with me to the park after dark Heck, for all I know, the bathrooms get locked at night...

Hm, both times we've had enough trouble with the toilet that we have to call, it's turned out to be the sump pump! I think if we have trouble we can't banish with the plunger, I'll mention the sump pump first thing.If the pump's not the problem, then that's only a few minutes (assuming the plumber the company sends out is skinny--only access to the pump room is through a window). If it *is* the problem, the plumber doesn't have to spend all day trying everything else before looking at the pump!

Well,thank goodness this didn't happen next Friday or Sat. morn..... ..

Hadn't even thought of that! Something else to be thankful for

Of course one would be very thankful if those oh-so-essential plumb-thingies always worked the way they're supposed to!

I'm happy to live in a place where there are *three* separate toilets all with different connections to the main water/sewage conduits.