OT.. a while ago we discussed water stocks. This last week I had the sterling experience of having our well pump break down on the house. It would have been a less meaningful experience had I simply hired the plumbers and electricians necessary, but as is my hubris in life, decided to do it myself. After all I reasoned, how difficult can plumbing and electricity be.. here's the timeline.
Sunday.. family member runs to my office saying there's no water
Sunday.. went to Radio Shack and bought Micronta LCD multimeter
Sunday.. read instructions, took readings for continuity, bad pump
Sunday.. decide to replace whole system as water pressure tank is old
Sunday.. to Home Depot and bought
1. new 3/4 hp submersible pump
2. water pressure bladder tank, clamps 1" and 3/4" copper pipe
3. pressure switch, check valve, dial meter, stem fittings
4. pipe wrench, 200 feet 3 wire, hack saw, high pressure black hose
5. various plugs, pipe dope, tape, etc.. made Home Depot happy
6. Franklin pump control box
Monday.. thought better of doing the work myself after client called
Monday.. waited for plumber, waited for electrician
Tuesday.. waited for plumber, waited for electrician
Tuesday.. at 4:PM electrician says I need a new pump
Wednesday.. plumber arrives, says it will cost me $ 1500 to change pump and another day to rip out and replace the pressure tank & elect
Wednesday.. 5 seconds later, plumber drives out of drive without job
Wednesday.. I change clothes and span a ladder over well hole, attach a come along to well head and hoist it up after disconnecting lines and draining pressure tank.
Wednesday.. construct a 12 foot tall tripod to hoist plastic well pipe over with a gentle bend so it won't break. With two kids holding the well head assembly up the drive, I drag up the pipe and motor 150' out of the ground. Then enjoy one of the most appreciated beers I can remember.
Thursday.. begin cutting out old 80 gallon cast iron pressure tank, removed it from basement, checked how stocks were doing.. ugh down, fed new water lines and electric, sat down and read the manual on the pump carefully, wrong pump!
Thursday.. spent night at hotel
Friday.. bought another pump, better pressure tank and fittings, returned all HD materials, refitted the new pump, electrical lines, taped the electrical wires at interval up the down pipe into the new control box, from there to the new pressure switch, installed and sweat soldered the new copper fittings, check valve, drains, BX fittings and checked ground and continuity.
Friday.. with kids again, lower the pump, with new wires back down the hole, connect the last 5 feet to come along, throw two cups of bleach in the hole and close it up.
Big moment.. turned on fuse in panel box.. everything works fine.
End of story, except__ that without showers, drinking water from the tap, toilets, being able to clean dishes or do laundry one truly realizes the miracle of having indoor plumbing and a safe/sure water supply. |
