When I got home from work, I decided to make sure I could shut off the water to our house. I didn’t want any surprises tomorrow when we gutted the ½ bathroom. I knew where the tap was, but never had the need to turn it off. Until now.
The tap was very stiff, but I managed to turn it a dozen times until until it turned no more.
We turned on the tap in the bathroom and the water flowed freely. This was definitely not what one would expect with the main tap being turned off.
I had a look around the basement for another tap. Nothing.
This one had to be the one. It was attached to a pipe coming up through the concrete floor. The pipe was very cold. There was no doubt. I turned it back on again. And off again. We tested the basement taps near the washing machine. We still had water. WTF?
I tried turning off the tap leading to the hot water heater and then turned on the hot water tap at the sink. No water. I turned it back on. The pipe leading to the hot water tank comes from this main tap, so I was 100% sure this was the main source and all leading to this sink.
I swore a lot. My wife asked me to stop swearing. I told her I needed to swear.
I turned the main tap off again… as tight as it would go. I was afraid that it might snap off.
I walked over to the sink and turned on the cold water.
It dribbled out. Success!
I guess the stubborn tap, having not been used for such a long time, just needed loosening up… or something.
I ran up to the bathroom and tested its taps. They too stopped working.
I turned the main back on until tomorrow.
One problem overcome… with persistence and a lot of swearing. It is now beer:30.
Bring on tomorrow.
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